As the holiday season kicks off with its usual hustle and bustle, we hope you’ll find a moment to reflect and give thanks for the many good things in life—including the vibrant live music scene here in the Berkshires. While it’s a slightly quieter week on the music front, there are still 34 fantastic performances to enjoy, spanning classical, jazz, rock, pop, Americana, folk, and Latin music. Below are some highlights for the week ahead, followed by our comprehensive show rundown.
Classical and Opera
We have one classical performance in the county this week: Saturday afternoon’s Annual Messiah Sing-Along at the First Congregational Church of Great Barrington, presented by the Berkshire Bach Society and led by Choral Conductor James Bagwell.
Jazz
We have 11 jazz performances this week. Tuesday night, you’ll find the Jazz Night with Paul Ostermayer and Friends at Tito’s Mexican Bar and Grill in Pittsfield. Wednesday night, catch the Jason Ennis Trio at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Friday night, The Lucky 5 perform at The Egremont Barn, while Benny Kohn and Friends are at Firefly Gastropub in Lenox. Also on Friday night, you catch the first of three events in a series Jazz at the Station at the Great Barrington Train Station. There is a Kick-off Concert Friday night, followed by Jazz for Kids on Saturday afternoon, and a Closing Concert on Saturday night. Performers include Dr. Todd Williams, Robert Rucker, and Yuma Takagi.
Saturday night, you won’t want to miss Natalia Bernal’s En Diablada Album Launch (pictured above) at The Stationery Factory in Dalton, presented in collaboration with Berkshires Jazz. Inspired by the rich cultural legacy and striking natural beauty of her native Chile, Natalia Bernal’s En Diablada fuses Andean and other South American folkloric traditions with elements of jazz, blues, and rock.
Sunday morning, you can enjoy the Domingo Brunch featuring duo David Bartley and Pete Toigo at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield. Sunday at midday, catch the Jazz Brunch with Natalia Bernal & Jason Ennis at Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield (Natalia has a busy weekend). On Sunday night, you’ll find Michael Junkins and Friends at The Lion’s Den. This week, Michael features “Junk” with Will Hudgins on vibraphone.
Popular (Rock, Pop, Folk, Blues, etc.)
The popular music category dominates our calendar this week, with over 20 performances. We can’t highlight them all, but we will mention a few (see our calendar or show rundown below for all the performances).
The music starts Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve, with Bella’s Bartok at The Egremont Barn. If you’ve not seen this raucous and theatrical band, then you’re in for a treat. Their music is a mix of rock, punk, folk, and Americana, with a touch of dark comedy, and is sure to get you dancing. Also on Wednesday night, you can meet up with friends home for the holiday with Jack Waldheim performing at Antimony Brewing in Lenox or with Brian Benlien at portaVia, Dalton.
On Friday, step away from the turkey leftovers and get out of the house for some great music. You’ll find the Code Blue Duo Friday Supper Club at Dottie’s and Dorothy’s in Pittsfield. Local favorite Wanda Houston performs at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. At The Stationery Factory in Dalton, Bobby Sweet & The Chaps provide a night of dancing western swing and old time country music in the styles of Bob Wills, Asleep at the Wheel, Commander Cody, and more. The Chaps comprise Pete and Steve Adams, Jody Lampro, Steve Sears, and Abe Guthrie. Meanwhile, at Dream Away Lodge in Becket, the folk-rock family of Liz Queler, Seth Farber & Joey Farber perform. This is the last weekend of the season at Dream Away Lodge before they close up for the winter, so it’s a great time to go there for dinner and live music.
Saturday night, rocker Theo Kandel is back at The Lion’s Den, while local favorites The BTU’s perform at The Egremont Barn. Rock and folk artist Jefferson Hamer is at Dream Away Lodge, while the Evan Lanoue Trio brings some rock and pop to the Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn in Lenox. For something more hardcore, you can catch Shyne at the Knox Trail Inn in East Otis or Silverlake Presents at Hot Plate Brewing Co in Pittsfield, featuring the emo band Things I Miss, along with Minus Points and Stonk.
Sunday afternoon, you’ll find Livio Gravini at Balderdash Cellars in Richmond, as well as Ron Ramsay & Samantha Talora at Studio 9 in North Adams. The duo is known to perform everything from Broadway cabaret to the blues and pop songs. In the evening, Alex Castle, known for his humous songs, closes out the season at Dream Away Lodge.
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
No performances.
Tuesday
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm Jazz Night with Paul Ostermayer and Friends @ Tito’s Mexican Bar and Grill, Pittsfield.
Wednesday
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Jason Ennis Trio @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Jack Waldheim @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Brian Benlien @ portaVia, Dalton.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Bella’s Bartok @ Egremont Barn, South Egremont.
Thursday
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Code Blue Duo Friday Supper Club @ Dottie’s and Dorothy’s, Pittsfield.
6:30 pm Dani Stevens Acoustic Duo @ Knox Trail Inn, East Otis.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Livio Gravini @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm The Mikes @ Route 8 Pub, Becket.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Wanda Houston @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm Jazz at the Station Kickoff Concert @ Great Barrington Train Station, Great Barrington.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Benny Kohn and Friends @ Firefly Gastropub, Lenox.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Bobby Sweet & The Chaps @ The Stationery Factory, Dalton.
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm The Lucky 5 @ Egremont Barn, South Egremont.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Liz Queler, Seth Farber & Joey Farber @ Dream Away Lodge, Becket.
Saturday
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Frank Manzi @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Jazz at the Station – Jazz for Kids @ Great Barrington Train Station, Great Barrington.
4:00 pm The BBS Annual Messiah Sing-Along @ First Congregational Church of Great Barrington, Great Barrington.
6:00 pm Silverlake Presents @ Hot Plate Brewing Co, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Woody of the Rebel Alliance @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Theo Kandel @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tom Savoy @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm Jazz at the Station – Closing Concert @ Great Barrington Train Station, Great Barrington.
7:00 pm Tim Gallagher @ Route 8 Pub, Becket.
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm The BTU’s @ Egremont Barn, South Egremont.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Natalia Bernal’s En Diablada Album Launch @ The Stationery Factory, Dalton.
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm SHYNE RETURNS TO THE KNOX TRAIL INN!!!!! @ Knox Trail Inn, East Otis.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Jefferson Hamer @ Dream Away Lodge, Becket.
8:30 pm – 10:30 pm Evan Lanoue Trio @ Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox.
Sunday
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 Jazz Brunch with Natalia Bernal & Jason Ennis @ Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Misty Blues Trio @ portaVia, Dalton.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Livio Gravini @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
4:00 pm Studio 9 Presents: Ron Ramsay & Samantha Talora @ Studio 9, North Adams.
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Alex Castle @ Dream Away Lodge, Becket.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins and Friends @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.
Please get out and support your local musicians and venues!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires