ALBANY — The Egg has announced that Darlingside will perform on Thursday, March 9 as part of the 2023 concert series.
Darlingside brings their new “expando-band” to The Egg inviting audiences into a lush, intimate world with exquisitely-arranged, literary-minded, baroque folk-pop and superpower harmonies – as original members – Don Mitchell (guitar), Auyon Mukharji (violin), and Harris Paseltiner (cello) – are joined by bassist Molly Parden and drummer/ banjoist Ben Burns.
Tickets are $34.50 and currently on sale online at www.theegg.org or by telephone at 518-473-1845, or in person at The Egg Box Office Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Writer, director John Sayles will celebrate the release of his new book “Jamie MacGillivray: A Renegade’s Journey,” in Saratoga Springs in March.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — John Sayles has directed more than 18 films – “Matewan,” and “Eight Men Out,” among them, written screenplays for iconic ‘80s horror movies “The Howling,” and “Alligator,” and directed a trio of Bruce Springsteen’s most famed music videos – for the songs “Born in the USA,” “Glory Days,” and “I’m on Fire.”
As an author, Sayles has written numerous novels and short stories since 1975.
“In a two-hour movie I don’t tell the audience here’s a character, okay, here’s another one, now see the world the way they see it. In a book you can do that,” Sayles explained, in an interview published by Creative Screenwriting in 2016.
Sayles will celebrate the release of his new book, “Jamie MacGillivray: A Renegade’s Journey,” with an appearance at Northshire Bookstore Saratoga in March.
“Jamie MacGillivray: A Renegade’s Journey,” will be published by Melville House (736 pages, $32) in late February. The story is set in 18th Century Scotland and America and begins in the heat of a vicious war. At the Battle of Culloden, in Scotland in 1746, Jamie MacGillivray narrowly escapes a roadside execution only to be recaptured and sentenced to indentured servitude in colonial America “for the term of his natural life.”
Sayles is slated to celebrate the book’s release at Northshire Bookstore on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, in late March.
John Lydon and PIL release “Hawaii” this week, announce live streaming performance Feb. 3. Photo: Prime PR Group.
John Lydon and Public Image Ltd. (PiL) this week have announced the release on all digital platforms of “Hawaii” – a song depicted as a love letter to Lydon’s wife of nearly 5 decades, Nora, who is living with Alzheimer’s.
“It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most,” Lydon said, in a statement. “It’s also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all.”
The song captures Lydon reflecting on the couple’s lifetime well spent, and in particular, in their happiest moments together in Hawaii.
PIL was formed in 1978, following the implosion of the Sex Pistols, which Lydon fronted in his incarnation as Johnny Rotten.
PIL is currently comprised of John Lydon, Lu Edmonds (multi-instrumentalist, Guitars) Bruce Smith (Percussion, drums), and Scott Firth (Bass, multi-instrumentalist).
“Hawaii” was released via all digital platforms this week and will be released on limited edition 7” vinyl later this year.
The band has confirmed it will take part in the competition to represent Ireland at the 67th annual Eurovision Song Contest at 9:30 p.m. GMT (4:30 p.m. N.Y. time) on Friday, Feb. 3 on Ireland’s The Late Late Show – which may be live streamed at: www.rte.ie/player/.
Installation view, Parallax: Framing the Cosmos, Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College through June 19, 2023.Photo by Mindy McDaniel.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College welcomes visitors to explore the Museum and exhibitions through guided tours with curators and Tang Guides.
Curator’s Tours are given by exhibition organizers, who work closely with artists and can provide valuable insights. Tang Guide Tours are given by visitors’ services staff, including Skidmore College students, who are trained in various methods of talking about art and interacting with visitors.
The first Curator Tour of the calendar year takes place at noon on Thursday, Jan. 19. Curator’s Tour of Parallax: Framing the Cosmos with Associate Curator Rebecca McNamara. Tours are scheduled to take place monthly.
All tours are free and open to the public. No reservations are required. For more information, contact the Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080, tang@skidmore.edu, or visit tang.skidmore.edu.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —In February 2021, Saratoga Springs lost Josh Chambers. A Greenwich native and Skidmore College graduate, Chambers made a name for himself around Saratoga in the 1990s as a musician, playwright and director.
At 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, the Figgs will perform a show in tribute of Chambers at Caffe Lena.
The Figgs – led by Mike Gent (guitar, vocals), Pete Donnelly (bass, vocals), and Pete Hayes (drums, vocals) – originally formed in Saratoga Springs 35 years ago.
They signed with Imago in 1993, moved to Capitol in ‘95, and have since released a dozen more records on smaller labels or under the band’s own Stomper imprint. They’ve served as Graham Parker’s band for multiple tours & records, toured as the backing band for Tommy Stinson (The Replacements), and performed with a who’s who of musical fare. In 2022, the band released their 16th LP, “Chemical Shake.”
Tickets are available via caffelena.org, and a live stream of the show at: caffelena.tv.
ALBANY — The Egg has announced that The Steve Morse Band (Feb. 23), George Winston (March 17) and Al Stewart (March 26) will perform as part of the 2023 concert series.
Steve Morse Band: Reunited and performing together for the first time in over 10 years, the Steve Morse Band – featuring the band’s namesake and Guitar Player Hall of Famer Steve Morse, songwriter and bandleader of The Dixie Dregs, member of super group Flying Colors, as well as former guitarist of Deep Purple and Kansas – along with bassist Dave LaRue, and drummer Van Romaine. Feb. 23 – $59.50, $49.50, $39.50.
George Winston: A solo piano concert featuring selections from his seasonal favorites performed in his melodic folk style, as well as some New Orleans R&B, stride piano, and more. George Winston’s music is evocative, offering us all a chance to take a step back from our perpetually busy lives and let our minds adventurously wander. March 17 – $36.
Al Stewart with The Empty Pockets: Singer/songwriter Al Stewart emerged as part of the British folk revival in the late 1960s and became an international star with his platinum selling songs “Time Passages” and “Year of The Cat” in the mid-‘70s. He has released nearly 20 albums over the years and will be joined onstage by Chicago-based roots-rockers The Empty Pockets. March 26 – $39.50, $34.50.
Tickets are currently on sale online at www.theegg.org or by telephone at 518-473-1845, or in person at The Egg Box Office Monday–Friday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Home Made Theater announces open auditions for their June production of The “Sound of Music,” with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. This production will be directed by Dawn Oesch, with musical direction by Richard Cherry, and choreography by Diane Lachtrupp.
The auditions will be held on Sunday, Jan. 22 (children only) starting at 5:30, and Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 23 & 24 (adults, including Liesl and Rolf) starting at 6:30, at Home Made Theater’s headquarters at the Wilton Mall (near JC Penney). Callbacks will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26 starting at 6:30 p.m.
The primary cast consists of five adult men, eight adult women, two boys, and four girls. There will be a small (4-6 person) ensemble. All ethnicities and gender identities are encouraged to attend.
This award winning, family friendly musical is based on the real-life story of the von Trapp Family singers, one of the world’s best-known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II. Maria is the tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey who becomes a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children, and brings a new love of life and music into the home.
For the audition: adults (including those auditioning for Liesl and Rolf) please prepare 16 bars of a song from the show. Children will be taught part of “My Favorite Things” to perform. Readings will be provided. Bring a current photo (cannot be returned) and a resume. Be prepared to list all potential conflicts from the first rehearsal through closing (with the exception of Tech Week and performances, conflicts can be worked around if known about in advance).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Jewish Community Arts, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and sponsorship of Temple Sinai in Saratoga Springs, have contracted with The Braid, formerly Jewish Women’s Theater, to bring a three-program sequence in 2023 to its SJCA series. Each of The Braid programs will be on Zoom.
The Braid, in its 14th season, empowers artists and audiences to feel pride in Jewish culture while building community and connection between people of all backgrounds.
The first program takes place 7 p.m. Feb. 5; with The Braid is Remembrance of Things Present, true stories from the descendants of Holocaust survivors. The program will be followed by a Q &A session.
Remembrance of Things Present will discover how the son and grandson of Tuvia Bielski contend with the legacy of a hero. Witness a daughter’s struggle as her father’s testimony to the Shoah Project video archive reopens old wounds. Feel inspired as a daughter of a French Resistance fighter is called to her own life of activism.
To register and receive Zoom access to The Braid programming Remembrance of Things Present, email sjca.sjcf@gmail.com. Registration will be confirmed with an email, and you will be sent the access code two days before the program. Learn more at www.saratogasinai.org or visit www.saratogajewishculturalfestival.org.
Saratoga Clay Arts Center exhibition opens Saturday. Art: Nancy Niefield.
SCHUYLERVILLE — Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s Schacht Gallery presents its 11th Annual Members Exhibition, running Jan. 7 – Feb. 4, with an opening reception from 5 – 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7.
Celebrating 11 years with our clay community, this exhibition will feature ceramic sculpture, utilitarian and decorative works made by current SCAC members in the past year. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free.
The exhibition features a wide range of one-of-a-kind works for sale, from large scale sculpture to wall work and functional pottery.
Founded in 2010 by clay artist and educator Jill Kovachick, Saratoga Clay Arts Center is a ceramic art center located just a few miles outside of Saratoga Springs in Schuylerville, offering wheel throwing and handbuilding clay classes for youth and adults, studio space and residencies for artists, and exhibitions featuring emerging, mid-career and established clay artists.
The Schacht Gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and by appointment. Located at 167 Hayes Road, Schuylerville.
Visit www.saratogaclayarts.org, call 518-581-2529 or email info@saratogaclayarts.org for more information.
MLK Saratoga presents four days of events from Jan. 13-16.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — MLK Saratoga’s annual Dr. King Celebration Weekend takes place Jan. 13-16 in Saratoga Springs.
A range of programs reflecting on social, environmental, racial, and economic justice issues, will include workshops, performances, lectures, and panel discussions.
This year’s theme explores and responds to Dr. King’s reflection: “In a sense, songs are the soul of a movement.”
Events begin 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13 with the 8th Annual Dr. King Challenge: More Music Less Violence. Hosted and curated by Capital Region’s DJ Hollys8d at the Holiday Inn, the event includes several regional performing artists. Reception with light fare & cash bar, fun art projects, photo booth. Family friendly. Suggested donation of $10 or pay what you can.
Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Saratoga Springs Public Library: storyteller Jae Gayle’s family-friendly workshop “How the Negro Got His Song” at 10:30 a.m., followed by two presentations and panel discussions – Restorative Justice in Schools: Promoting and Protecting Dignity and Justice for Everyone at 12:30; and C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios’ Erasing Spaces & Faces – The Legacy of Urban Renewal in Saratoga Springs at 3 p.m.
At 6 p.m. on Saturday, Yaddo artist, award-winning journalist and author of Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop, Danyel Smith, will be in conversation with Skidmore’s Dr. Emmanuel Balogun & Dr. Tammy Owens, with a special performance by multidisciplinary artist/poet D. Colin, at The Pines @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Free, reservations required.
Sunday, Jan. 15 Caffè Lena hosts two music programs with the Nikara Warren Trio celebrating Black excellence in music and featuring music from her triumphant debut album Black Wall Street. The afternoon kids’ show: Little Folks MLK Celebration with Nikara Warren Trio is at 3 p.m. The evening performance at 6:30 p.m. will begin with an interview with Nikara Warren before her ensemble brings her musicality to the stage. Both programs are free, reservations strongly suggested as seating is limited.
Monday, Jan. 16 begins with the National Day of Service. MLK Saratoga is offering in-person volunteer projects and actions in collaboration with a variety of community organizations. Projects for all ages include: C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios to make kindness rocks; Mooncatcher Project to assemble sustainable menstrual pad kits; Waldorf School for story-reading and card-making; Saratoga Free Fridge – donate food and grocery cards; Little Free Library at the Frederick Allen Lodge – donate books; Temple Sinai Take Note: donate children’s book and musical instruments drive; Youth Squared to make peace flags. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.
Weekend programs conclude at 2 p.m. at Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs with refreshments and fellowship.
2 p.m. Songs are the Soul of a Movement – We will close the Dr. King Celebration Weekend by honoring Dr. King with music and community, with a little history and activism sprinkled in hosted by Soulist Garland Nelson. Program highlights: Freedom’s Highways – an interactive performance with Donald Hyman about artists, civil rights and protest songs. Jermaine Wells and the Ill Funk Ensemble will perform historical civil rights and contemporary protest songs. Community speakers and our city’s first poet laureate, Joseph Bruchac will be in attendance. There will be refreshments and fellowship as well.
All events are free & open to the public. Check the website for details and updates. The links to reserve seats for events that require registration are located at the end of each event’s description on the main celebration page. www.mlksaratoga.org/celebration-weekend.
