In the third week of August, the Berkshire County music scene features 64 live performances spanning Broadway, opera, blues, folk, and classical. Highlights include Tony Award–winner Brian Stokes Mitchell at Barrington Stage, a tribute to composer William Finn, and the Keith Lockhart 30th Anniversary Celebration at Tanglewood with a star-studded lineup. Other standouts include La Traviata at Mahaiwe, the free Common Ground Festival at Bousquet, Back to the Garden 1969 at the Colonial, and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy at Tanglewood. From Belgian blues rocker Ghalia Volt to Broadway’s Andrea McArdle, it’s a week packed with unforgettable music across the county. Check out some highlights below—and be sure to review the full schedule to plan your next musical outing.
- Brian Stokes Mitchell at Barrington Stage Company on Monday. Tony Award-winning Mitchell performs classics from beloved musicals, including Camelot, Porgy and Bess, Les Misérables, Sunday in the Park with George, and more.
- A Celebration of William Finn at Barrington Stage Company on Tuesday. Celebrate the life and legacy of William Finn, one of Barrington Stage’s own. Before you go, check out our feature on Finn, “Heart & Music,” in the current issue of Berkshire Magazine.
- Al Olender at The Egremont Barn on Wednesday. A Barn favorite, Olender returns with her folk-pop songs about grief and her everlasting love for the brother she lost.
- Sova at The Foundry on Thursday. Sova is the stage name of New York-based pianist and composer Sophia Subbayya Vastek, whose music blends classical, neo-classical, and ambient genres.
- Keith Lockhart 30th Anniversary Celebration at Tanglewood on Friday. Celebrate this amazing milestone for Lockhart (pictured above) and the Boston Pops, featuring special guests including Lynn Ahrens, Jason Danieley, Ben Folds, Mandy Gonzalez, Bernadette Peters, Guster’s Ryan Miller, John Pizzarelli, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Time for Three. That’s an incredible lineup! And before you go, check out “Bravo, Maestro!” in the current issue of Berkshire Magazine.
- Jamie McLean Band at The Egremont Barn on Friday. McLean and his band return to the Barn with their mix of New Orleans soul, Americana, and Delta blues.
- Back to The Garden 1969 at Colonial Theatre on Friday. This celebration of the music and spirit of Woodstock recreates the festival’s sounds and honors artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Sly & The Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Joe Cocker, The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and many more.
- Berkshire Opera Festival presents: La Traviata at Mahaiwe on Saturday. Don’t miss Giuseppe Verdi’s timeless story of love and sacrifice, which has become one of the most beloved operas of all time.
- Common Ground Festival at Bousquet on Saturday. Enjoy this free outdoor festival featuring music by Habibi, BSO musicians Bonnie Bewick (Violin), Danny Kim (Viola), and Mickey Katz (Cello), along with Quarteto De Samba, Christine Bilé, and Beatnest.
- CJ Field and The Delta Riot at Adams Theatre on Saturday. Catch some country music as North Adams native Field and his band return to the region.
- The Black Legacy Project at The Guthrie Center on Saturday. BLP is back where it all began for this show at The Guthrie Center, along with a set at Berkshire Busk’s main stage on Friday night. Want to learn more about the project? You can read my 2024 interview with Music in Common founder and director Todd Mack, as well as program coordinator Trey Carlisle.
- Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Ode to Joy at Tanglewood on Sunday. Come enjoy one of the most famous pieces of classical music at Tanglewood’s Sunday afternoon performance.
- Ghalia Volt at The Egremont Barn on Sunday. Catch the Belgian blues rock singer, guitarist, drummer, and songwriter whose album Mississippi Blend peaked at number three on the Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart.
- An Evening with Andrea McArdle at Barrington Stage Company on Sunday. At age 13, McArdle was the original Annie in the Broadway hit and has since performed in Starlight Express, Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast, Jerry’s Girls, and State Fair.
Interested in more classical performances? Check out the list of all this week’s Tanglewood shows here. And don’t miss the incredible local musicians performing around the county this week, including Andy Wrba & Friends, Colby Lewis & Steve Ide, Hot Sauce, Wanda Houston and Benny Kohn, The BTU’s, Jack Waldheim, 5 Pound Horse, Johnny Irion US Elevator, and Melissa Brinton. Plus, Berkshire Busk week 9 is taking place outdoors in downtown Great Barrington.
You can learn more about all of these performances in our day-by-day 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.
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No Performances.Please get out and support your local musicians and venues!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires