Attendees enjoy a recreation of a Mithraic feast of grilled meats, bread, fruit, olive oil, honey, garum (a fermented fish sauce), and wine at Skidmore College’s Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery on Nov. 13. The feast followed a dialogue about the cult of Mithras, a Roman mystery religion, that featured artist Sheila Pepe in conversation with Brigitte Keslinke and Gregory Spinner. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mithraism may have petered out more than a thousand years ago, but it made something of a comeback at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery last Thursday. There, visitors partook in a Mithraic feast of grilled meat, olive oil, bread, wine, and fermented fish sauce that recreated (to some extent, at least) the ritualistic practices of a mystery religion once prominent in Ancient Rome.
Mithraism died out sometime during the late 4th century, when Christianity took hold of Rome. But before that, depictions of the god Mithras appeared in “almost every province” of the empire, said Brigitte Keslinke, a PhD candidate in Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World at the University of Pennsylvania.
Although archeologists have discovered hundreds of sites containing materials believed to be related to Mithraism, no written texts explaining the beliefs or narratives of the religion have survived.
“I’ve come to terms with the fact that there’s a lot that we just won’t know unless we somehow find this text, this magical book, that tells us what people were doing and why,” Keslinke said during a Dunkerley Dialogue event about Mithraism at the Tang on Nov. 13. “But one of the things we do know and one of the things that interests me most is that we know community was important. This was an occasion to come together and hang out with people.”
In that sense, the event at Tang faithfully followed Mithraic practices. Attendees gathered to enjoy the Mithraic meal before venturing upstairs to see artist Sheila Pepe’s installation, “When & Where We Rest,” which transformed the museum’s mezzanine into a “communal lounge for reflection and conversation.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College is presenting “Family Forms”—an exhibition that invites visitors to consider how families are made, remade, and represented—from Nov. 15 until April 12.
Photographs, artists’ books, collage, sculpture, and video provide visitors ways to explore the spaces between ideas about “the family” and the lived experiences of families. Much of the exhibition draws from the Tang collection. The installation includes a domestic vignette built from thrifted frames displaying found photographs gifted to the Tang from Peter J. Cohen. Arranged above a historic mantelpiece, the scene turns the gallery into a living room where family pictures naturally gather.
Artists with work on view include Julie Chen, Mike Disfarmer, For Freedoms, Jesse Freidin, Erika Kapin, Ann Lovett, Tracey Moffatt, PaJaMa, Milton Rogovin, Joachim Schmid, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Laurie Simmons, and Danielle St. Laurent, among others.
Visitors are invited to contribute to the exhibition by submitting their own family photographs via an online form (app.youform.com/forms/nlxjibua). These images will be shown in the gallery on a digital frame throughout the run of the exhibition.
The exhibition is free and open to the public.
The Tang Museum, located on the Skidmore College campus at 815 North Broadway, is open noon–5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, visit tang.skidmore.edu.
Image via the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Universal Preservation Hall and WEXT announced the eighth class of inductees into the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
2026 inductees include: Dominick Campana, Ernie Williams, Lee Shaw, Maria Brink, Jim Furlong, Eddie Angel, Heavenly Echoes, and the owners of the Van Dyck Music Club in Schenectady, Don Wexler, Marvin Friedman, Peter Olsen, the McDonald Family, and Chris Sule.
Since its inception in 2019, the Eddies Hall of Fame has honored more than 55 individuals and groups whose artistry and dedication have been credited with enriching the cultural fabric of the Capital Region. This year’s class includes performers, producers, and educators who span generations and genres—from blues and jazz to gospel, rock, and metal—all united by their shared impact on the Capital Region’s musical legacy.
The 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 23 at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga. The event will feature live performances, a social hour, video retrospectives, and acceptance speeches celebrating each inductee’s journey.
2026 Inductee Highlights:
• The Van Dyck owners Don Wexler, Marvin Friedman, Peter Olsen, the McDonald Family, and Chris Sule: Honoring the owners who, across generations, made the Van Dyck a cornerstone of the Capital Region’s music scene. From its early days as a jazz institution to its recent rebirth as the Van Dyck Music Club, these stewards have carried forward a legacy of live music, community, and creativity in Schenectady’s historic Stockade.
• Dominick Campana: A force in Albany’s music scene for more than 40 years, Campana is a musician, producer, and sound engineer whose career has spanned performance, recording, and education. From his early bands including Dirty Face to his work at Paint Chip Records, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, The Egg, and Valentine’s, Campana’s influence has touched artists and audiences throughout the region.
• Ernie Williams: Known as the “Ambassador of the Blues,” Williams was the leader of Ernie Williams & The Wildcats, and, later, The Ernie Williams Band. He became an influential figure in the Albany music scene, performing for decades, mentoring young musicians, and giving back through benefit concerts.
• Lee Shaw: Considered the Capital Region’s “First Lady of Jazz,” Lee Shaw was a pianist, composer, and educator who shared a lifetime of creativity both on stage and in the classroom. Performing worldwide and teaching generations of young artists, she led her acclaimed trio for more than 40 years.
• Maria Brink: A Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and visual artist, Brink rose from the Capital Region to global stages as the front woman of In This Moment. Her groundbreaking artistry and theatrical performances continue to redefine women’s presence in hard rock and metal.
• Jim Furlong: Record shop owner, collector, and preservationist; Furlong has championed independent music culture in Albany for more than three decades. His shop, Last Vestige Music, remains a hub for collectors, musicians, and music lovers from across the world.
• Eddie Angel: A Grammy-nominated guitarist, songwriter, and performer from Rensselaer, Angel has toured internationally with Los Straitjackets and collaborated with Nick Lowe. His blend of humor, virtuosity, and love for classic rock and roll continues to inspire fans and fellow musicians alike.
• Heavenly Echoes: Founded in Albany in 1965, this gospel group has entertained audiences for six decades with their soulful harmonies and message of faith. Performing everywhere from churches to festivals and museums, they remain a cornerstone of the Capital Region’s cultural community.
“Each of this year’s inductees embodies the creative spirit and community connection that defines the Capital Region’s musical legacy,” said Kelly Auricchio, producer of the Eddies. “Their influence reaches beyond the stage, reminding us how music brings people together, shapes culture, and sustains our sense of place.”
More information on the Eddies Music Hall of Fame is available at theeddiesawards.com.
Mike Farris performs at The Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs on Nov. 14 as part of a co-headling “Heavyweights of Soul” show with Sugaray Rayford. Photo by Stefanie Waldek.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mike Farris, who won a Grammy Award in 2014 for Best Roots Gospel Album, sung SPAC’s praises last Friday night during a performance at The Parting Glass.
“[The Saratoga Performing Arts Center] may be the most beautiful amphitheater in the country—in the world,” Farris said on stage.
The founder and lead singer of the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies also shared amusing stories of his life on the road with the Allman Brothers and Meatloaf.
Once when he was a young musician opening for the Allmans, Farris eagerly waited around prior to a show to hear the legendary group’s sound check.
“Finally, I couldn’t wait any longer so I walked up to the stage and there were several roadies standing there,” Farris said. “And I go, ‘Hey, so are you guys gonna sound check?’ And they were like, ‘We don’t sound check, man.’ And he handed me a joint, and I was like, ‘This is paradise.’”
Farris co-headlined at Parting Glass with Sugaray Rayford, whose 2019 album, “Somebody Save Me,” was nominated for a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy.
Farris’ latest album, “The Sound of Muscle Shoals,” was released earlier this year.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Three new artists have been added to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s 2026 lineup: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner, and Parker McCollum.
Skynyrd and Foreigner will perform together as part of their “Double Trouble Vision” tour. Six Gun Sally, a Southern rock band, will open for the co-headliners on Aug. 23.
Skynyrd is a legendary Southern rock group known for their classics “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” Ronnie Van Zant, the group’s lead singer and songwriter, was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1977. After a decade-long hiatus, the band reformed with Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny taking over vocal duties. Since then, the rockers have been touring off and on, playing at the New York State Fair in Syracuse as recently as Aug. 28, 2025.
Foreigner ranks as one of the best-selling groups of all time, having moved at least 50 million certified units in their nearly 50-year career. The power ballads “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You” are among the best-known songs of the 1980s.
McCollum is a rising country artist who won New Male Artist of the Year from the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022. His latest eponymous album, released in June 2025, has been regarded as the most personal and introspective of his career thus far. He’ll hit the SPAC stage on Sept. 5.
The poster for Saratoga New Year’s Eve 2026 is unveiled during a press event at the Universal Preservation Hall on Nov. 18. The poster was designed by Rebecca Vickery. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Allman Betts Band will headline Saratoga’s 2026 New Year’s Eve festivities as part of an all-night music lineup spread across three venues.
The largest venue, the Saratoga Springs City Center, will host Allman Betts (a Southern rock group that includes the sons of three members of the Allman Brothers Band), Ally the Piper (an internet-famous bagpipe player), Kieran Rhodes (a singer/pianist featured on “America’s Got Talent”), Doc Horton (a Capital Region pop-soul performer), Heard (a world music/jazz collective), Glass Pony (a “psychedelic groove circus” group from Albany), and Maggie Doherty (a Saratoga-based singer/songwriter).
Indie pop band the Nicotine Dolls will play at the Universal Preservation Hall, with Troy-based act The Belle Curves opening.
At Caffe Lena, indie-folk/Americana ensemble Reese Fulmer and the Carriage House Band will take the stage. The caffe’s Executive Director Sarah Craig described the group as a younger, up-and-coming version of the Allman Betts Band.
In addition to a full night of music, Saratoga’s New Year’s Eve festivities will launch (literally and figuratively) with a fireworks display at the City Center accompanied by DJ RVMBA outside on Ellsworth Jones Place. This portion of the event, held from 5 to 6:30 p.m., is family friendly and free to attend.
The ‘Toga party will wrap up on the morning of New Year’s Day with the Saratoga First Day 5K at 11 a.m. Participants can run and/or walk through Broadway, the city’s residential East Side, and the Spring Run Trail.
“From the festive fireworks to the First Day 5K – and a whole lot of outstanding entertainment options in between, Saratoga New Year’s Eve offers an incredible New Year’s celebration with something for everyone,” said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “We hope folks will join us to ring in 2026 by partaking in this beloved Saratoga tradition.”
“Since moving the fireworks earlier, the New Year’s celebration accommodates both families as well as nightlife revelers to the wonderful hometown feel of our beautiful downtown,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford. “Come early or late; you will find New Year’s Eve in Saratoga Springs to be a singular unique experience.”
Tickets for the music acts are now on sale at www.saratoganye.com. Additional information, including a full entertainment schedule, is also available on the website.
Early online registration for the 5K is encouraged and available at fc4events.com. The registration fee includes an event shirt and competitive awards. Late registration opportunities will be available on the day of the race.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Local author Bridget Farry has won two gold medals at The BookFest Awards Fall 2025 for her debut book, “Cooper’s Campervan Adventures: Montana,” illustrated by DFG Illustration and published by Saratoga Springs Publishing.
The book was honored in two categories: Children’s Fiction: Action & Adventure and Children’s Fiction: Animals. The BookFest honors authors who create “outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction.”
“I am delighted to announce Bridget Farry as the winner of two gold medals at The BookFest Awards,” said Desireé Duffy, founder of The BookFest, in a news release. “This year’s competition was exceptional, and Bridget should be very proud of this outstanding accomplishment.”
“I’m so thankful and excited that ‘Cooper’s Campervan Adventures: Montana’ has been recognized by The BookFest Awards,” Farry said. “It’s an incredible honor, and I’m grateful for everyone who helped make this book possible.”
Farry founded Paw Print Books with the mission to inspire young readers while giving back to the world we all share. Her debut children’s book, “Cooper’s Campervan Adventures: Montana,” is based on the real-life adventures of her rescue dog, Cooper, and was written to spark curiosity, a sense of adventure, and a love for the outdoors.
The book is available on the author’s website (www.pawprintbks.com), and in the local stores Impressions of Saratoga, G. Willikers Toys, Saratoga Outdoors, and Saratoga Springs Publishing.
Cover image of “The Woodcutter’s Christmas” book provided by Galpon Press.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new independent book publishing imprint based in the Capital Region is releasing “The Woodcutter’s Christmas” in time for the holiday season, and the book’s author and photographer will visit Saratoga Springs for a special signing event at the Northshire Bookstore during the Victorian Streetwalk from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 4.
The new, deluxe edition of “The Woodcutter’s Christmas” from Galpón Press is set between the serene beauty of winter in Vermont and the gritty streets of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The story explores the contrast between “nature’s slow, steady rhythms and the disposable culture of contemporary society.” The book was originally published 25 years ago but has long been unavailable.
The original book by Brad Kessler features a new selection of Dona Ann McAdam’s original photographs with an updated text also by Kessler.
Kessler is also the author of “North” (2021), “Goat Song” (2009), “Birds in Fall” (2006), “Lick Creek” (2001), and editor and co-creator of “Deep North: Stories of Somali Resettlement in Vermont” (2023). His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Kenyon Review, The New Yorker, and Literary Hub.
McAdams, whose career retrospective exhibition opened at Pratt Manhattan galleries this past spring, is the author of the photographic memoir, “Black Box” (2024). She has exhibited her work at the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and many other institutions. She and Kessler, her husband, live on a goat farm in Vermont.
Based out of a shed (“galpón” in Spanish) on Filmore Farm in Washington County, Galpón Press is part of the newly formed Filmore Projects LLC.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The short days and long nights of autumn have arrived, but a dream of spring persists: A heap of artists have joined the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s 2026 lineup.
The acts, favorites among Gen X-ers and Millenials, include summer concert specialists O.A.R., laid-back singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, pop-rockers Train, and alternative group Barenaked Ladies.
Johnson will perform (with opener Hermanos Gutiérrez) on Jun. 24; Train and Barenaked Ladies will hit the SPAC stage on Jul. 22; and O.A.R.’s “Three Decades Tour” will arrive on Sept. 19 with Gavin DeGraw and KT Tunstall opening.
The acts joined Cake, another Gen X and Millennial favorite, in SPAC’s spring/summer lineup, which now includes a total of five announced shows.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra will perform selections from festive orchestral favorites during the “Poinsettia Pops” shows on Dec. 6 and 7 at the Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) in Saratoga Springs.
The orchestra will fill the Great Hall at UPH with seasonal favorites such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Let It Snow,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” and selections from “The Nutcracker.”
One hour before each performance, guests can enjoy a pre-concert talk with Artistic Director/Conductor Glen Cortese and special guest vocalist Kimberly Hawkey. Children under 18 are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets and details are available at sssony.org.
In other UPH news, Proctors Collaborative announced on Wednesday the appointment of Marisa Flynn as its new vice president of programming, marketing, and communications. Flynn has nearly two decades of experience in entertainment, brand leadership, and business development. She joined Proctors following her role as vice president of business development at the Oak View Group, where she led efforts to grow partnerships and uncover new revenue driving and guest experiential opportunities across arenas, performing arts centers, colleges, and cultural attractions.
As VP, Flynn will oversee the organization’s programming strategy following Jean Leonard, who served in that capacity before becoming the president of Proctors Collaborative. Flynn will lead efforts to strengthen the Collaborative’s presence across its venues — Proctors in Schenectady, Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, and Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs — and expand its commitment to bringing performances, community engagement, and arts education to the Capital Region.
