Joan Baez and Kris Kristofferson, Saturday Nov. 5, State Theater 8 p.m. On Friday, two folk legends will join together for one legendary night: Joan Baez and Kris Kristofferson are performing here in town. Septuagenarians Baez and Kristofferson are both going strong after 53 and 48 years in the business, respectively. “Queen of Folk” Baez has perfected her sound, releasing more than 30 albums over the span of her career, as she joins country-folk-rock Kristofferson for a limited run on her fall tour. Singer of “Diamons & Rust” and former paramour of both Bob Dylan and Steve Jobs, the always-interesting Baez is sure to entertain with the hit-making, Academy Award-nominated singer-actor Kristofferson. — Alice Wang
Pterodactyl, Time/Being, 8 p.m. on Saturday at The Space at Greenstar. For a night of electro acoustic, hardcore punk and pop rock, check out The Space at Greenstar for a rousing art rock odyssey. Brooklyn “noise-punk mischief-makers,” Pterodactyl are performing alongside three other up-and-coming bands: why+the+wires, BEES/// and Time/Being. If crazy genre-bending aural experimentation is your kind of thing, don’t hesitate. This dynamic video-visual show is sure to be a modern, psychedelic experience — a diverse, high-energy act for a memorable night. — Alice Wang
Rusted Root, Friday Nov. 4, 9 p.m. at the Haunt. Pittsburgh native band Rusted Root will make a stop at The Haunt this Friday, November 4th. The group, which has been together for more than twenty years, will be playing newer material as well as nostalgia-evoking favorites such as “Send Me On My Way.” Although the band hasn’t released a studio album since 2009, they have gradually added several songs to their tour set list to keep things interesting. Famous for their rootsy, Grateful Dead-inspired rock and African and Latin percussion, the band is perhaps praised even more for its live performances, adding even more appeal to this event. — Martha Wydysh
Other Events/Features On and Around Campus Throughout the Week
Screening of Midnight Cowboy at the Cornell Cinema, Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 at the Willard Straight Theatre. Based on the novel by James Leo Herlihy, this devastating X-rated film, released in 1968, features Jon Voight as a young rodeo Texan hoping to make it big in the glittering streets of New York. He instead falls in with a third rate con-man and pimp, played by Dustin Hoffman. The only X-rated film ever to win Best Picture at the Oscars, it is not to be missed.
CU Jazz: Willard Straight Jazz at Noon, Nov. 4 at Willard Straight Reading Library. Come listen to some jazz music played by some of Cornell’s best student musicians and escape the pressures of school life. Event runs weekly till Dec. 5.
— Colin Chan