A deep freeze has settled upon the Berkshires as we enter this last full week of January, but there are plenty of opportunities to get the blood flowing by listening and dancing to great live music. We have 28 performances on the calendar this week, spanning the genres of rock, pop, folk, soul, Americana, blues, and jazz. Below are a few highlights, followed by the full show rundown.
Before we proceed, we’d like to emphasize the importance of supporting our local musicians and venues. The vibrant live music scene in our community is a treasure, but it’s vital that we recognize and actively contribute to its sustenance. In rural areas like The Berkshires, musicians and venue operators depend on our support, especially during the winter months when travel wanes, and residents tend to hunker down. As we move through winter, let’s make it a priority to show our support for the Berkshire Music scene. Venture out to your favorite music venue—invite friends to join you, have some tasty food and beverages, pick up some merch as gifts, and do what you can to support the Berkshire music scene. It’s a fun investment you’ll be glad you made.
Jazz
This week, we have two jazz performances, both on Sunday. At mid-day, catch the jazz brunch with Luke Franco at Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield. In the evening, you can finish the week with Michael Junkins and Friends at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Joining Michael this week will be Matt Steckler on Saxophone.
Classical
There are no classical performances this week, but there is an opera sing-along, described below in our Something Else category.
Popular (Rock, Pop, Folk, Blues, etc.)
We have approximately 25 performances in the popular music category – we can’t list them all, but we will mention a few highlights (see our calendar or show rundown below for all the performances). On Monday, we have a fantastic opportunity to see Scottish Celtic guitarist Tony McManus at Methuselah Bar & Lounge in Pittsfield. He’s been called one of the best Celtic guitarists in the world.
Tuesday presents two great options. You can catch rock, grunge, funk, and soul artists Billy Allen and the Pollies at Tourists in North Adams or find local rock and folk favorite Nate Martel at Methuselah Bar & Lounge.
Thursday, you can listen to our next generation of musicians at Calliope Cafe at The Stationery Factory – see our story about this great local program for high school students. Or, catch local favorite Melissa Brinton at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge or ukulele artist Peter Pashoukos Methuselah Bar & Lounge.
Friday features several great shows, including local favorites Katherine Winston at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge, Wanda Houston at Firefly Gastropub in Lenox, and Jack Waldheim at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock.
On Saturday afternoon, Jason & Trev perform at Balderdash Cellars in Richmond. In the evening, choose from several great shows, including Lisa Michelle Anderson at The Lion’s Den, Jon Berman at Antimony Brewing in Lenox, Americana and bluegrass band The Juckets at Methuselah Bar & Lounge, and folk artist Bernice Lewis (pictured above) at Studio 9 in North Adams. Catch Bernice before she heads west to Arizona and then to a month-long artist residency in Atenas, Costa Rica.
Sunday morning, catch Fannie Pack at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield, featuring Melissa Brinton, Elaine Morel, Eileen Markland, and Paul Armstrong. In the evening, you can see Mike Duffy at Antimony Brewing.
Something Else
In this week’s Something Else category, we have the Berkshire Opera Festival Chorus Community Sing-Along at The Common Room at Zion Lutheran Church of Pittsfield on Saturday afternoon. Stretch your vocal cords for a fun afternoon.
You can read about all of these performances and more in our weekly show rundown below or jump right to our music calendar. 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
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tony McManus @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield. Celtic Guitarist. Learn more and listen here.
Tuesday
7:00 pm Billy Allen and the Pollies @ Tourists, North Adams. Rock, Grunge, Funk, and Soul. Learn more here. Listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Nate Martel @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield. Rock, Folk. Learn more and listen here.
Wednesday
No performances.
Thursday
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Calliope Cafe @ The Stationery Factory, Dalton. Hear the next generation of Berkshire musicians. Read our story here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Melissa Brinton @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge. Folk, Pop, Rock. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Peter Pashoukos @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield. Ukelele. Listen here.
Friday
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Pearl Street Blues @ Shire Beer Company, Dalton. Rock, Blues.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Katherine Winston @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge.Folk, Pop, Rock. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Jim Witherell @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Wanda Houston @ Firefly Gastropub, Lenox.R&B, Jazz, American Songbook. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm The Pug & John Show @ Tavern at the A, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm John Nelepa and Riverbend Orchestra @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Jack Waldheim @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock.
Saturday
1:00 pm Berkshire Opera Festival Chorus Community Sing-Along @ The Common Room, Pittsfield.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Jason & Trev @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Tomkat @ Firehouse Cafe & Bistro, Adams. Classic Rock, Blues.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Lisa Michelle Anderson @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Jon Berman @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox. Rock. Listen more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm The Juckets @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield. Americana, Bluegrass.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Canna Provisions Presents Live Music at The Locker Room Featuring One for One Duo @ Locker Room Sports Pub, Lee.
7:30 pm Bernice Lewis @ Studio 9, North Adams. Folk. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Pug and John Show @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock. Classic Rock, Country, Folk.
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Hard Knox Band @ Knox Trail Inn, East Otis.
Sunday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Domingo Brunch featuring Fannie Pack @ Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, Pittsfield. Folk, Rock.
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Jazz Brunch with Luke Franco @ Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Jim Witherell @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Mike Duffy @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins and Friends @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge. Jazz. Learn more and listen here.
As we near the end of January, you can rejoice that the music scene picks up notably in February with several classical performances and new shows at Egremont Barn, which has been closed for the month of January. And please get out and support your local musicians and venues!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires