By Staff on December 18, 2025
Whassup in the 518?
Friday, December 19th
It’s a Jazzy Christmas, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs
“It’s a Jazzy Christmas” is returning to UPH! When it’s the most wonderful time of the year, “It’s a Jazzy Christmas” has all your favorite holiday songs! This ensemble performs concert hall shows that feature the music of Vince Guaraldi from the Peanuts holiday specials and many other seasonal favorites. Wrapped in the theme of an audio show (podcast, satellite or terrestrial radio…you chose!), their concerts take the audience on a holiday ride through decades of great music, stories and even a commercial or two! Audiences will even have a jolly laugh! “It’s a Jazzy Christmas” is the perfect concert to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
Brian Kane and The Beginning, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm
Brian Kane and The Beginning’s Rockin’ Holiday Show!
Grateful for Biggie w/s/g Peak, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11:59pm
Join us for the return of Grateful for Biggie, a perfect mash up of Biggie Small & The Dead wsg Peak. Friday, 12/19. Doors 7pm//Show 8pm
Kung Fu w/ Night Zero, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-11:30pm
Don’t miss a rare performance by funk powerhouse Kung Fu with special guest Night Zero. This show is part of New York State Music’s Jam for Tots Series. Please consider bringing a new, unwrapped, toy for our donation box and help spread holiday cheer to someone who can use a little extra help this holiday season.
Ellis Paul, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm
For over three decades, Ellis Paul has been one of the defining voices of contemporary folk music—an acclaimed singer-songwriter whose vivid lyrics and heartfelt performances carry forward the storytelling tradition of Woody Guthrie and the Boston folk scene.
Date Friday, December 19 Time 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Man Must Explore, Lost and Found, Albany, 9pm
No Fun Birthday Vol 4: A Tribute to Ozzy, No Fun, Troy, 6pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
12/19 5:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Wheatfields Clifton Park
12/19 6:00 PM BJ Fitzgerald- Spa City Tap & Barrel
12/19 6:00 PM Chris Dollard- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park
12/19 6:00 PM Christine Spero- Panza’s
12/19 6:00 PM Hannah Estelle- Prime at Saratoga National
12/19 6:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Carsons Woodside Tavern
12/19 6:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- The Scarlet Knife
12/19 6:00 PM North & South Dakotas- Walt Whitmans Brewery
12/19 6:00 PM Pat Decker- Thirsty Owl
12/19 6:00 PM Pat Decker- Thirsty Owl
12/19 6:00 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well
12/19 6:00 PM Shannon Roy- Blackbirds Tavern by Druthers
12/19 6:00 PM Thom Powers- Inn at Saratoga
12/19 6:00 PM Tim & Norm- Powers Pub
12/19 6:00 PM Tyler Giroux- 677 Prime
12/19 6:00 PM Warden & Company- Saratoga Winery
12/19 6:00 PM Wasbes- S&S farm Brewery
12/19 6:30 PM Coverups Duo- Peddlers Bar & Bistro
12/19 6:30 PM Don Ferlazzo- Other One Brewery
12/19 6:30 PM Jo Henley- Artisanal Brew Works
12/19 6:30 PM Rich Ortiz- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites
12/19 7:00 PM Acoustic Graffiti- Kraverie
12/19 7:00 PM Late Night Philosophers & DJ Biz- The Night Owl
12/19 7:00 PM Mike DeAngelis & John Haggerty- O’Slattery’s
12/19 7:00 PM Ruby Rose- Seven Bistro
12/19 7:00 PM Tumblestop- Unihog
12/19 7:00 PM Waiting For Bruce Band- The Bunker Saratoga
12/19 7:30 PM Off The Record- Albany Armory
12/19 8:00 PM DJ Vision- Misfit
12/19 8:00 PM Gratefully Yours- Ophelia’s Restaurant
12/19 8:00 PM Kung Fu w/ Night Zero- Putnam Place
12/19 8:00 PM Matty D- Bourbon Room
12/19 8:00 PM TBD- Arsenal Reserve
12/19 8:30 PM Aquanett- Vapor
12/19 9:00 PM Arch Stanton Group- Nine Maple
12/19 9:00 PM Ten Most Wanted- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino
12/19 9:30 PM Man Must Explore- Lost & Found
12/19 9:30 PM Wide Awake- Spa City Tap & Barrel
Saturday, December 20th
It’s a Jazzy Christmas, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
“It’s a Jazzy Christmas” is returning to Proctors! When it’s the most wonderful time of the year, “It’s a Jazzy Christmas” has all your favorite holiday songs! This ensemble performs concert hall shows that feature the music of Vince Guaraldi from the Peanuts holiday specials and many other seasonal favorites. Wrapped in the theme of an audio show (podcast, satellite or terrestrial radio…you chose!), their concerts take the audience on a holiday ride through decades of great music, stories and even a commercial or two! Audiences will even have a jolly laugh! “It’s a Jazzy Christmas” is the perfect concert to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
Ben Folds Tis The Season Tour, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs
Ben Folds is an Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter who has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, a holiday album, and numerous collaborative records. He currently tours as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras. A New York Times Best Selling author, Ben also composes new music for film, TV, and theatre.
Living Wreckage, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm
Matty Deez Nutscracker Spectacular, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm
Get in the holiday groove with Matty Deez Nutscracker Spectacular!
Greg Bells’ Halliday Ball Pre Show with The Eastern Highs, Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm-8pm
Like New York’s Adirondack High Peak mountains, which serve as the band’s inspiration, The Eastern Highs transcendent sound is deeply rooted while also ascending towards the sky and beyond. The Troy, NY based band produces a captivating soundscape, which deftly combines classic and modern sounds that owe as much to the roots/Americana flavor of The Band and Wilco as it does the intrepid reach of some of rock’s leading sonic explorers such as Pink Floyd and Radiohead. Together with focused songwriting; it concocts a musical vision quest that is uniquely The Eastern Highs.
Greg Bell’s Halliday Ball, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-1am
Join us on 12/20 for Greg Bell’s Halliday Ball feat. Moon Boot Lover, Ominous Seapods, Conehead Buddha & Dr Jah and the Love Prophets. 8pm
Finding Christmas ft: Dark Ballet + Peak Music After-Party, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm
Dark Ballet performs: A Heavy Metal Christmas Eve.
Dark Ballet is a boundary-pushing ensemble fusing classical, heavy metal, hard rock, and jazz influences with evocative storytelling and striking choreography.
Conceived in the South of England in 2013 and based near Albany, New York, Dark Ballet crafts story-driven performances that explore the raw emotions of the human experience—the dance of life and death. Collaboration is central to our work: by weaving together ballet, modern dance, aerial arts, martial arts, and more, we create immersive narratives that captivate audiences worldwide.
At the core of Dark Ballet are Jeff Moore and Crystal Moore, the creative visionaries behind every piece of music and production choice.
Website: www.darkballet.com
Crisis Isolation Holiday Food Drive, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 6pm-11pm
Crisis Isolation Holiday Food Drive benefiting Albany Food Not Bombs
Feat: School Drugs, Take Steps, Grand Street, Cheap Heat, Schenectavoids, No Division
Pony in the Pancake Annual Holiday Show w/ PIP / Los Espejos / Huntress Wizard / Coopers Hawk / The Belle Curves / Haley Moley / Nathan Meltz / Electric Turtle, No Fun, Troy, 6pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
12/20 1:00 PM 3 Wheel Drive- Lakeview on Crystlal Lake
12/20 1:00PM Lacey Allen & Legacy – Centre St. Pub
12/20 10:00 AM Kate Blain- Saratoga Farmers Market at Wilton Mall
12/20 4:00 PM Ragged Company- Unified Beer Works
12/20 4:00 PM Serge & Venture- Fort Orange Brewing
12/20 5:00 PM Jeff Walton- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery
12/20 5:00 PM Unken Brew- Artisanal Brew Works
12/20 5:30 PM Matty Finn- Tinney’s Tavern
12/20 6:00 PM Ben Zoleski- Spa City Tap & Barrel
12/20 6:00 PM Crisis Isolation Fundraising Food Drive- Hanger On The Hudson
12/20 6:00 PM Eric Kufs- Thirsty Owl
12/20 6:00 PM Franklin Micare- 677 Prime
12/20 6:00 PM Grand Central Trio- Carsons Woodside Tavern
12/20 6:00 PM Jacksland- Prime at Saratoga National
12/20 6:00 PM Jeanine Ouderkirk- Stella’s Pasta Bar at The Van Dyck
12/20 6:00 PM Jeff Stein- The Scarlet Knife
12/20 6:00 PM Jeffrey Halstead- Panza’s
12/20 6:00 PM Joe Adee & The Lug Nuts- S&S farm Brewery
12/20 6:00 PM Mike Bruce & Lacey Allen- Ravenswood
12/20 6:00 PM Ruby & Derick Buchner- Dock Browns Lakeside Tavern
12/20 6:00 PM Seth Warden- Inn at Saratoga
12/20 6:00 PM Steven & Shannon Gray- Powers Pub
12/20 6:00 PM Tops Of Trees- Wolf Hollow Brewing
12/20 6:00PM Noreen Pratt – Wishing Well
12/20 6:30 PM Derrick Forget- Peddlers Bar & Bistro
12/20 6:30 PM Pat Decker- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites
12/20 7:00 PM Broken Spur Band- Holy Moses Tavern
12/20 7:00 PM Chuck Ayers- O’Slattery’s
12/20 7:00 PM Completely Different- Kraverie
12/20 7:00 PM John Eisenhart- Seven Bistro
12/20 7:00 PM Neon Avenue- Unihog
12/20 7:00 PM POGO- Bunker Clifton Park
12/20 7:00 PM The Dude Abides- The Bunker Saratoga
12/20 7:30 PM Refrigerators- Vapor
12/20 8:00 PM Dark Ballet- Putnam Place
12/20 8:00 PM DJ Chizzzik- Misfit
12/20 8:00 PM Ill Funk Ensemble- September’s Too
12/20 8:00 PM Joceleyn & Chris- Caffe Lena
12/20 8:00 PM The Very Deep With Dave McCarthy- Albany Elks Club #49
12/20 9:00 AM Jeff Bribin Breakfast With Santa- At The Hideaway
12/20 9:00 PM Coverops- Centre St Pub
12/20 9:00 PM Out Of The Box- Nine Maple
12/20 9:30 PM Hit n Run- Spa City Tap & Barrel
Sunday, December 21st
The Many Moods of Christmas, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 3pm
Sing Solstice! Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
Gather with us this darkest night of the year to celebrate nature’s New Year with Terry Leonino & Greg Artzner (Magpie), Kim Harris and special guest, Abenaki storyteller Joe Bruchac, joined via video by Reggie Harris & Matt Watroba, all celebrating nature’s Season of Light, heralding the gradual lengthening of days to come, taking us to Spring and the return to light: fertility, new beginnings, warmth.
Albany Pro Musica’s beloved holiday concert with chorus and full symphony orchestra brings the light of the Christmas season to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. From the hushed opening notes of Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium” to the joyful mix of traditional carols in Bennett and Shaw’s “The Many Moods of Christmas” suite, this concert inspires and delights audiences each year.
The Last Lap Holiday Market, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs
Come down to Putnam Place to enjoy a day of oddities and vintage at the Last Lap Holiday Market!
We will have 25 vendors from the capital region and beyond including everything from oddities to hand crafted soaps, crystals, vintage, jewelry, apothecary, tarot readers, tooth gems, and flash tattoos!
Swing by for a quick drink or stay the whole day from 11am-5pm.
Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius & Maria Zemantauski & Friends present an Eclectic Evening of Seasonal Celebration, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm
Featuring:
Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius, piano
Maria Zemantauski, guitar
Jason Emmond, bass
Zorkie Nelson, percussion
Mitsuko Suzuki, violin
Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas with The Tichy Boys, The Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 7pm-10pm
Join us at the Hangar on the Hudson for a Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas with The Tichy Boys and special guests.
KramPuss! A Festivus – Badheart Burlesque Night, No Fun, Troy, 8pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
12/21 4:00 PM Jeff Brisbin- The Hideaway Dinner With Santa
12/21 4:00 PM Triple Trouble wsg Bailee Jordyn- Artisanal Brew Works
12/21 5:00 PM McKrells Christmas Show- Parting Glass
12/21 6:00 PM Sinatra And Friends- Panza’s
12/21 6:30 PM Matt Finnigan- Other One Brewery
12/21 7:00 PM Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius & Maria Zemantauski- Caffe Lena
12/21 8:00 PM McKrells Christmas Show- Parting Glass
12/21 9:00 AM Jeff Brisbin- Irons Edge Breakfast With Santa
12/21 Bobbie Van Detta- Charlton Tavern
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