Coming attractions for March 24, 2011
Published 12:01 a.m., Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sledgehammering SPAC

Another veteran act is coming to Saratoga Performing Arts Center, but it's about as far from the usual onslaught of hair bands as possible. In fact, these days he's pretty much bald. Former Genesis frontman and solo superstar Peter Gabriel is set for a show at SPAC on Monday, June 27. He's touring with the 46-piece New Blood orchestra, symphonically re-imagining his back catalog. The word isn't out from SPAC yet, just Pollstar.

Thrown for a Lupe

What if a hot rapper with a brand-new hit CD came to town ... and no one knew it? No worries; we have the 411 on Lupe Fiasco's upcoming gig at the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany on Wednesday, April 13. Well, that's pretty much the information.

We dub thee Red Square

Dub is a subgenre of reggae that has grown to stand along the Jamaican musical form as an equal. Dub Is a Weapon is a Brooklyn collective considered one of the top players of the style. Red Square in Albany is the place they'll be playing on Friday, April 15.

Hunter becomes the prey

Overachieving jazz-rock guitarist and composer Charlie Hunter has recorded 17 solo albums since his 1993 debut. And that followed a stint in political hip-hop group The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, alongside Michael Franti. See him continue the hard work at Red Square on Saturday, April 23.

Winter Thunderland

It snowed this week, so maybe thinking ahead to the next holiday season isn't so far-fetched. At least that's the thinking of the Palace Theatre in Albany. They've just announced Celtic Thunder Christmas for Saturday, Nov. 26. The vocal quintet will mix the Irish and the Scottish with the holly and the ivy.

You can have Atell

Stand-up comedian Dave Atell, famous for his early-90s Comedy Central show "Insomniac with Dave Atell," brings his routine to The Egg in Albany on Saturday, May 21. The TV show followed him through late night haunts and activities in different cities where he performed. Good luck in Albany, Dave.

Get your motor running

Planning your trip to the Harley Rendezvous Classic 2011 at Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville? Well, if you can only make it to one day of the three-day fest, be sure it's Saturday, June 25. That's when the "Guitar Godz of the 70z" are performing. The lineup includes Montrose (Minus Sammy Hagar, of course.), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Pat Travers (um, the Pat Teavers Band) and Derek St. Holmes (no, it's not a Spinal Tap character; he played with Ted Nugent.)

Malin heads to Albany

Former punker Jesse Malin, late of D Generation, now plies the rock singer-songwriter trade. But he's not alone; when he plays Bogie's in Albany on Wednesday, April 27, he'll be bringing along his band, the St. Mark's Social.