This is one of the most eclectic weeks of live music since I started writing this weekly Show Rundown back in April. In addition to our usual mix of rock, classical, and jazz performances, we have many performances in very unique genres or that defy genre categorization altogether. For the sake of the reader, I usually try to discuss related genres together – forgive me this week if I stumble a bit. That said, we have 49 performances across multiple genres, including roots, bluegrass, rock, pop, folk, blues, metal, jazz, classical and experimental. Below are a few highlights, followed by the full show rundown. But before moving on, if you’ve not already done so, please subscribe to our free weekly Show Rundown to receive this content in your inbox each Monday – plus, you’ll receive exclusive information not found on our website or social media pages about recently announced shows and hot tickets. Subscribing also shows our supporters how much you value Music in the Berkshires.
It’s a wonderful week of jazz in The Berkshires, with award-winning singer, saxophonist, and songwriter Grace Kelly (pictured above) playing at The Stationery Factory in Dalton on Friday, one stop on her extensive national tour. Backing up earlier in the week, on Wednesday you’ll find the Teresa Broadwell Trio at The Lions Den in Stockbridge. Thursday, the Standard Edition Trio performs at Oasis Bar and Grill, and that same evening, The Lucky 5 plays at Egremont Barn. They are performing again on Saturday as part of the Down County Jump Music Festival, discussed below.
Karen Tchougourian performs at Gateways Inn in Lenox on both Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday has four jazz performances, including the Domingo Brunch w/Jazz duo David Bartley and Pete Toigo at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield, a Jazz Brunch with Andy Wrba at Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield, and later in the day Michael Junkins and Friends perform at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. And last but certainly not least, catch Grammy-Winner Dario Boente and BAAMS’ Faculty Benefit Show at Studio 9 in North Adams. In addition to jazz, they will throw in some Latin jazz, classical piano, plenty of funk, groove, and improvised music. The performance benefits BAAMS — the Berkshires’ Academy for Advanced Musical Studies. Come out and help support the next generation of musicians.
The Down County Jump Music Festival of Roots Music takes place Saturday at Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield. There are nine different performances – a genre-contorting range – “from Gypsy Waltzes to Swamp-Pop Two-Steps to Haitian Rasin Chants to Olde Time Breakdowns to Sea Shanties to Hawaiian Hapa Haole to post-war New Orleans R&B to Jamaican Rock Steady.” There will be performances by Jackson Lynch Band, Tjovi Ginen, Rose & The Bros, The Lucky 5, Fatboy Wilson & Old Viejo Bones (also playing at Egremont Barn Saturday night), Slowey & The Boats (also playing at Egremont Barn Sunday), The Haughties, Moonshine Holler, and Shinbone Alley. It’s quite an eclectic array of performances!
Local favorite Misty Blues is very busy this week, with performances at portaVia in Dalton on Wednesday, Antimony Brewing in Lenox on Friday, and the Guthrie Center on Saturday. On Thursday, Stomp Box Trio brings their rock, blues, and soul blend to The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Local rock and pop musician Evan Lanoue also has a busy week, performing at The Stationery Factory in Dalton on Thursday, and then again on Friday at The Lion’s Den.
Dream Away Lodge in Becket has some interesting performances this week including Thursday night’s double bill with folk and bluegrass band Stripmall Ballads and folks and blues duo The Blue and Gold. The Canadian indie-pop band Jitensha performs at Hot Plate Brewing Co. in Pittsfield on Friday – this duo has received strong critical acclaim.
Neil Young fans won’t want to miss Harvest & Rust: A Neil Young Experience performing at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on Friday, while another tribute band, Grateful Dread, performs at Egremont Barn. Saturday night, you can catch Americana and roots artists Phil Roebuck & Julian Crouse up at Dream Away Lodge in Becket, or you can check out MA-based singer-songwriter Jake Manzi at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Shows on Sunday include the Aimee Van Dyne Band at Lilac Park in Lenox and singer-songwriter Adeline Hotel at Dream Away Lodge in Becket.
For classical lovers, we’ve got several options on our calendar this week: On Friday, the Berkshire Symphony performs at Williams College in Williamstown. The program includes Beethoven – Fidelio Overture, Stravinsky – Danse Concertante, Schubert – Symphony No. 3, and a world premiere of Sinfonietta by faculty member Zachary Wadsworth. On Saturday, Soprano Riot performs music for one and two sopranos at First Congregational Church of Stockbridge. On Sunday afternoon, the Juilliard String Quartet performs at South Mountain Concert Hall in Pittsfield. The performance is to include Beethoven – String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135, Tyson Davis – String Quartet No. 2 in F Major “Amorphous Figures”, Schubert – String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D. 887.
Finally, defying categorization, you can see experimental artists Blackbox Ensemble: The Sound of Space Between Us on Saturday afternoon at The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. Check out the link in the Show Rundown below to listen to examples of their unique music.
Monday
No performances.
Tuesday
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Pogo at Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield.
Wednesday
5:15 pm – 9:00 pm Kyle Love at Oasis Bar and Grill, Lee.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Misty Blues at portaVia, Dalton. Learn more and listen here.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Teresa Broadwell Trio at The Lions Den, Stockbridge. Jazz. Learn more and listen here.
Thursday
5:15 pm – 9:00 pm Standard Edition Trio at Oasis Bar and Grill, Lee. Jazz. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Brave Brothers at Firehouse Cafe & Bistro, Adams.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Gypzbilly at Antimony Brewing, Lenox. Rock, Blues, Zydeco, Swing, Rockabilly. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Stomp Box Trio at The Lions Den, Stockbridge. Rock, Blues, Soul, R&B. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Evan Lanoue at The Stationery Factory, Dalton. Rock, Pop. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm The Lucky Five at Egremont Barn, South Egremont. Jazz. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Stripmall Ballads at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Folk, Bluegrass. Learn more and listen here.
9:00 pm – 11:30 pm The Blue and Gold at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Folk, Blues. Learn more and listen here.
Friday
5:15 pm – 9:00 pm Melissa Brinton at Oasis Bar and Grill, Lee. Learn more and listen here.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Karen Tchougourian at Gateways Inn, Lenox. Jazz.
7:00 pm Jitensha at Hot Plate Brewing Co, Pittsfield. Indie-pop. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Evan Lanoue at The Lions Den. Stockbridge. Rock, Pop. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm All Over The Map at Rusty Anchor Pub, Pittsfield.
7:30 pm Harvest & Rust: A Neil Young Experience at Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield.
7:30 pm Berkshire Symphony at Williams College, Williamstown. Classical. The program includes Beethoven – Fidelio Overture, Stravinsky – Danse Concertante, Schubert – Symphony No. 3, and a world premiere of Sinfonietta by faculty member Zachary Wadsworth.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Grateful Dread at Egremont Barn, South Egremont. Rock – Grateful Dead tribute band.
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm An evening with Grace Kelly at The Stationery Factory, Dalton. Jazz saxophonist and singer-songwriter. Learn more and listen here.
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm All Feels at Dream Away Lodge, Becket.
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm The Misty Blues at Antimony Brewing, Lenox. Blues. Learn more and listen here.
9:30 pm – 11:30 pm Thalia Zedek at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Rock. Learn more and listen here.
Saturday
12:00 pm – 11:00 pm Down County Jump Music Festival at Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield. Roots music festival. Follow the link above for a list of artists performing.
4:00 pm – 5:15 pm Blackbox Ensemble: The Sound of Space Between Us at The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown. Experimental. Learn more and listen here.
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm 8 Hour Animal, Snowbeasts, FRKSE at Belltower Records, North Adams. Post-industrial metal. Learn more and listen to 8 Hour Animal here.
5:15 pm – 9:00 pm Melissa Brinton at Oasis Bar and Grill, Lee. Learn more and listen here.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Karen Tchougourian at Gateways Inn, Lenox. Jazz.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Jason & Trev at Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, Lanesborough.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Switchback at Firehouse Cafe & Bistro, Adams.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Midnite:30 at Shire Beer Company, Dalton.
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Canna Provisions Presents Live Music at The Locker Room Featuring Jack Waldheim at Locker Room Sports Pub, Lee.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Acoustic Bandwidth at Knox Trail Inn, East Otis.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Jake Manzi at The Lions Den, Stockbridge. Rock, Pop, Folk. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm Soprano Riot at First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, Stockbridge. Music for one and two sopranos.
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm Fatboy Wilson & Old Viejo Bones w/Katie Herbst Opening at Egremont Barn, South Egremont. Folk, Blues. Learn more and listen here.
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm Phil Roebuck & Julian Crouse at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Roots, Americana, Folk. Learn more and listen to Phil here.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Misty Blues at Guthrie Center, Great Barrington. Blues. Learn more and listen here.
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Pug & John at Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
Sunday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Domingo Brunch w/Jazz duo David Bartley and Pete Toigo at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, Pittsfield. Jazz. Learn more and listen to David here.
11:00 am – 3:00 pm Jazz Brunch with Andy Wrba at Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield. Learn more about Andy here.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Bobcat at Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
3:00 pm Juilliard String Quartet at South Mountain Concert Hall, Pittsfield. Classical. Performance to include Beethoven – String Quartet No 16 in F Major, Op. 135, Tyson Davis – String Quartet No. 2 in F Major “Amorphous Figures”, Schubert – String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D. 887. Learn more and listen here.
3:30 pm Aimee Van Dyne Band at Lilac Park, Lenox. Rock, Folk. Learn more and listen here.
6:00 pm Grammy-Winner Dario Boente and BAAMS’ Faculty Benefit Show at Studio 9, North Adams. Jazz.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins and Friends at The Lions Den, Stockbridge. Jazz. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Adeline Hotel at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Acoustic Guitar. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Slowey and the Boats at Egremont Barn, South Egremont. Swinging jazz with Hawaiian overtones. Learn more and listen here.
That’s our performance rundown for the week of September 25. It’s a great – and interesting – week of live music in The Berkshires – get out there and enjoy it!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires