Acousticade Music Festival

For those who like big rock concerts but can’t stand the volume level, have we got the show for you! Well, it might still be loud—the show is being staged in a hockey rink—but at least you’ll be able to make out the lyrics.

The first-ever Acousticade is a two-day acoustic-music festival featuring a variety of performers from around the quieter-music spectrum. Friday headliner Duncan Sheik (pictured) scored one of the longest-charting singles in pop history with his debut 1996 song “Barely Breathing”; most recently, he picked up a few Emmy and Grammy awards for his contributions to the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening. Saturday’s top billing goes to Odetta; if you don’t know who Odetta is, you should. Other performers include twin strummers Evan and Jaron, Dan Layus (of the band Augustana, had a recent hit with the song “Boston”) and country hitmaker Lori McKenna

The breakdown: Friday’s bill features Sheik and McKenna, plus Paula Cole. Saturday, it’s Odetta, Layus, Evan and Jaron, and Joshua Radin.

Acousticade takes place at the Glens Falls Civic Center (1 Civic Center Plaza, Glens Falls) tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday (April 4-5). Tickets are $29.95 per day; buy both and the second-day ticket is $19.95. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Adirondack Council. Call the Civic Center box office at 798-0202 to reserve tickets; more info is online at acousticade.com.

Jesus Christ Superstar

In 1971, the first Broadway smash hit by the now legendary team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber exploded into the musical world: Jesus Christ Superstar, the renowned rock opera about, yes, the life of Jesus.

Said musical spawned a No. 1 record, and, in 1973, became a mega-movie spectacular, bringing beloved songs like Mary Magdalane’s lament, “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” Jesus’ rock-prayer, “Gethsemane,” and Judas’ peppy, pleading gospel query, “Superstar” to the big screen.

The movie featured Ted Neely (left) as Jesus, and now, 35 years later, Jesus Christ Superstar hits the Proctors stage starring none other than Neely himself in the title role. Living Colour’s Cory Glover (right) plays Judas to Neely’s Jesus in this stripped-down production that has been dubbed Neely’s “farewell tour” by seemingly everyone but Neely. So it just may be your last chance to catch Neely in the role that made him, if you’ll forgive us, a superstar.

Jesus Christ Superstar hits Proctors Theatre (432 State St., Schenectady) on Tuesday (April 8) at 8 PM for a three-day run. Tickets are $20 to $55. For more info, call 346-6204.

Albany Pro Musica

Taking on the magnificent Ein Deutsches Requiem of Johannes Brahms is no small task, and the folks at Albany Pro Musica know it. They’re characterizing this performance as their “most ambitious program in years.”

Bolstered by the expanded APMasterworks Chorus and a 47-piece orchestra, director David Griggs-Janower has said that APM is ready: “This may be the first-ever local performance of this monumental piece, so the spotlight will really shine brightly on us.”

Before performing the Brahms, APM will be joined by the Guilderland High School Chamber Choir to perform works by Vaughn Williams and Fauré.

Albany Pro Musica will perform Saturday (April 5) at 8 PM at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (2nd and State streets, Troy). Tickets are $28 for first balcony and boxes, $25 general admission, $23 seniors and $10 students. For more info, call 273-0038.