The lovely and talented Avakian has spent a good part of this year duet-ing with her husband, classical guitarist Terry Champlin, in support of their exquisite CD Musikos Peripatos: A Musical Stroll. She lets down her hair at the hip new Maia Lounge on Route 55, promising "spontaneous sets with requests from the music menu in the couch-filled lounge." Poughkeepsie. (845) 486-5004. www.helenavakian.com.

Raisch, the area's best velvet-voiced crooner, brings an evening of jazz, swing, & romance to the panoramic Skytop Steakhouse with its glittering view. The combo, featuring pianist Frank Spies and bassist Lew Scott, captures the classic Sinatra-Darin-Bennett songbook, full of American standards not even Rod Stewart dare attempt. No cover with drinks/dinner. Kingston. (845) 340-4277. www.marksings.com.

Sundad is father-and-son (get it?) guitarists John Eurell Sr. and Jr. and multipercussionist Chet Soares. Their mostly-original repertoire consists of acoustic guitar instrumentals blending New Age, world and jam-band music. XM satellite radio featured their CD, Journey to Eternity, on "The Best Music this Week," and the opening track, "Open Sesame" appears on NPR's All Songs Considered: Open Mic. Hear this and new songs from their upcoming release at the cozy Peekskill Coffee House. No cover. Peekskill. (914) 739-1287. www.sundadrecords.com.

Throw caution to the wind on Friday the 13th (what do you have to lose?) and let it rock with these Dutchess dukes of hazardous behavior. Rockslyde knows more songs than your iPod and ventures unafraid into hard rock, metal, even funk territory at the ever-friendly Hyde Park Brewing Company. If you're lucky, there might be some holiday brew left in Barrel 9. $5. Hyde Park. (845) 229-8277. www.rockslyde.freeservers.com.

How lucky we are in the Hudson Valley to have retained incredible musicians, of all genres and generations, as our friends and neighbors. Levon, always visible around town, opens his studio for another in a successful series of semiprivate concerts. This to-be-recorded session features Levon's band joined by Jim Weider and the Honky Tonk Gurus and the Alexis P. Suter band. Surprise guests are not unusual. $100 donation. Woodstock. (845) 679-2744. www.levonhelm.com.

This traditional Irish music collective traveled from Rhinecliff to High Falls before finding a monthly home at the Rosendale Café. "Banshanachie," or "the woman storyteller," is Sarah Underhill, a Hudson Valley singer and traditional Irish song collector. Her friends include fiddler Erik Murray, Graham Smyth on banjo and mandolin, guitarist Steven O'Shea, and Vinnie Connelly on bodhran. This soulful session continues to endure like the songs and people it celebrates. (Jeremy Lyons and the Deltabilly Boys arrive from NOLA 1/13.) No cover. Rosendale. (845) 658-9048. www.rosendalecafe.com.

The sublime Aroma Thyme Bistro expands its culinary reputation with the recent addition of live music. Cleoma's Ghost, a traditional Cajun folk duo (Roger Weiss on fiddle/vocals and Buffy Lewis on guitar/vocals) has been playing Cajun music in one form or another for nine-plus years. Aroma Thyme, voted one of the Hudson Valley's best new restaurants, features a "Supper Nightclub" menu of organic meats and vegetables, premium vodkas, single malts, and beer/wine in a warm, intimate atmosphere. No cover with drinks/dinner. Ellenville. (845) 647-3000. www.cleomasghost.com.