SARATOGA SPRINGS — For 55 years, Tower of Power has delivered some of the best in funk and soul music, and one of their next stops is the Universal Preservation Hall, where the band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Tower of Power has traveled the world, released their own hit singles, and backed legendary artists such as Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. In the process, they’ve defined an “Oakland soul” sound as recognizable as the one from Detroit. 

Tickets are on sale through the Box Office in person, via phone at (518) 346-6204, or online by visiting atuph.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Ebony Hillbillies, one of the last remaining African American string bands in the United States, will be at the Saratoga Spa State Park on Sunday, Sept. 28 for a free concert and special children’s hour. 

The concert will be held on the Victoria Pool Lawn, 58 Roosevelt Dr. In case of inclement weather, the performance will relocate to the Saratoga Music Hall at 474 Broadway. Admission is free. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets.

Children’s Hour | 3 – 4 p.m.

Suitable for all ages, this Children’s Hour introduces young audiences to the deep roots of American music. The band begins by focusing on an instrument, song, and style that capture the culture/moment in time. This experience culminates with children sharing or showcasing what they have heard, experienced and learned. 

Live Concert Performance | 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. 

Following a short intermission, enjoy a full live performance from The Ebony Hillbillies.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For now, a row of ukuleles remain unplucked. A dance studio stands empty. A piano’s keys sit still and quiet. 

The SPAC School of the Arts fall semester begins in less than two weeks, and when it launches on Sept. 15, a building located behind the former Museum of Dance on South Broadway will become filled with sounds, movements, and performances.

The school is playing host to a range of classes that will wrap up on Nov. 21. Included in this year’s offerings: youth and adult ukulele for players of varying experience; improv for youths; acting for teens; adult ballet and contemporary dance; adult jazz; private piano lessons; and much more.

One class that the school’s Vice President of Education Dennis Moench and Director of Learning and Engagement Jess Bien are most excited about is “Playing Shakespeare,” a new offering taught by Skidmore College faculty member Dennis Schebetta.

“The thing that we love about this class is that it’s Shakespeare, but it’s also very low-stakes and it’s very accessible,” Bien said. “There’s a lot of improv incorporated into it and it represents what we do and what we aim to do, because it’s just about the process of creating and coming together with others. It’s not product based. There’s no formal performance at the end of it, but it’s a space for people to just come together and play.”

The casual but creative attitude of the Shakespeare class provides a microcosm of many of the school’s programs. The key is to allow people of all ages and abilities to meet in-person, explore an activity or interest, and walk away from the experience feeling like they enjoyed themselves. There’s little pressure to nail a particular line, or perfectly perform a certain dance maneuver. Rather, enjoyment, creativity, and improved mental health are the end goals.

“What we would really like to do is be part of this national conversation that is really gaining a lot of interest in the effect of the arts on people’s wellbeing and how it is essential, necessary, and not just something that only a privileged number of people can be a part of,” Moench said.

The SPAC School of the Arts has partnered with Skidmore College for a course that invites adults over the age of 55 to take a creative movement class alongside the college’s dance students. The goal is to promote healing and wellbeing via the connections made between participants. A researcher at Skidmore intends to collect data from the class to see what the impact of such an experience might be.

“We’re really researching a lot of current studies that are out there,” Moench said. “The World Health Organization, for example, just came out with one about isolation and its effect on health and wellness, and we’re looking at a number of different data points, including social connectedness. We’re actually measuring working memory as well in the adults and in the students to see if there’s any significant impact on that and their overall sense of wellbeing.”

In other words, not only can a SPAC School of the Arts student learn more about Shakespeare or dance or music, but they may also be able to boost their mental health. The growing field of neuroaesthetics, which studies the psychological impact of art and music, is steadily providing more evidence that the creation and appreciation of art could be more of a necessity than a hobby. Some have even considered art as a tool needed for the survival of myriad cultures throughout history. It’s an ambitious field of study, and it’s one that has found a warm and welcoming home at the SPAC School of the Arts.

Those interested in enrolling in a class can do so online. Adult ballet is an especially popular course that may fill up by the time this story is published. But there are plenty of other offerings, many of which are favorites of the local community. To learn more or to register for a class, visit  spac.org/school-of-the-arts.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Frank Spotnitz—a TV writer/producer with credits that include “The X-Files,” “The Man in the High Castle,” and “Medici”—will be at the X-Files Museum in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, Sept. 21 for a meet and greet. The event will run from 1 to 5 p.m., with $40 tickets available at the door.

Some of Spotnitz’s notable “X-Files” writing credits include the episodes “Memento Mori,” “Millenium,” and the two-part “Dreamland.” In total, Spotnitz contributed to nearly 70 episodes of the hit series. He also helped author both “X-Files” films, released in 1998 and 2008, respectively. 

Beyond his work on “X-Files,” Spotnitz created, executive produced, and wrote multiple episodes of “The Man in the High Castle,” an Amazon Prime Video series that garnered critical acclaim and won two Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. When the pilot episode premiered in 2015, it became one of the most-watched original series debuts in Amazon’s history. 

Spotnitz also created the Netflix historical drama series “Medici,” which chronicled the rise of the Medici political dynasty during the Italian Renaissance, and CW’s “Leonardo,” about the life of da Vinci.

The X-Files Museum (technically named The X-Files Preservation Collection) remains the world’s only museum dedicated to the 90s sci-fi/horror show, which has developed a cult following after its initial, wildly successful run on the FOX network.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Jerry Crouth, a local Fun FM 93.3 radio DJ, will present his new book, “Thank You, Mom: My Life’s Stories Growing Up in the Forties” at the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m.

The book pays tribute to Crouth’s mother, who brought up Jerry and his five siblings after their father was permanently hospitalized in Marcy Mental Hospital one month before Jerry’s birth.

“We didn’t just survive,” Crouth said. “We had very happy formative years living together. It was all because of our mother.”

The book event, free and open to the public, will include an overview of the book and an author signing. “Thank You, Mom” is available for purchase both at the store and on Amazon.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) recently announced the return of its “CulinaryArts@SPAC” initiative this fall and winter with three events hosted at The Pines at SPAC. Tickets for the events are available at spac.org.

Project Griddle with Steven Raichlen

Oct. 7, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Barbecue legend, James Beard Award–winning author, and host of PBS’s “Project Fire,” Steven Raichlen kicks off the CulinaryArts@SPAC fall season with a sizzling celebration of the griddle. In conversation with WAMC host Joe Donahue, Raichlen will share the inspiration behind his newest book, “Project Griddle”—a guide to griddles, planchas, and flat-tops packed with practical cooking techniques, chef’s shortcuts, and nearly 80 recipes. Prized for their accessibility, versatility, and fun, griddles are having a moment—and Raichlen traces their history from the teppan of Japan to the plancha of Spain to champa grilling in South America. Guests will enjoy tastings from Project Griddle including Tapas Bar Shrimp, Griddled Figs and Halloumi Cheese, Bacon-Seared Dates, Vietnamese Pork Meatballs and Manchego Crisps with Greens—alongside wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. A book signing will follow.

Chop Chop: Cooking the Foods of Nigeria with Ozoz Sokoh

Nov. 15, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

CulinaryArts@SPAC presents an evening of West African culture with Nigerian-born culinary anthropologist and author Ozoz Sokoh in conversation with WAMC’s Sarah LaDuke. Sokoh will share stories from her highly praised new book “Chop Chop: Cooking the Foods of Nigeria,” a guide to Nigerian cuisine featuring 100 recipes that honor and preserve the nation’s rich culinary traditions. The evening’s tasting menu will be prepared by Albany’s Keobi Restaurant, known for its authentic Nigerian dishes, and will feature dishes like Chin Chin and Puff Puff, Jollof Rice, Nigerian Salad, Egusi Soup, Fried Chicken and Mingau de Tapioca. Guests can also enjoy Afro-beat music and explore a marketplace presented by Nine Steps Away from Africa, offering handcrafted silver and beaded jewelry, balafons, soaps, musical instruments, and more. Nigerian cocktails and mocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. A book signing will follow.

Potluck Desserts to Share with Pride with Justin Burke

Dec. 4, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Indulge in dessert for dinner with an inclusive, joy-filled dessert potluck hosted by baker, activist, and TV personality Justin Burke, in conversation with WAMC’s Sarah LaDuke. The region’s hottest pastry chefs (including Michele Hunter of Familiar Creature, Sam Pierre of Standard Fare, and Vanessa Traver of The Reading Room) will offer sweet creations such as icebox cakes, layered desserts, self-saucing puddings and slab pies from Burke’s new cookbook Potluck Desserts. Champagne and a specialty cocktail will be curated by Saratoga Springs’ Bocage and Standard Fare. Wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available. A book signing will follow.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announced Wednesday a series of free public tours for the fall season, including Tang Guide Tours each Sunday beginning Sept. 7, and monthly Curator’s Tours.

The Tang rotates exhibitions in and out of its galleries, presenting more than a dozen each year. Fall exhibitions include “See It Now: Contemporary Art from the Ann and Mel Schaffer Collection,” opening Sept. 13, a sweeping presentation of contemporary art collected over the last five decades; the recently opened “All These Growing Things,” an exploration of becoming and belonging through a selection of work from the Tang collection, which now numbers over 20,0000 objects; and “Sheila Pepe: Where and When We Rest,” opening Oct. 11, the sixth iteration in the mezzanine installation project that invites an artist to design a community lounge space.

Continuing through Nov. 2 is “Up to Us: Black Dimensions in Art, 1975–Tomorrow,” which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the grassroots organization through archival material, oral histories, and art.

Tang Guide Tours

Sundays, Sept. 7– Dec. 7, 2 p.m.

A tour of current exhibitions with a Tang Guide.

Curator’s Tours of “Up to Us: Black Dimensions in Art, 1975–Tomorrow”

Thursday, Sept. 18, noon

Rebecca McNamara, the Frances Young Tang ’61 Associate Curator, leads the tour.

Curators’ Tour of All These Growing Things

Thursday, Oct. 9, noon

Led by McNamara.

Curators’ Tour of “See It Now: Contemporary Art from the Ann and Mel Schaffer Collection”

Thursday, Nov. 13, noon

Ian Berry, Dayton Director, leads the tour.

Curators’ Tour of “Sheila Pepe: Where and When We Rest”

Thursday, Dec. 11, noon

Rachel Seligman, Assistant Director for Curatorial Affairs and Malloy Curator, leads the tour.

For more information about these tours or about other upcoming events, please visit https://tang.skidmore.edu or call the Tang Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080.