2/6/15: Today’s Top Tips: Friday

MUSIC: Barnstar! @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. Bassist-producer Zachariah Hickman (recently seen on Nippertown stages playing with Ray LaMontagne and Josh Ritter) leads the all-star collective of bluegrass and roots-music talent – singer-guitarist Mark Erelli, fiddler Jake Amerding, mandolinist Taylor Armerding and banjoist Charlie Rose – in celebration of their brand-spankin’ new CD, Sit Down! Get Up! Get Out! 9pm.

MUSIC: Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington. For more than 50 years, the South African a cappella group has created exciting and deeply spiritual music that has touched a worldwide audience. Their singing efforts have garnered praise and accolades from a wide body of people, organizations and countries. 8pm. $35 & $45.

MUSIC: Steve Forbert @ The Linda, Albany. Since the late ’70s when he burst upon the scene with Alive On Arrival and Jackrabbit Slim, the Mississippi singer-songwriter has been making good music – honest, moving songs with memorable lyrics about life in a fast-changing America. 8pm. $22. GO HERE for more info…

MUSIC: Mike Doughty @ the Newberry Music Hall, Saratoga Springs. It’s the former Soul Coughing frontman in support of his latest solo album, Stellar Motel. 8pm. $22.

ARTSWALK: First Friday @ various locations, Albany. 5-9pm. FREE.

MUSIC: SmashCrashBash!! @ the Half Moon, Hudson. The monthly garage-rockin’ bash is back. Tonight’s installment features Mystery Lights, a Brooklyn-based band heavily inspired by raw, hard-hitting ’60s garage rock and late-’70s punk. Their sound is blues-based with extreme psychedelic elements and has been described as “high-energy fueled garage rock action.” With the Local 518’s own Pony in the Pancake. DJs Lunar Moss and Peter Aaron also keep the party goin’. 9pm. $6.

MUSIC: Billy Jonas & the Billy Jonas Band @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. The North Carolina family-friendly musician is well known for his children’s shows, but here’s your chance to catch his songs for grown-ups. 8pm. $18.

MUSIC: Bopitude Drum Battle @ the Van Dyck, Schenectady. It’s the third installment of Bopitude’s way-cool drum battle featuring drummers Michael Benedict, Pete Sweeney, Bob Halek, Mark Foster and Brian Melick, as well as the usual Bopitude crew – Chris Pasin, Brian Patneaude, Dave Gleason and Mike Lawrence. 8pm. $15. GO HERE for more info…

MUSIC: Get the Led Out @ the Palace Theatre, Albany. Led Zepplin tribute concert. 7:30pm. $30.50.

MUSIC: The SnoCore Tour @ Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park. Multi-platinum rockers Flyleaf headline the bash in support of their recently released fourth album, Between the Stars. With Adelitas Way, Framing Hanley and Fit for Rivals. 8pm. $20.

MUSIC: Woodchuckwood @ the Low Beat, Albany. With the Wheel. 9pm. UPDATE: Due to illness, Cuz will not be performing as originally scheduled.

THEATER: “South Pacific” @ Schenectady Light Opera, Schenectady. It’s opening night! The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical directed by Peter Caracappa. 8pm. $18,$22 & $28.

FESTIVAL/MUSIC: MCLA’s Blues & Funk Fest @ MCLA Venable Gym, North Adams. It’s Day One of the tenth annual feat, featuring the ReMINDers, the husband and wife duo of Brussels-born MC Big Samir and Queens-born emcee/vocalist Aja Black. With hip-hop/soul/r&b diva Maya Azucena. 7:30pm. $10. GO HERE for more info…

THEATER: “How Water Behaves” @ Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany. The world premiere of Sherry Kramer’s zany comedy about the tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. Directed by Gordon Greenberg. 8pm. $20-$60.

MUSIC: Hey Jude…the Tribute @ the Normanside Country Club, Delmar. Beatles tribute band concert with dinner buffet. 7:30pm. $50.

THEATER: “Tigers Be Still” @ Curtain Call Theatre, Latham. Carol Max directs the regional premiere of Kim Rosenstock’s quirky, endearing dark comedy that follows the misadventures of Sherry Wickman, an unemployed, overwhelmed art therapist hiding out in her childhood bed. 8pm. $24.

MUSIC: Wild Adriatic @ the Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Albany. With Conehead Buddha. 9:30pm. $15.

MUSIC: The Arch Stanton Quartet @ 9 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs. 9pm.

MUSIC: Janice & Dan @ the Stockade Inn, Schenectady. The jazz duo of vocalist Janice Thompson and keyboardist Dan Dobek. 7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Williams Chamber Players @ Williams College’s Brooks-Rodgers Recital Hall, Williamstown. Performing the music of Bach, Franck and Mendelssohn. 8pm. FREE.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE: First Friday Swing Dance @ Albany Elks Lodge, Albany. Featuring Sonny and Perley’s Jive Five. Free West Coast swing dance lesson with Lyoni Fisher at 7:30pm; dance at 8:30pm. $15; $10 students & seniors.

THEATER: “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” @ Proctors’ Key Hall, Schenectady. It’s a wedding. It’s a show. It’s an evening of interactive dinner and theater! 7:30pm. $65 & $75. Through Sunday.

FILM/DISCUSSION: “Let the Fire Burn” @ UAlbany’s Page Hall, Albany. Director Jason Osder’s 2013 award-winning documentary presents a history of the tragic conflict between the City of Philadelphia and the Black Liberation organization, MOVE, in the mid-1980s. Starring Birdie Africa, Ramona Africa and Wilson Goode. Followed by a Q&A with the director. 7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Chuck Kelsey @ Carney’s Tavern, Ballston Lake. 7pm.