HUDSON FALLS — The Strand Theatre will present the world premiere of The Geritonics’ new musical revue at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5.

The Geritonics, a vocal group that specializes in mostly original comical songs, will present their show titled:  “Empty Nest/Full Bladder.”

Comprised of Catherine Reid, Laura Roth and Camille West-Wodicka, individually they have been entertaining audiences for years, and have now joined forces to write their take on the experience of getting older. 

$20 general admission. Tickets available at the Strand Box Office, cash or check only. The Strand Theatre is located at 210 Main St., Hudson Falls. Box Office 518-832-3484. www.mystrandtheatre.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Local author Patricia Nugent will present excerpts from her memoir, “They Live On: Saying Goodbye to Mom and Dad,” paired with original music by Michael Jerling at Caffe Lena at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12.

The collaboration between two local artists employing two different forms of creative expression has resulted in a tribute to life, loss, and love, and features Nugent’s prose coupled with nine original songs by singer/songwriter Jerling. 

A CD of the readings and music will also be launched at that event. 

Tickets for the 90-minute debut performance and CD launch are available at www.caffelena.org/live-events/.  For more information, email journalartspress@gmail.com. 

The great Smokey Greene was one of my favorite country/bluegrass artists. I would always catch his band at the last “Music in the Park” concert date up in Stony Creek in August. It always seemed right to catch Smokey in that small Adirondack hamlet. And ya know what? This year I missed his closing show for that venue, which I now deeply regret. I guess I thought he would live on forever, and I would catch up with him next summer.  

He seemed unstoppable, traveling the Eastern Seaboard to major bluegrass/country music venues, big and small, even performing on a Royal Caribbean Cruise.

Smokey looked great and photographed well. How could he not? Big, tall, handsome, dressed to kill, and always sporting a big hat. Smokey made us laugh, made us proud of our country, and then made us part of his family after seeing one of his shows. 

You could walk right up to Smokey and start up a conversation. In front of you would be the great Smokey and his pipe, that beloved old patch jacket he wore, and his million-miles guitar case. Look at his guitar case! Those stickers all over it are a source of entertainment in and of themselves, and if you look closely, you’ll understand the miles Smokey had put in to entertain us all.  That man traveled, and recorded, and performed, and sold CDs, and started bluegrass festivals, and performed with the biggest bluegrass performers in the country.  And that patch jacket he always wore? A homemade gift and pure Americana. That needs to be put in a museum. 

We received the public announcement in 2023 through Proctors Collaborative, that 93-year-old Smokey would be inducted into The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame, The Eddies honors local individuals who have made outstanding contributions to, or significant impact on the evolution, development, and perpetuation of the music industry. And boy did he! A well-deserved honor for a man who entertained us for over eight decades. His acceptance speech at the Universal Preservation Hall was less than 30 seconds, which for a man of many songs, speaks to one of his most unique traits… Smokey was down to earth. 

I know Smokey’s family, friends, fans; Hank Soto, Kevin McKrell, and the Bluegrass / Country Nation were very proud that special night last winter of the man who has always proven that being true to one’s art was the way to go.   

And let us not forget the fact that Smokey was a proud veteran during the Korean War, serving with the US Airforce. He always remembered those that served, those that served and did not come home, and those that are currently serving. He sang for veterans because he personally knew who they were, what they were going through. He always brought us back to what really mattered.   

So, if you think you have plenty of time to do – whatever – think again. 

Passing up seeing Smokey one last time was a hard lesson to learn.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Trouble Notes bring their epic, colorful music to the Caffe Lena stage for a 7 p.m. performance Thursday, Nov. 2. 

Sonically situated somewhere between world folk, modern classical & tribal dance, the Trouble Notes’ music features an eclectic fusion across the entirety of the musical spectrum, bringing the traditions of Europe and the Americas together in their message of Unity in Diversity, and their belief of art and music being a force for healing in this world.

Their songs “Grand Masquerade’’ and “Never Dream Alone” have been featured in videos amassing millions of views worldwide. $5 of every More Violins, Less Violence Shirt sold will be donated to help children affected by violence and war crimes.

For more information and tickets, go to: caffelena.org. 

ALBANY — Singer, songwriter, actress, and author Susanna Hoffs will visit the University at Albany for an evening of conversation with WAMC’s Joe Donahue as part of The Creative Life: A Conversation Series. 

Free and open to the public, the event will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Page Hall on the Downtown UAlbany campus, 135 Western Ave. Books will be for sale and a signing will follow the conversation. 

Susanna Hoffs rose to fame in the 80s as lead singer and guitarist of The Bangles, an all-female band that blended ’60s garage rock, lush harmonies, and jangly guitars and released a string of hits including “Manic Monday” (1986), “Walk Like an Egyptian” (1986), a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “A Hazy Shade of Winter” (1987), “In Your Room” (1988), and “Eternal Flame” (1989).

Hoffs is also the author of a bestselling debut novel, This Bird Has Flown (2023). Universal Pictures has acquired the movie adaptation rights to This Bird Has Flown. “As a lifelong fiction, film, and music junkie, writing the novel was the realization of a dream,” said Hoffs in an interview published in Deadline Hollywood. 

In addition to her work with The Bangles, Hoffs has released five solo albums. 

The Creative Life series is a major arts initiative of the University Art Museum, New York State Writers Institute, and UAlbany Performing Arts Center in conjunction with regional public radio station WAMC Northeast Public Radio. The Creative Life series brings leading figures from writing, music, dance, choreography, visual arts, architecture, theatre, and filmmaking to the University for conversation with Donahue about their creative inspiration, craft, and careers. Previous guests have included fiction writer Joyce Carol Oates, Broadway star Patti LuPone, Warhol film star Bibbe Hansen, high-wire artist Philippe Petit, art critic Lucy Sante and actress/comedian Jane Curtin.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College and Delmonico Books/D.A.P. announce the publication of Radical Fiber: Threads Connecting Art and Science, a catalogue that celebrates the overlap between art, science, interdisciplinary creativity, and collaborative learning in conjunction with the 2022 exhibition of the same name.

Edited by Tang Associate Curator Rebecca McNamara, Radical Fiber features a new artwork created by amateur and professional makers around the globe: the Saratoga Springs Satellite Reef, part of the Crochet Coral Reef project by Christine and Margaret Wertheim and the Institute For Figuring. 

With a foreword by Dayton Director Ian Berry, the exhibition catalogue includes contributors who reflect the full scope of the cross-disciplinary project.

Radical Fiber: Threads Connecting Art and Science (224 pages; softcover; $50; designed by Barbara Glauber / Heavy Meta) is available from the Tang website at: tang.skidmore.edu.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson kicks-off a 35-show North America tour in Nashville next May and will stage a performance at SPAC on June 20.

“Nothing gets me buzzin’ like putting on a show and singing along with the crowd,” Wilson said, in a statement. “We can’t wait to see you nationwide on the “Country’s Cool Again Tour!”

At Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Wilson will be joined by Ian Munsick, and Zach Top. Jackson Dean, depicted in the tour poster, will join the tour in August.  

Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 27 at 10 am at LaineyWilson.com. Dates may vary by market. See website for more details.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For two weekends, starting on Friday, Oct. 27, Home Made Theater will present the Tony Award winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is the story of middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia, who share a home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy-toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike contains some adult language.

Making his directorial debut at Home Made Theater is Barry Streifert, who has previously won TANYS (Theater Association of New York State) Awards for his directing at Confetti Stage and Sand Lake Center for the Arts/Circle Theater Player. 

Performances will be Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 2-5. Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays at the Dee Sarno Theater, in Saratoga Arts (320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs). Tickets are available on Home Made Theater’s website, www.homemadetheater.org, or by calling 518-587-4427 during box office hours 12-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Professor Louie & The Crowmatix performs 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at Caffe Lena. 

The Woodstock N.Y. based band have been expanding the borders of the Americana/blues genres since the early 2000’s with Professor Louie’s stories, keyboard playing, singing and accordion. 

Their repertoire expands with the songs Louie learned and helped create directly with “The Band” while collaborating with them for more than 15 years, and the Crowmatix songs on their own albums of original work.

Professor Louie is joined onstage by band mates, Miss Marie (vocals, percussion, and piano) and the guitar-slinging skills of Todd Mihan. The 2023 Rhythm Section features Frank Campbell  (bass, vocals) and Eric Puente (drums). 

For more information and tickets, go to: caffelena.org.