SARATOGA SPRINGS — For the first time in 23 years, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman will perform as The Guess Who during their Takin’ It Back tour. Their adventure includes a stop at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on July 14, when they’ll be joined by Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles).

“Randy and I are incredibly grateful that our music has endured all these years,” Cummings said. “Knowing that people still want to hear these songs live means everything to us, and when we go out on stage, our goal is to truly honor the music.” 

The Guess Who, sometimes referred to as “the Canadian Beatles,” released 11 studio albums, all of which charted in both Canada and the United States. They’ve placed 14 singles in the US Top 40 chart and more than 30 in Canada. Some of their classic tunes include “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature,” and “No Time.”

General on sale begins on Friday, March 6 at 10 a.m. at TheGuessWho.com.

Cover of “Fallen Light” and author headshot both provided by Zachary Coffin.

WILTON — J.R.R. Tolkien. George R.R. Martin. Z.R. Coffin.

A Wilton resident will soon join the ranks of published fantasy authors when his debut novel, “Fallen Light,” is released the week of March 16.

The novel centers on Isaac, an arcanist tasked with retrieving an artifact located inside an ancient temple hidden in a remote forest. When attempting to grab the artifact, Isaac is ambushed and soon realizes there is a traitor amongst his arcanist clan. 

“It’s a very character-driven story,” Coffin told Saratoga TODAY. “I have magic and all these different races, like elves and orcs and dwarves and the typical high fantasy stuff. But what I focus on the most is how these characters interact with each other.”

Coffin got the fantasy bug when he was a kid, beginning his education with “Lord of the Rings” and “Star Wars.” He sparked his creativity by playing “Dungeons & Dragons” and other roleplaying fantasy games. He put his imagination to the test in a high school writers group, which joined other local school districts for conferences that included author-led workshops. In college, he grew from short stories to novels, drawing upon ideas he generated during D&D campaigns.

“I started trying to storyboard, and I wrote probably three novels that will never see the light of day because they’re not very good,” Coffin said. “But I refined that over the years and eventually got to [“Fallen Light”].”

Although many would-be novelists tend to kick around a book idea before tossing it into a desk drawer, Coffin realized his vision by a simple but effective method: Love of the game. 

One of Coffin’s favorite fantasy authors, Brandon Sanderson, posts writing courses to YouTube. In those lectures, Sanderson says he asked himself an important question: If I could never publish my books, would I still write? The answer, for both Sanderson and Coffin, was an emphatic “yes.”

“There’s an intrinsic kind of enjoyment to me doing it,” Coffin said of his writing. “Even if I just shared it with my friends and family, that’s good enough for me.”

Sanderson is something of a hero to self-published authors. His 2022 Kickstarter campaign to self-publish four novels earned him more than $41 million donated by 185,000-plus backers. Last month, the rights to Sanderson’s “Cosmere” books were picked up by Apple TV. The deal, described as “unprecedented” by The Hollywood Reporter, grants Sanderson near-complete creative control over the forthcoming adaptations of his work.

Coffin isn’t necessarily setting his sights as high as the singular Sanderson, but the self-publishing route is an increasingly popular one for many writers. Some authors with work released by major publishers have told Saratoga TODAY that despite the backing of a traditional publisher, they still spend a lot of their time marketing their own books and pouring countless hours into growing their social media followings. Many of them also have to work full-time jobs outside of their busy writing schedules, just to make ends meet.

“Figure out what you want to do first,” Coffin advises first-time authors. “Don’t really prescribe to what people are telling you you have to do. Figure out what aligns with how your life works and your interests, and then go from there.”

Coffin utilized the services of The Troy Book Makers, a company that aims to produce “attractive, well-designed books at a low cost” and has released dozens of titles. 

From conception to completion, Coffin estimates he spent about five or six years working on “Fallen Light.” With the book’s release imminent, prospective readers are advised to visit Coffin’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/zrcoffinauthor) for publishing updates. The novel will soon be available on Amazon and at local bookstores.

MALTA — Malta resident, composer, and percussionist Donald Knaack (aka The Junkman) is celebrating more than 40 years of composing music for contemporary dance companies by releasing a compendium of 12 of his most popular compositions.

Knaack’s long and productive career includes performances and commissions from The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, The Discover Jazz Festival, and the Kansas City International Jazz Festival. He’s also toured with Eminem, The Black-Eyed Peas, Ice T, and Phish. He’s created music for television commercials for brands such as Nike, ESPN, the NBA, Airbnb, and Electronic Arts. 

More than 25 years ago, Knaack, a classically trained musician, stopped using traditional music instruments in favor of using junk and reused materials. 

“The timbres of these materials instantly gave my music an original uniqueness, like someone being given a set of new and different colors to paint with,” Knaack said.

For a preview of the new album’s tracks, visit junkmusic.online/dancealbum/.

SCHUYLERVILLE — A joint exhibition featuring functional and sculptural ceramic works by local artists Maria Rosenblum and W.D. Pitney will premiere on March 21 (with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m.) at the Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s Schacht Gallery. Admission is free. The exhibit, titled “Objective Form : Subjective Disorder,” will run until May 2.

Pitney and Rosenblum have been firing atmospheric and reduction kilns together for the past five years.

“Trained as a potter, I am now devoted to meshing functional and sculptural concepts to produce pedestal vessels and naturalistic shallow bowls,” said Rosenblum. “This precarious balance is rooted in my youth exploring the extraordinary tides and shallows of the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia.” 

“With my functional pieces, I’ve been working with porcelain slip to create surface textures to invoke gesture, expression, and energy,” said Pitney. “Ultimately, I believe craft serves community by elevating, inspiring, and uniting people through form and process.”

The Schacht Gallery at Saratoga Clay Arts Center is located at 167 Hayes Road in Schuylerville.

BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa High School will present its spring musical, “The Addams Family,” on March 26, 27, and 28.

In the musical comedy, Wednesday Addams has fallen in love with a young man from a respectable, “normal” family. When the Addams host a dinner to meet the boyfriend and his parents, secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, and chaos ensues.

The cast is led by Roman Mangino as Gomez Addams and Libby Stavers as Morticia Addams. Maeve deFrancqueville takes on the role of Wednesday Addams, with Elena Lotto as her mischievous brother, Pugsley. Lillian “Lux” Hammer portrays Uncle Fester, Anna Wilson appears as the feisty Grandma, and Lucas Guest embodies the towering and loyal Lurch. 

Isaac Prescott plays Wednesday’s love interest, Lucas Beineke, alongside Ella Haughton as his hopeful mother, Alice Beineke, and Matt Adams as his traditional father, Mal Beineke. 

In total, more than 100 Ballston Spa High School students are involved in the production, contributing their talents on stage, behind the scenes, and in the orchestra pit.

Performances will take place at Ballston Spa High School at 7 p.m., with a matinee on March 28 at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and students. Tickets are available online (ballstonspa.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200511498) and at the door.

BOLTON LANDING — The Sembrich recently announced the lineup of its 2026 summer festival, Brava! Celebrating Women in Music.

Set against the scenic backdrop of Lake George, Brava! pays tribute not only to female performers, but also to women composers, patrons, educators, and cultural leaders. Through a curated series of concerts, lectures, and exhibitions, the 2026 festival will explore themes of artistic empowerment, mentorship, and creative legacy—from the Gilded Age to today’s international stage.

Highlights of the 2026 festival include:

• When Marian Sang: A Tribute to Music, History, and Liberty (Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m.): This special Juneteenth program reveals the life of world-renowned singer Marian Anderson, whose voice served as a beacon of hope during the Civil Rights Movement.

• Rooted with soprano Vedrana Kalas (Saturday, July 18 at 7 p.m.): Coloratura soprano Vedrana Kalas combines folk-inspired songs by Ravel and Dvořák with music from former Yugoslav composers and selections from Marcella Sembrich’s vast repertoire.

• Ladies of the Lake: Studio Talk & Tea (Thursday, July 23 at 2 p.m.): This special benefit event celebrates the lives of nine notable ladies of accomplishment, each with a unique tie to Lake George.

• The Overlook Quartet (Saturday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.): This New York–based string quartet is dedicated to amplifying living composers and making contemporary chamber music both accessible and electrifying.

• The String Queens (Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m.): Praised for their soulful sound, this Washington, D.C.–based trio blends classical, jazz, and contemporary hits.

• Medusa (Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 2 p.m.): Medusa is a genre-defying folk quartet combining ancient string traditions with contemporary storytelling.

For a full festival schedule, detailed program information, and ticket options, visit www.TheSembrich.org or contact The Sembrich at office@thesembrich.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Although the leafy grounds of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) were shrouded by knee-deep snow, summer concert plans were nonetheless underway at a press conference hosted by Live Nation last Thursday afternoon.

The entertainment conglomerate announced that Albany Med Health System had become its new presenting partner for SPAC’s upcoming 60th season.

A press release from Albany Med stated that new fan benefits will be rolled out this summer, including free admission for kids at select shows, fast lane access for nurses, and a designated driver program that promotes safe travel to and from the venue.

“We are especially grateful to Albany Med for all you do to support the physical health of the Capital Region community, and also for recognizing the role live music plays in health and wellness,” said SPAC CEO Elizabeth Sobol. “Your support of Live Nation’s concert lineup helps make these shared experiences possible for so many people, not only here in our region, but very far beyond. And thank you to our terrific partners at Live Nation, bringing major touring artists to our beloved venue every single year and continuing to invest in specs, campus, and infrastructure. All of this keeps our region on the global stage, while strengthening our local economy. We are so incredibly thankful to be part of a community where organizations come together to support live music, connection, and the overall vitality of our region and communities. We are excited for summer 2026 and the seasons of collaboration to come.”

Shortly after the announcement, Live Nation’s SPAC social media accounts and concert announcements began featuring the Albany Med Health System name and logo.

CHARLTON — Main Street Studio is hosting the new art exhibition “Metanoia: Art and Recovery” from Feb. 28 until April 11. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Through his collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures, artist Clarke Hingeford aims to shed light on the challenges many face with substance addiction and share his personal journey of how his creative practice has been a vital part of his own recovery process.

For Hingeford, creative practice and recovery are deeply intertwined. After completing a month-long recovery program in the summer of 2025, Hingeford gained a renewed understanding of the essential role art plays in his personal healing. Painting and drawing are part of his daily routine, serving as grounding practices that help him navigate the emotional and psychological complexities of recovery. 

Hingeford has been painting for more than 30 years and holds an M.A. in Fine Art from the University at Albany. His art is heavily inspired by music, poetry, literature, and contemporary painters. 

Visitors to the show can expect an immersive experience, surrounded by vibrant colors and movement. A portion of art sales will benefit Healing Springs Recovery Center, a program of the Prevention Council of Saratoga.

Main Street Studio is a member-supported community studio located in a re-purposed fire station at 786 Charlton Road in the historic hamlet of Charlton (west of Ballston Spa). The studio is equipped with tools, materials, and inspiration for woodworking, ceramics, fiber art, and natural dyeing, painting, and printmaking. The studio hosts gallery shows, workshops and community events throughout the year. Gallery hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment. 

For more information, visit Main Street Studio’s website at www.mainstreetcharlton.com or contact info@mainstreetchartlon.com.