The Fourth of July is upon us, promising a musically unforgettable celebration as James Taylor marks his 50th year performing at Tanglewood. You can delve into his legacy in the latest issue of our sister publication, Berkshire Magazine. Taylor’s two shows are just the beginning; Jason Mraz joins The Boston Pops earlier in the week for a spectacular performance, and Friday marks the opening night of the Tanglewood classical season. Beyond Tanglewood, the county buzzes with an astounding 80 live music performances across various genres, including classical, opera, Broadway, jazz, pop, rock, folk, R&B, blues, bluegrass, and even a multilingual children’s performance. Below are some highlights for the week ahead, followed by our comprehensive show rundown. Below are some highlights for the week ahead, followed by our comprehensive show rundown.
Classical and Opera
The summer classical music season is now fully underway with 11 performances, including seven at Tanglewood, which officially opens its season this week.
The music starts Monday at noon with a free concert featuring Violinist Emily Kalish and pianist Kyle P Walker at Saint John’s Episcopal Church in Williamstown. The program, “Classical Blues,” features music by Gershwin, Ravel, David Baker, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, and Errollyn Wallin. Wednesday early evening, you can enjoy the Fortepiano Concert at Ventfort Hall in Lenox, where you’ll hear Haydn and Mozart’s piano works performed as “they intended them to be heard — in a private home on a period instrument.” The performance is repeated again on Thursday.
Tanglewood’s Prelude Concert takes place Friday early evening in Ozawa Hall with members of the BSO performing Puccini Crisantemi for string quartet, Bartók String Quartet No. 3, Schumann String Quartet in A, Op. 41, No. 3. This is followed by Opening Night at Tanglewood in the Koussevitzky Shed, featuring an all-Beethoven program Violin Concerto, Symphony No. 3, Eroica. Saturday afternoon, you can catch TLI The Art of Conducting: Andris Nelsons and Hilary Hahn followed later by TMC Fellows Prelude Concert. Elsewhere, you can listen to Daniel Maltz: Classical Piano at the Adams Theatre. Maltz specializes in the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, performed on the Viennese fortepianos of their time.
Back at Tanglewood Sunday morning, you’ll find TMC Chamber Music, followed in the afternoon by Andris Nelsons leads an all-Strauss program featuring Renée Fleming, soprano. You can then put a bow on your week with a TMC Vocal Recital in the evening.
You’ll also find two other Tanglewood Broadway performances covered in our Something Else category.
Jazz
Jazz lovers will find nine performances in the county this week. The music starts with Andy Wrba, Conor Meehan, and Benny Kohn hosting Monday Night Jazz at Pizzeria Boema in Lenox. We dropped in to see the trio along with guests Ed Moran and Don Mikkelsen this past Monday and really enjoyed their performance under the courtyard tent – along with some tasty pizza. On Tuesday, catch the Jazz Night with Paul Ostermayer and Friends at Tito’s Mexican Bar and Grill in Pittsfield. On Wednesday, at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, you’ll find an Outdoor Concert: Jacques Schwarz-Bart and Band. Schwarz-Bart connects jazz music with its Afro-Caribbean origins. Also on Wednesday, you can catch the Michael Junkins Trio at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge.
Saturday afternoon outdoors, JoAnne Redding and Benny Kohn perform in Persip Park in Pittsfield, then in the evening, you’ll find BAAMS Presents: Randy Brecker and Ada Rovatti and the BAAMS’ Band at Studio 9 in North Adams. All proceeds will help support music education at BAAMS, which provides after-school and Saturday music study and an annual summer jazz band day camp. Sunday morning, take in the Domingo Brunch featuring duo David Bartley and Pete Toigo at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield or head down to Sheffield midday to chill to the Jazz Brunch with Natalia Bernal & Jason Ennis at Race Brook Lodge. Sunday evening, Michael Junkins and Friends perform at The Lion’s Den. This week Michael features Charlie Tokarz on Saxophone.
Popular (Rock, Pop, Folk, Blues, etc.)
Our calendar is dominated by the popular music category, with over 50 performances this week – we can’t highlight them all but will mention a few (see our calendar or show rundown below for all the performances).
The music starts on Monday early evening with the first installment of Music Mondays when Misty Blues performs outdoors at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge.
Tuesday night, you can see Jason Mraz with the Boston Pops at Tanglewood, followed on Wednesday and Thursday by James Taylor and his All-Star Band (pictured above). If you are looking for something more intimate but still outdoors, then consider the David Reed Duo at the Great Barrington Town Hall, Happy Together at Lilac Park in downtown Lenox, or Sean Magwire at Windsor Lake in North Adams. All these outdoor series and more were covered in our recent article in our sister publication Berkshire Magazine, Great Music in the Great Outdoors. And if the weather does not cooperate, then consider going to see The Beatles tribute band The Eggmen at The Egremont Barn – but don’t wait till the last minute since this local favorite typically sells out.
If you are not going to see James Taylor and the fireworks on the 4th, then consider seeing one of the two Music in the Berkshires Featured Musicians performing in the county: Milton at The Lion’s Den or Jordan Weller & The Way It Seems at Dream Away Lodge in Becket. Jordan performs again Friday night at Roberto’s Pizza in Sheffield and then Saturday night with his band, The Feathers, at The Egremont Barn–it’s a busy week for Jordan!
Friday night, catch the Back Porch Concert and Cookout: The Nields at the historic Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield. A reviewer described their music as “equal parts Beatles, Cranberries, and Joni Mitchell.” I love all three artists, so this might be on my list for Friday. Berkshire Busk enters its second week in downtown Great Barrington while The Rejuvinaters perform at The Lion’s Den. Fans of The Egremont Barn will want to head there to celebrate The Barn’s 8th Anniversary with The BTUs. Meanwhile, Glori Wilder performs at Dream Away Lodge. We are huge fans of Glori – you can see several reels of her on our Instagram page here and here (the second is a favorite clip with an all-star cadre of local musicians including Jackson Whalan, Carolyn Dufraine, Benny Kohn, Sam McGarrity, Miles Lally, and Tim Morrison).
Berkshire Busk continues in downtown Great Barrington on Saturday afternoon and evening, with another six musical performances – see our Music Calendar for a list of performers. Also on Saturday is the Common Ground Festival, featuring a line-up of performers that includes Clara Guatta, Quarteto De Samba, and the Funky Dawgz brass band, which plays hip hop, funk, and pop hits with a brass twist. This band performed in Madison Square Garden as the horn section for Dispatch, which will be at Tanglewood later this summer. In the evening, consider one of these four great choices: Lucy Kaplansky at The Guthrie Center in Great Barrington, Wanda Houston at The Lion’s Den, or the indie-folk-pop-Americana band Bandits on the Run w/Christopher Sears & Sienna Sears at Dream Away Lodge.
Sunday midday, consider heading to the first installment of Lee’s Sundays in the Park Live Music series to listen to the Wild Cat OHalloran Band play the blues at the First Congregational Church of Lee. On the Sunday afternoon “winery and brewery circuit,” you will find Jon Berman at Antimony Brewing in Lenox, Mike Duffy at Balderdash Cellars in Richmond, and RJ McCarty in the Taproom at Bright Ideas Brewing in North Adams. In the evening, you’ll want to consider listening to Jenna Nicholls & Jon Ladeau at Dream Away Lodge or Eureka Shoes at Tourists in North Adams. Eureka Shoes consists of the trio Charlie Burnham, Jean Rohe, and Skye Soto Steele, who have each achieved notoriety in their respective worlds of jazz, folk, and pop music.
Something Else
This week, we have seven options in our Something Else category. Monday night, 15 Stories continues its two-night run at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield. Performer Alysha Umphress takes on 15 different personae in one evening, performing songs from Bock and Harnick, Kurt Weill, Bobby Gentry, Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, Leiber and Stoller, and others. Tuesday night, Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret opens its five-performance run at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox. The show celebrates Shakespeare in stories and songs, with local musicians Johnny Irion, Benny Kohn, and Conor Meehan contributing to the music. It runs again on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Also on Wednesday at The Foundry in West Stockbridge, you’ll find Tipsy Carol’s “She-Bang” Sing-Along, with Tipsy singing songs like Blowin’ In The Wind, 9 to 5, Puff The Magic Dragon, War, We Shall Overcome, Talkin’ Bout a Revolution, You are My Sunshine, and Big Yellow Taxi.
Saturday, those who enjoy Broadway show tunes won’t want to miss Broadway Today!: Broadway’s Modern Masters at Tanglewood. You can catch the Open Rehearsal at 10:00 am or the performance at 8:00 pm. The Boston Pops and cast of current Broadway performers showcase songs from Tony-winning musicals including Hamilton, In the Heights, The Light in the Piazza, Kimberly Akimbo, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, The Band’s Visit, and Dear Evan Hansen. Also on Saturday morning, children of all ages will want to see the Concert With MISTER G! at The Mount in Lenox. Latin Grammy Award-winning musician, activist, author, and educator, Mister G, combines multi-lingual songs and storytelling with his picture book We’ll Make Things Better Together.
On Sunday night, Cello Stories: A Life Under Broadway with Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf is at The Foundry. Using musical arrangements and captivating stories, the twenty-year Broadway veteran Dorman-Phaneuf explores what it is to be a Broadway musician. Also on Sunday night, you’ll find The New Belters at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield. Seth Sikes & Nicolas King pay tribute to the stars of the American Songbook, such as Sammy Davis Jr., Anthony Newley, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Barbra Streisand, and others.
You can read about all of these performances and more in our day-by-day show rundown below or jump right to our music calendar. Please note that our deadline for inclusion in the weekly narrative above and the day-by-day listing below is Wednesday at noon. Check our music calendar for shows we’ve added after our weekly publication deadline. Use the subscribe button below to receive this free weekly rundown of upcoming performances in your inbox each Monday. And if I missed a performance, please contact me, and I’ll add it to the calendar.
Monday
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Violinist Emily Kalish and pianist Kyle P Walker @ Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Williamstown.
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Music Mondays: Misty Blues @ Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Monday Night Jazz @ Pizzeria Boema, Lenox. Monday Night Jazz summer residency with Andy Wrba, Conor Meehan, and Benny Kohn. Learn more about Andy here. Read our interview with Andy here.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm 15 Stories @ Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield.
Tuesday
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm Jazz Night with Paul Ostermayer and Friends @ Tito’s Mexican Bar and Grill, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm Jason Mraz with the Boston Pops @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
7:00 pm Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret @ Shakespeare & Company, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Two of Us Band @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield.
Wednesday
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Fortepiano Concert @ Ventfort Hall, Lenox.
5:30 pm – 7:15 pm David Reed Duo @ Great Barrington Town Hall, Great Barrington.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Outdoor Concert: Jacques Schwarz-Bart And Band @ The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Happy Together @ Lilac Park, Lenox.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins Trio @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Sean Magwire @ Windsor Lake, North Adams.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret @ Shakespeare & Company, Lenox.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm The Eggmen @ Egremont Barn, South Egremont.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Tipsy Carol’s “She-Bang” Sing-Along @ The Foundry, West Stockbridge.
8:00 pm James Taylor and his All-Star Band @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
Thursday
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret @ Shakespeare & Company, Lenox.
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Fortepiano Concert @ Ventfort Hall, Lenox.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Live Music with Clara Guatta @ Tito’s Mexican Bar and Grill, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Milton @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Jordan Weller & The Way It Seems @ Dream Away Lodge, Becket.
8:00 pm James Taylor and his All-Star Band @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
Friday
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Jason & Trev @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
5:30 pm – 7:15 pm Lucky Bucket Band @ Great Barrington Town Hall, Great Barrington.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Tony Lee Thomas @ Bousquet, Pittsfield.
6:00 pm Prelude Concert @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
6:00 pm Jordan Weller @ Roberto’s Pizza, Sheffield.
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Back Porch Concert and Cookout: The Nields @ Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield.
6:30 pm – 10:00 pm Berkshire Busk @ Downtown Great Barrington, Great Barrington.
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Berkshire Busk @ Downtown Great Barrington, Great Barrington.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm After Party with Mr. Doubtfire @ Dottie’s and Dorothy’s, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm The Rejuvinaters @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Micah Stone @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm The Barn’s 8th Anniversary with The BTU’s @ Egremont Barn, South Egremont.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Glori Wilder @ Dream Away Lodge, Becket.
8:00 pm Opening Night at Tanglewood @ Tanglewood, Lenox.8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Liquid Courage @ Knox Trail Inn, East Otis.
Saturday
10:30 am Open Rehearsal: Broadway Today!: Broadway’s Modern Masters @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Eric Reinhardt performs “ David Grover” set @ Great Barrington Town Hall, Great Barrington.
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Concert With MISTER G! Concierto con MISTER G ! @ The Mount, Lenox.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Tom Savoy @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Jazz Duo in Persip Park: JoAnne Redding and Benny Kohn @ Persip Park, Pittsfield.
2:00 pm TLI The Art of Conducting: Andris Nelsons and Hilary Hahn @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Berkshire Busk @ Downtown Great Barrington, Great Barrington.
3:00 pm – 4:20 pm Bobby Sweet and Lara Tupper @ Devonfield Inn, Lee.
3:00 pm – 9:00 pm Common Ground Arts Festival @ First Street Common, Pittsfield.
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm All Ten and John @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
6:00 pm TMC Fellows Prelude Concert @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
6:30 pm – 10:00 pm Berkshire Busk @ Downtown Great Barrington, Great Barrington.
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Berkshire Busk @ Downtown Great Barrington, Great Barrington.
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Mark Franklin @ Dalton CRA, Dalton.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret @ Shakespeare & Company, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm BAAMS Presents: RANDY BRECKER AND ADA ROVATTI and the BAAMS’ Band @ Studio 9, North Adams.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm The Mikes @ Firehouse Cafe & Bistro, Adams.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Kittie and the Beard @ Locker Room Sports Pub, Lee.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tim Gallagher @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Wanda Houston @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
7:30 pm Daniel Maltz: Classical Piano @ Adams Theatre, Adams.
7:30 pm – 11:00 pm Jordan Weller & The Feathers @ Egremont Barn, South Egremont.
8:00 pm Broadway Today!: Broadway’s Modern Masters @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Bandits on the Run w/Christopher Sears & Sienna Sears @ Dream Away Lodge, Becket.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Lucy Kaplansky Live At The Guthrie Center @ Guthrie Center, Great Barrington.
Sunday
10:00 am TMC Chamber Music @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Domingo Brunch featuring duo David Bartley and Pete Toigo @ Dottie’s and Dorothy’s, Pittsfield.
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Jon Berman @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Jazz Brunch with Natalia Bernal & Jason Ennis @ Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield.
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Wild Cat OHalloran Band @ First Congregational Church of Lee, Lee.
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret @ Shakespeare & Company, Lenox.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Mike Duffy @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
2:30 pm Andris Nelsons leads an all-Strauss program featuring Renée Fleming, soprano @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Taproom Music: RJ McCarty @ Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams.
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Lita Williams @ The Barn Kitchen & Barn, Williamstown.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins and Friends @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Cello Stories: A Life Under Broadway with Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf @ The Foundry, West Stockbridge.
7:00 pm TMC Vocal Recital @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Jenna Nicholls & Jon Ladeau @ Dream Away Lodge, Becket.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm The New Belters @ Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield.
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm Eureka Shoes @ Tourists, North Adams.
Please get out and support your local musicians and venues!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires