6/8/17: Today’s Top Tips: Thursday

MUSIC: Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ Jennings Landing at Corning Preserve, Albany. Alive at Five kicks off its summer season with a bang with Denson, who plays sax in the Rolling Stones when he’s not leading his own jam band-jazz-funk outfit, Tiny Universe. And after spending 2016 in Tricentennial Park, the free concert series returns to the Corning Preserve amphitheater by the river. With Let’s Be Leonard. 5pm. FREE. GO HERE to read a new interview with Denson…

MUSIC: Alan Epstein @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. The mandolinist celebrates the release of his new CD, Sunset on Meriden Hill, an instrumental album featuring Epstein accompanied by Jim Prendergast on guitar. 7pm. $17.

MUSIC: Hayes Carll @ the Hangar on the Hudson, Troy. The award-winning singer-songwriter and Texas troubadour rolls into The Hangar in support of his latest album, Lovers and Leavers, produced by Joe Henry. 8pm. $20.

MUSIC: Alternative Guitar Summit @ Colony, Woodstock. Oh boy! Serious six-string wizardry from ace fretmasters Marc Ribot, Oz Noy, Miles Okazaki, Steve Cardenas and Joel Harrison with drummer Harvey Sorgen and bassist Stephen Rust. 8pm. $15.

FESTIVAL/MUSIC: Disc Jam Music Festival @ Gardner’s Farm, Stephentown. Day One of the four-day fest features Lespecial, Roots of Creation, Strange Machine, West End Blend, Lord Electro, William Thompson Funk Experiment and more… Music starts at 2pm. GO HERE for more info…

MUSIC/FUNDRAISER: Bernie Williams @ Pruyn House, Latham. The Latin Grammy nominee and former outfielder for the New York Yankees (and the Albany-Colonie Yankees, too) returns to Greater Nippertown as the headliner for An Aficionado Experience, a benefit for the Center for the Disability Services. 6pm. $175-$325.

MUSIC: The Hot Club of Saratoga @ Jay Street, Schenectady. The Jazz on Jay outdoor concert series continues with an afternoon of Gypsy jazz. 12noon. FREE.

MUSIC: Barns Courtney @ the Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Albany. Billboard named the British singer-songwriter as one of the “killer” artists “you don’t know that you need to see” at this year’s summer music festivals. With Tom Grennan. 9pm. $15.

MUSIC: Ron Gallo @ Brown’s Brewing Co., Troy. The Summer Sessions outdoor concert series continues. With the LateShift and Joe Mansman & the Midnight Revival Band. 5pm. FREE. GO HERE for more info and the complete concert series schedule…

FESTIVAL/MUSIC: A Taste of Country Music Festival @ Hunter Mountain, Hunter. Day One of the four-day fest features Caroline Gray, Dylan Jakobsen and RaeLynn. Music starts at 6pm. GO HERE for more info and the complete festival schedule…

MUSIC/FUNDRAISER: Intell Hayesfield @ McGeary’s Pub, Albany. Benefit for Albany Center Gallery. 7pm.

THEATER: “Safe Space” @ Clark Art Institute, Williamstown. Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield previews the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s 2017 season, followed by a reading of Alan Fox’s new play, featuring André Holland (“Moonlight”) and Melissa Leo (“The Fighter,” “Frozen River”). 7pm. FREE. UPDATE: This event is officially sold out…

COMEDY: Comedy Death Match @ the Low Beat, Albany. 7pm. $5.

MUSIC: The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. Now for something completely different – steel pan jazz-funk fusion. 8pm. $15.

MUSIC: Bye @ the Low Beat, Albany. With Drive Me Home Please, Looks Like Mountains and Maud the Psychic. 10pm.

MUSIC: Franz Ferdinand @ Pearl Street Ballroom, Northampton. Mercury Prize-winning Scottish post-punk quintet. With Omni. 8pm. $32.

THEATER: “Kunstler” @ Barrington Stage Company’s St. Germain Stage, Pittsfield. Jeff McCarthy stars in Jeffrey Sweet’s play about radical lawyer and civil rights activist William Kunstler. 7:30pm. Through Saturday, June 10. GO HERE to read review…

MUSIC: Skeeter Creek @ Canal Square, Cohoes. It’s the opening night for the summer Rock the Block concert series. 6:30pm. FREE. GO HERE for more info and the complete concert series schedule…

GO HERE for info regarding art gallery and museum exhibits…

Is there an event that we may have overlooked? Just add it in the comment box below…