12/20/13: Today’s Tips: Friday

MUSIC: African Children’s Choir @ Proctors, Schenectady. A special holiday performance featuring traditional spirituals, gospel favorites and well-loved children’s songs, traditional spirituals and gospel favorites. 7pm. $30.

MUSIC: Teddy Thompson @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. The only son of British folk-rock legends Richard and Linda Thompson, he’s carved out his own niche as a singer and songwriter. 9pm. $30.

MUSIC: The Figgs @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. It’s their annual homecoming holiday concert. A rcokin’ holiday tradition. With Kitty Little. 8pm.

MUSIC: The Rob Skane 3 @ the Empire State Plaza Ice Skating Rink, Albany. Rock & Skate. 6pm. FREE. UPDATE: This performance cancelled due to the warm weather…

MUSIC: Kevin McKrell & Brian Melick @ the Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs. A Christmas classic… 8pm. Through Sunday.

MUSIC: freebeerandchicken @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. It’s Night One of “Guthrie/Bell Productions’ Farewell to Valentine’s Old School Blowout Weekend.” With Wreckloose. 9:30pm. $10.

MUSIC: Diva & the Dirty Boys @ Pauly’s Hotel, Albany. With Urban Gumbo. 9pm.

MUSIC: Holiday Folk Show @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. Featuring the all-star gathhering of John Kirk & Trish Miller, David Kiphuth and Addie & Olin – Unleashed. 8pm. $20 in advance; $22 at the door. Also 8pm at Saturday.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE/MUSIC: The Lustre Kings @ the Saratoga Music Hall, Saratoga Springs. 7:30pm. $15.

MUSIC/THEATER: “Christmas With the Rat Pack: Live at the Sands” @ Proctors, Schenectady. Have a cool yule and ring-a-ding-ding in the holiday season with this Vegas-styled tribute to the music of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin. 8pm. $20, $35, $45, $55 & $65. Through Sunday.

MUSIC: Harx @ Centre Street Pub, Schenectady. 9pm.

THEATER: “A Christmas Carol” @ Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany. Michael Bush directs Broadway and Cap Rep fave Kevin McGuire star in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, at once funny and poignant. 8pm. $20-$60; $16 students. Through December 22.

COMEDY: MOPCO’s Christmas Show @ Proctors, Schenectady. Improv comedy. 8pm.

COMEDY: The Coffee & Comedy Show @ the Hudson River Coffee House, Albany. Hosted by Vernon Payne, the end-of-the-year laugh-fest will also feature Terrence Green, Shawn Gillie, Michael Gregg, Lee Stevens and Bobby Masi. 8:30pm. $5.

MUSIC: Rhett Tyler & Early Warning @ the Van Dyck, Schenectady. The blues guitarslinger & his band will be opening for B.B. King at the Palace in the spring, but you can catch an intimate performance at the Van Dyck tonight. 8pm. $14.

MUSIC: The West Point Jazz Knights @ WAMC-FM’s The Linda, Albany. 7pm. FREE. UPDATE: This performance is sold out.

MUSIC: The Garcia Project @ Franklin’s Tower, Albany. It’s “A Very Merry Jerry Christmas” celebration. 7:30pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The Sweetback Sisters @ the Academy of Music, Northampton. It’s the fifth annual Country Christmas Singalong Spectacular? 7pm. $12; $10 seniors & students; $6 children; $25 per family.

MUSIC: The Joe Nacco Band @ Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Troy. Playing selections from the new album, ¢#@[]$!. 10pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Johanna Warren @ the Spotty Dog, Hudson. The frontwoman for Sticklips steps out on her own in support of her solo debut, Fates. With Paige Chaplin. 8pm. $5.

MUSIC: Lucid @ Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs. With Thirteen Four. 9:30pm. $5 with canned good; $10 without.

MUSIC: Mark Soskin Trio featuring drummer Steve Smith @ the Falcon, Marlboro. With Gus Mancini, the Sultan of Sonic Soul. 7pm.

MUSIC: The Peg Delaney Trio @ Grappa 72, Albany. 6:30pm.

MUSIC: Lindsey Webster @ the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. With Billy Rogan. 9pm. $10.

THEATER: “A Christmas Carol” @ the Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield. Charles Dickens’ holiday classic adapted and directed by Eric Hill. 7pm. $35; $25 children 16 and under. Through December 29.

FILM: “It’s a Wonderful Life” @ the Palace Theatre, Albany. Perhaps you’ve heard of it… 7pm. $5; $3 children.