Feb. 1-11: Ali Stroker, an actress, singer and activist who was the first wheelchair-bound performer to star in a Broadway production and has also appeared in Glee, will give a recital at Modfest, followed by “Making Your Limitations Your Opportunities,” a moderated talk discussing her work onstage and off.
Friday-Sunday, Feb. 2-4: Local food, beer, wine, music, dancing, blacksmithing, film, art and nature activities for all ages are among the weekend’s offerings. Musical acts will include resident bands Jay Ungar & Molly Mason and the Mammals featuring Mike + Ruthy, as well as Spirit Family Reunion, Anna & Elizabeth, Connor Kennedy, Tracy Bonham, Radio Jarocho, the Wiyos, Little Leatherwood, Megan Downes, Uncle Rock and Joakim Lartey.
Saturday, Feb. 3: Showcasing Master Sergeant MaryKay Messenger, the premier vocalist for the US Military Academy Band at West Point, the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra will perform a collection of Hollywood scores at the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park. The CIA will open the Caterina de’ Medici restaurant for a special $39 pre-performance dining experience.
Friday, Feb. 9: Home is a modern EP, not a nostalgic one. Even as it borrows their voice, its grim sense of the world would have scared the crap out of the Breakfast Club kids.
Opening Saturday, Feb. 10: Each year, the Barrett Art Center has organized a national juried photography exhibition, curated by a known quantity in the field. This year’s curator is E. Jason Wambsgans of the Chicago Tribune, winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography.
Friday, Jan. 26: Tiger Piss is the hardworking trio featuring players who are all quite taken with their other projects now: Lara Hope of Ark-Tones fame; Reverend Kev from the heavy-metal-themed bluegrass band Red Nekromancer; and the guitarist and experimental composer Danny Asis. Back in the day, these three blew out windows locally and in frequent do-it-yourself tours around the contiguous 48 with a risqué brand of punk and post-hardcore rock for the people. Someone tried to get the piss out of their name, but it wasn’t long before the rechristened Tigeriss changed it back. They are Tiger Piss, for better or for worse.
Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19 and 20: The Philly soul-into-mainstage megapop hitmaking legacy of Hall & Oates is not just enduring, but growing chic. Rock Academy pays tribute to the most successful duo in rock history at Colony in Woodstock.
Saturday, Jan. 13: Author/artist Barbara Bash will talk about the year she spent with little brown bats, learning how they give birth, raise their young, fly, hunt with echolocation (catching 600 mosquitos an hour) and gather at bat “conventions” before going into hibernation inside the caves before reemerging in spring.
Saturday, Jan. 13: The people at Levon Helm Studios know when a hard sell is not required. Their promotional copy in advance of Dar William’s performance there declares simply, “named one of America’s very best songwriters by The New Yorker.” Enough said.
Friday, Jan. 12: Regional Cajun aficionados lead a Cajun Dance at the White Eagle Benevolent Society in Kingston. Laissez les bons temps rouler. Beginners are welcome, and there will be a lesson before the show.