As August kicks off in full swing, Berkshire County’s music scene is bursting with variety. From beloved Tanglewood traditions like Tanglewood on Parade and John Williams’ Film Night to a vibrant mix of national and regional touring acts, there’s something for every listener. Beyond Tanglewood, more than a dozen outdoor concerts bring music to town greens, parks, and porches. This week offers 77 performances spanning classical, jazz, folk, rock, funk, Brazilian, and even children’s music. Explore some highlights below—and don’t forget to check the full schedule to plan your next musical adventure.
- Tanglewood on Parade at Tanglewood on Tuesday. It’s a jam-packed day starting at 2:00 pm, featuring numerous music performances, face painting, hot air balloon rides, and fireworks.
- Grace Kelly 20th Anniversary Tour (pictured above) at The Stationery Factory on Thursday. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since the young saxophone prodigy first started wowing audiences.
- The Pluto String Ensemble at The Foundry on Thursday. Catch this classical string quartet from the Berkshires, which focuses on building community by highlighting the voices of musicians of color, performing works from Mendelssohn’s Four Little Pieces for String Quartet, and Mozart’s String Quartet No. 3.
- Asher Isak (of Bella’s Bartok) at Dream Away Lodge on Thursday. Bella’s Bartok is a raucous band with a large and loyal fanbase – see their lead singer perform a collection of songs ranging from Americana to folk punk to doom folk.
- Billy Keane & The Waking Dream at Egremont Barn on Friday. Billy is back in town after moving to North Carolina – catch him at The Barn! (Note: he was also scheduled to play Thursday night with Andy Wrba, but we were just notified that the lineup was changed.
- Borogodó at the Common Room at Zion Lutheran Church on Friday. “Borogodó” is a Brazilian Portuguese word that encompasses charm, attractiveness, and sex appeal. It’s that special quality that draws people in, making someone magnetic and captivating, and this event featuring Brazilian dance music promises to deliver just that.
- Joshua Bell and Dvořák Symphony No. 9, From the New World at Tanglewood on Friday. In addition to the Dvořák piece, the BSO will also perform Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole.
- Fire On The Mountain Jam II at Bousquet on Saturday. Enjoy music outdoors on the mountain with Dead Man’s Waltz, Harvest & Rust, and Mike “Woody” Wood.
- John Williams’ Film Night at Tanglewood on Saturday. An annual favorite, catch this special evening of music by the Boston Pops, curated by Williams himself, with selected film clips.
- An Evening with Galactic featuring Jelly Joseph at Mahaiwe on Saturday. Catch this jazz-funk and New Orleans R&B band known for collaborating with incredible singers like Macy Gray, Mavis Staples, and Irma Thomas.
- An Evening with Ari Hest at The Guthrie Center on Saturday. Hest’s album Silver Skies Blue, which features duets with Judy Collins, was nominated for Best Folk Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
- Yo-Yo Ma, Pépin, Saint-Saëns, and Mendelssohn at Tanglewood on Sunday. Catch the afternoon performance featuring the incredible Ma performing Camille Pépin’s Un Monde nouveau (American premiere), Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, Scottish.
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, Wanda Houston, Katherine Winston, Camellia, and Melissa Brinton. Plus, Berkshire Busk week 7 is taking place outdoors in downtown Great Barrington.
And if you’re seeking other outdoor music options beyond Tanglewood, you have many to pick from, including The BTUs at Berkshire Botanical Garden, Railroad Street Dreamers at Great Barrington Town Hall, The JoAnne Redding Collective at Lilac Park, Happy Together at Dalton CRA, Summit Sounds With Movin’ On at Bousquet, Elizabeth Berliner at Great Barrington Town Hall, Perennial & Friction Fit at Dunham Mall, Terry a la Berry at Great Barrington Town Hall, Tommy Filiaut at Dalton CRA, Just-N-Kace Band at Washington Town Park, and Aimee Van Dyne at First Congregational Church of Lee.
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