As we step into the second week of 2024, the Berkshire music scene is gaining momentum, with a dynamic lineup of 30 performances that traverse a diverse range of styles and genres, including rock, folk, country, classical, and jazz, plus innovative new music from Williams’ I/O Festival and a soul-stirring Martin Luther King choral celebration. Below are a few highlights, followed by the full show rundown.
[Please Note: We had some late additions to our calendar after publication, including Wanda Houston at Bousquet Friday night and Billy Keane and The Waking Dream at Race Brook Lodge Sunday night. These are not listed below – but as always, our music calendar is the most up-to-date source since we add shows nearly every day.]
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. In the morning, catch the jazz brunch with Jonathan Suters 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 Will Hudgins on Vibes.
Classical
Classical music lovers, particularly those in North County, will be happy to learn that a new performance just popped onto the calendar this week: Palaver Strings will perform at Tourists in North Adams on Thursday evening. Palaver Strings is a musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, Maine. Their mission is to strengthen and inspire community through music, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices.
Popular (Rock, Pop, Folk, Blues, etc.)
We have approximately 23 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 Thursday night, Joe Jencks is at Studio 9 in North Adams. Based in Chicago, Joe is a veteran of the international folk circuit and an award-winning songwriter. Also on Thursday, folk singer Avi Jacob is back at the Lion’s Den in Stockbridge.
On Friday, you can catch troubadour rocker and Berkshire favorite Johnny Irion (pictured above) at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Les Chrostowski will be rocking the Shire Beer Company in Dalton, while The BTUs will perform at Firefly Gastropub in Lenox.
Saturday, The Northern Borne Trio performs roots and bluegrass at Methuselah Bar & Lounge in Pittsfield, while Vaguely Pagan, a band of local musicians Wes Buckley, Brian Kantor, Miles Lally, and Sam McGarrity, brings rock, folk, and psych music to The Lion’s Den. Local favorite Michael Aaron is at Antimony Brewing in Lenox, and Maine-based Dominic Lavoie performs at Tourists in North Adams.
Sunday offers four performances. You can start your morning (as we did last Sunday) by visiting Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield. This week, Dottie’s is featuring the Aimee Van Dyne Trio, which includes Chantell McFarland and Vicki Brewster Alibozek. In the early afternoon, catch Nate Martel at Antimony Brewing, and then in the late afternoon, you can head up to North Adams to catch Tony Lee Thomas in the taproom at Bright Ideas Brewing. And since Monday is a holiday, why not head over to Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock on Sunday night to listen to Austin Honig play rock, reggae, country, and funk?
Something Else
This week, we have several events in the Something Else category. You can catch Williams College’s I/O Festival 2024 – The Music of Now, with performances at both Williams College on Friday and Saturday and The Clark Art Institute on Sunday. Friday features the Bent Duo and New Music Williams, plus an opening performance by the student/alumni group Quacktrioquack. Saturday features Transient Canvas and New Music Williams. Sunday, over at The Clark, the program features new music by Hawaiian composer Leilehua Lanzilotti.
On Sunday, you can observe the upcoming holiday by attending the Martin Luther King Concert at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lenox. The Cantilena Chamber Choir and Unitas Ensemble will present music by Margaret Bonds Credo and spirituals by Robert Shaw and Alice Parker.
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 – Wednesday
No performances
Thursday
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Avi Jacob @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge. Folk. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm Railway Concerts At Studio 9 Presents Joe Jencks @ Studio 9, North Adams. Folk. Learn more and listen here.
8:00 pm Palaver Strings @ Tourists, North Adams. Strings, Classical. Learn more and listen here.
Friday
7:30 pm I/O Festival 2024 – The Music of Now @ Williams College, Williamstown. Featuring the Bent Duo and New Music Williams, plus an opening performance by student/alumni group Quacktrioquack.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Les Chrostowski @ Shire Beer Company, Dalton. Rock.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Johnny Irion @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge. Rock, Folk. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tom Savoy @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox. Rock, Folk, Pop, Country. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm The BTUs @ Firefly Gastropub, Lenox. Rock, Funk.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Hot Shot Hillbillies Duo @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock. Rock. Learn more and listen here.
Saturday
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm LIVE Music in Sheffield w/ Lauren Pellegrino! @ Big Elm Brewery & Taproom, Sheffield.
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm LIVE Music with Christopher John @ GB Taproom @ Big Elm Taproom, Great Barrington.
6:00 pm The Northern Borne Trio @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield. Roots and Bluegrass.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Taproom Music: No Lens @ Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams. Rock, Reggae.
7:00 pm The Refrigerators @ Tavern at the A, Pittsfield. Rock. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Livio Gravini @ Shire Beer Company, Dalton. Rock, Blues. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Jaane Doe @ Firehouse Cafe & Bistro, Adams. Rock, Folk. Learn more and listen here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Vaguely Pagan @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge. Rock, Folk, Psych. Learn more here.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Michael Aaron @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox. Rock, Folk, Pop. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm I/O Festival 2024 – The Music of Now @ Williams College, Williamstown. Featuring Transient Canvas and New Music Williams.
8:00 pm Dominic Lavoie @ Tourists, North Adams. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Jack Waldheim @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock. Rock, Folk.
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Liquid Courage Band @ Knox Trail Inn, East Otis.
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Canna Provisions Presents Live Music at The Locker Room Featuring Micah Stone @ Locker Room Sports Pub, Lee.
Sunday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Domingo Brunch featuring the Aimee Van Dyne Trio @ Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, Pittsfield. Rock, Folk. Learn more and listen here.
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Jazz Brunch with Jonathan Suters @ Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Nate Martel @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox. Rock, Folk. Learn more and listen here.
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Martin Luther King Concert @ Trinity Episcopal Church, Lenox. The Cantilena Chamber Choir and Unitas Ensemble presenting music by Margaret Bonds Credo and spirituals by Robert Shaw and Alice Parker.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm I/O Fest: Volcano Listening Featuring Music By Leilehua Lanzilotti @ The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown. New music by Hawaiian composer Lanzilotti.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Taproom Music: Tony Lee Thomas @ Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams. Rock. Learn more and listen here.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins and Friends @ The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge. Jazz. Learn more and listen here.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Austin Honig @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock. Rock, Reggae, Country, Funk.
Happy New Year – and please support your local musicians and venues in 2024!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires