Larkfest 21

Though we still remember when Larkfest was only this high, there’s no denying that it’s all growed up now. For 21 years, Center Square has hosted the gleeful riot of musical acts, rides, art, food and craft vendors, and drunk, bare-chested, sunburned, dancing guys. This year’s celebration, on Saturday from 10:30 AM to 5 PM, boasts more than 90 vendors, a family stage to keep the little ones entertained, lots of rides, the Graffic Beat stage (which will feature a live graffiti-art demonstration and a b-boy dance competition), and three stages of live music (we don’t have a count yet on the dancing guys, but keep your eyes peeled).

The scheduled performers on the acoustic stage: Mark Visconti (11:30-11:55 AM); Rosanne Raneri (noon-12:25); Leepfrog (12:30-12-12:55); the Kamikaze Hearts (1-1:25); Paddy Kilrain (1:30-1:55); Bryan Thomas (2-2:30); MotherJudge and the Urban Holiness Society (2:35-3:05); knotworking (3:10-4) and Jump Cannon (4:10-5).

On the world-music stage: the Hal Miller Band, with Chuck D’Aloia (noon-12:45); the George Muscatello/Brian Patneaude Quartet (1:15-2); the Adrian Cohen Quartet (2:30-3:15); and Alex Torres (3:45-4:45).

On the rock stage: GreayStar (noon-12:20); Arc (12:50-1:15); F-Timmi (1:45-2:15); Injected (2:45-3:30); and Antigone Rising (4-5).

For more information, including the kids-stage schedule, check www.larkstreet.org or call the Lark Street Business Improvement District, 434-3861.

Albany Symphony Orchestra

The Albany Symphony Orchestra begins its 72nd season with a program titled The Home of the Brave tonight at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs and tomorrow at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Again under the direction of David Alan Miller, the centerpiece of this program is the world premiere of Richard Einhorn’s The Spires, The City, The Field. This cantata in memory of the victims of Sept. 11 was commissioned by the ASO. Einhorn is probably best known for Voices of Light, his haunting 1995 score inspired by, and composed for, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 film The Passion of Joan of Arc; he has also written chamber music, ballets, songs, and theater music. The guest soloists for the piece will be Lucille Beer, mezzo-soprano, and Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica.

Other pieces on the program include Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 in G, Vaughn Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, and Villa Lobos’ harmonica concerto, also featuring Robert Bonfiglio.

The Albany Symphony Orchestra will perform tonight (Thursday, Sept. 12) at 8 PM at the Canfield Casino (Congress Park, Saratoga Springs), and tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 13) at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (Second and State streets, Troy). Call 465-4755 for prices and reservations.

Visions and Vibrations: The Visual Art of Musicians

Eclectic gallery Trink, housed above an equally eclectic vintage goods shop(pe), begins its fall season with Visions and Vibrations: The Visual Art of Musicians, an exhibit that features the work of 11 artist-musicians from the area.

Included in the show are paintings by Sergio Sericolo (Even the Odd), George Frayne (Commander Cody), Connie Acher and Michael Eck, as well as mixed-media work by G.C. Haymes (some know him as Sarge Blotto), photochemistry paintings by electronic composer-musician Sara Ayers, sculpture by Chip Fasciana, color photography by Buck Malen, nature photography by Tom Lindsay (Chefs of the Future), digitally enhanced photography by Tom D’Ambrose (the Sharks) and cartoons by Teresa Burns Parkhurst (Lois and the Kryptonites)—hopefully that’s 11. (Pictured is Frayne’s Billie Holiday.)

And there’s more. In keeping with the theme, the album-cover work by Martin Benjamin, Robert Gullie, Wren Panzella and T.H. Hyndman will be shown, as will Scott Asbury’s rock posters. The gallery also is releasing an 11-song CD, Visions and Vibrations, produced by Sara Ayers, featuring music by the 11 artists (more mathwork here).

Trink Gallery (122 Remsen St., Cohoes) will open Visions and Vibrations: The Visual Art of Musicians with a reception tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 13) from 5:30 to 8 PM, and many of the artists featured will perform: Commander Cody, Michael Eck and Tom Lindsay are but a few. The exhibit will be up until Nov. 13. The gallery is open from noon until 6 PM on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment. Call gallery directors Robert Gullie (237-2327) or Tom D’Ambrose (463-8955) for information.