Music in the Berkshires: Week of August 14

As we head into the third week of August, we have another incredible week of live music in The Berkshires, with 80 performances across multiple genres, including classical, jazz, rock, Americana, pop, folk, blues, world, and American Songbook. Here are a few highlights, followed by the full show rundown.

It’s a banner week for Jazz lovers in The Berkshires, anchored by the Bousquet Jazz Festival on Saturday and the Gerald Clayton Trio (pictured above) at Tanglewood’s Ozawa Hall on Sunday.  Earlier in the week, on Monday, catch Jazz Piano and Trumpet with Charles Blenzig and Richard Boulger at Studio 9 in North Adams. Charles and Richard are faculty members of the Berkshires Academy for Advanced Musical Studies. On Wednesday, you can find the Daryl Lowry Trio at The Lions Den. The Gateways Inn has Teri Roiger on Thursday, the Michael Junkins Duo on Friday, and Karen Tchougourian on Saturday. ​​On Friday, you can catch Acute Inflections for some “Jazzy R&B Vibes” at The Common Room in Pittsfield. Michael Junkins and Friends play again at The Lions Den on Sunday.

Tanglewood has eight classical performances this week (in addition to the jazz performance mentioned above), with highlights including Andris Nelsons conducts Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev featuring Leonidas Kavakos, violin on Saturday. Those are the only classical performances that we have on our calendar for this week.

For something different, on Monday, you’ll find Sol y Canto outdoors at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, which performs Latin Roots music. Also on Monday, Race Brook Lodge is hosting An Evening with Epichorus, which draws from the “great lineages of Arabic maqam, Hebrew piyut” and a fusion of other influences. On Thursday, check out the Grammy-winning vocal band Roomful of Teeth, Pamela Z, & The Living Earth Show: This Impossible Building at MASS MoCA. Actress, dancer, and singer Sutton Foster performs songs from the American Songbook on Saturday at the Mahaiwe.

Like last week, rock, pop, folk, and related genres make up the other 50+ performances in the county – too many to highlight all of them. National touring musicians in the region this week include Berlin-based and Australian-born Ned Collette, who makes his first stop on his US tour at Dream Away Lodge on Thursday. R&B, Soul, and Pop artist Danielle Ponder performs at MASS MoCA on Friday. Award-winning folk artist Joe Crookston is at the Guthrie Center on Saturday night as part of their Troubadour series. On Sunday night, folk-roots-pop singer-songwriter Josh Rouse is at Egremont Barn. He’s originally from Nebraska and began his recording career in Nashville, but now lives in Spain and tours internationally.

Berkshire County favorites performing this week include Wanda Houston, who is at The Barn Kitchen & Bar in Williamstown on Monday. On Wednesday, The Hilltown Trio, featuring Chris Merenda of The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, will perform at portaVia in Dalton as part of their month-long residency. On Thursday, you’ll find Sample The Cat at The Stationery Factory in Dalton. Chris Merenda’s other band, The Picky Bastards, performs their blend of bluegrass and rock at Egremont Barn on Friday, and The BTUs are back at Egremont Barn Saturday. Rev Tor is at Washington Town Park on Sunday (I incorrectly reported he was playing there last week).

You can read about all of these performances and more in our weekly show rundown below, our jump right to our music calendar. Use the subscribe button below to receive this weekly rundown of upcoming performances in your inbox.

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Wanda Houston at The Barn Kitchen & Bar, Williamstown. R&B, Jazz, and Soul. Learn more and listen here.

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Sol y Canto at Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge. Latin Roots. Learn more and listen here.

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm JAZZ PIANO AND TRUMPET with Charles Blenzig and Richard Boulger at Studio 9, North Adams.

8:00 pm Dame Jane Glover and the TMC conducting fellows conduct Britten, Dvorak, and Brahms at Tanglewood, Lenox. Dvorak Wood Dove, Britten Peter Grimes: Four Sea Interludes, Brahms Symphony No. 2.

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm An Evening with Epichorus at Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield. World music. Learn more and listen here.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Country Steel at Great Barrington VFW, Great Barrington.

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Brian Benlien at Adams Visitor Center, Adams.

1:00 pm Open Violin Workshop with Tai Murray at Tanglewood, Lenox.

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Live Rock and Jazz Music at The Purple Pub at Purple Pub, Williamstown.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm The Liquid Courage at Onota Lake Pittsfield.

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm The Hilltown Trio at portaVia, Dalton. 

6:30 pm The Eagles Band at Lilac Park, Lenox.

6:30 pm Sky Full of Dippers at Windsor Lake, North Adams.

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Just in Kace at Dalton CRA, Dalton.

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm BAAMS’ ALL-STAR FACULTY BAND at Mingo’s Sports Bar and Grill, North Adams.

6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Daryl Lowry Trio at The Lions Den, Stockbridge. Jazz.

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Katherine Winston at Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox. Pop, country. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm Bruce Liu at Tanglewood, Lenox. Rameau Six Pieces, Beethoven Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53, Waldstein, Chopin Trois Nouvelles Études, Op. Posth., Chopin Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35, Kapustin Variations, Op. 41

5:15 pm – 9:00 pm David Reed at Oasis Bar and Grill, Lee. Learn more and listen here.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm The Love Dogs at Naumkeag, Stockbridge. Learn more and listen here.

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Teri Roiger at Gateways Inn, Lenox. Jazz.

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tony Lee Thomas at The Chalet at MASS MoCA, North Adams. Learn more and listen here.

7:00 pm Indie Night: Sample The Cat at The Stationery Factory, Dalton. Soulful Rock. Learn more and listen here.

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Evan Lanoue at Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox. Rock, Pop. Learn more and listen here.

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Thor Jensen at The Lions Den, Stockbridge. Learn more and listen here.

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Ned Collette at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Rock, Folk. Learn more and listen here.

7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Beth Rose at Egremont Barn, South Egremont. Jazz, R&B, Folk.

8:00 pm Roomful of Teeth, Pamela Z, & The Living Earth Show: This Impossible Building at MASS MoCA, North Adams. Vocal ensemble. Learn more and listen to Roomful of Teeth here.

9:00 pm – 10:30 pm Will Lawrence at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Rock, Folk. Learn more and listen here.

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Paul Zarvis at Antimony Brewing, Lenox.

4:30 pm – 8:00 pm The Saints at Catamount, South Egremont. Dance music.

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Dave Brown at Bousquet, Pittsfield.

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Michael Junkins Duo at Gateways Inn, Lenox. Jazz.

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Berkshire Busk in Downtown Great Barrington. Music performances include Abby Lappen, GypZbilly, Rick and Marilyn, Jaane Doe, and Kristoffer Andrew Ross.

7:00 pm Back Porch Music: Tony Lee Thomas at Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield. Learn more and listen here.

7:00 pm Vaguely Pagan at Berkshire Palate, Pittsfield.

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Sapling, Bunnies, Cutlass at Belltower Records, North Adams. Learn more and listen to Sapling here. 

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Liquid Courage at Rusty Anchor Pub, Pittsfield.

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Jake Manzi at The Lions Den, Stockbridge. Rock, Pop, Folk. Learn more and listen here.

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Jack Waldheim at Michael’s Restaurant, Stockbridge.

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm DCSC: Alex Harvey presents Shinbone Alley at Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield. Old-world Folk. Learn more and listen here.

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Jazzy R&B Vibes with Acute Inflections at The Common Room, Pittsfield. Jazz, R&B. Learn more and listen here.

7:30 pm – 10:30 pm The Picky Bastards at Egremont Barn, South Egremont. Bluegrass.

8:00 pm Andris Nelsons conducts Saint-Saëns, Simon, and Gershwin featuring Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano at Tanglewood, Lenox. Carlos Simon Four Black American Dances (BSO commission), Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 5, Egyptian, Gershwin Piano Concerto in F.

8:00 pm Danielle Ponder at MASS MoCA, North Adams. R&B, Soul, Pop. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm – 9:30 pm Sandy Baily at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Folk-Americana. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm David Phenicie & Friends at Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Michael Aaron & Katherine Winston at Antimony Brewing, Lenox. Folk, Pop, Rock. Learn more and listen to Michael here.  Learn more and listen to Katherine here.

9:30 pm – 11:00 pm Ciara Fragale at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Indie Pop, Rock. Learn more and listen here.

1:30 pm Open Rehearsal: Andris Nelsons conducts Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev featuring Leonidas Kavakos, violin at Tanglewood, Lenox.

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Berkshire Busk in Downtown Great Barrington. Music performances include Dylan Patrick Ward at Berkshire Mountain Distillers and Jerry and His Ukuleles at Robin’s Candy.

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Kathy Scace at Rusty Anchor Pub, Pittsfield.

4:00 pm Bousquet Jazz Festival at Bousquet, Pittsfield.

5:15 pm – 9:00 pm David Reed at Oasis Bar and Grill, Lee. Learn more and listen here.

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Karen Tchougourian at Gateways Inn, Lenox.

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Berkshire Busk in Downtown Great Barrington. Music performances include Berkshire Resilience Brass Band, Aimee Van Dyne, and Kristoffer Andrew Ross.

6:30 pm – 10:00 pm Berkshire Busk in Downtown Great Barrington. Main Stage music performances include Dust Bowl Faeries, and Galush. 

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Tony Lee Thomas at Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams. Learn more and listen here.

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Lexi Weege & JJ Slater at Miraval Berkshires, Lenox. Rock, Jazz. Learn more and listen to Lexi here.

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Brave Brothers at Firehouse Cafe & Bistro, Adams.

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Puggy & John at Rusty Anchor Pub, Pittsfield.

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tribute to Velvet Underground & Special DJ Event for Ride The Thunder at The Lions Den, Stockbridge.

7:30 pm – 10:30 pm The BTU’s at Egremont Barn, South Egremont. Rock.

8:00 pm Andris Nelsons conducts Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev featuring Leonidas Kavakos, violin at Tanglewood, Lenox. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, Prokofiev Symphony No. 5.

8:00 pm Joe Crookston at Guthrie Center, Great Barrington. Folk. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm Sutton Foster at Mahaiwe, Great Barrington. American Songbook. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Brother Sal Blues Band at Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox. Blues. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Honeysuckle at Antimony Brewing, Lenox. Americana, Folk. Learn more and listen here.

10:00 am TMC Chamber Music at Tanglewood, Lenox.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Domingo Brunch featuring Michael Aaron at Dottie’s Coffee, Pittsfield. Folk, pop, rock. Learn more and listen here.

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm The Juckets at Pizzeria Boema, Lenox. Americana, Bluegrass.

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Steve Adams & the Tangled Party at Antimony Brewing, Lenox.

2:30 pm Tippett and Beethoven at Tanglewood, Lenox. Tippett Five Spirituals from A Child of Our Time, Beethoven Symphony No. 9.

 4:00 pm Rev Tor at Washington Town Park, Washington. Rock. Learn more and listen here.

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Ben Hall and Lemuel Marc & Jake Meginsky at The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm RJ McCarty at Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams. Folk, Americana.

6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins and Friends at The Lions Den, Stockbridge. Jazz.

7:30 pm – 10:30 pm Josh Rouse at Egremont Barn, South Egremont. Rock, Pop, Folk. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm TLI Presents: Gerald Clayton Trio at Tanglewood, Lenox. Jazz. Learn more and listen here.

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Armo featuring members of Antibalas at Dream Away Lodge, Becket. Afro-beat. Listen here.

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That’s our performance rundown for the week of August 14. Get out and enjoy the Berkshire live music scene!

— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires