Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories. And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it. – Stevie Wonder
As February fades and March arrives, the Berkshires welcome warmer days, the spring equinox, and an expanding lineup of live music. This week, the county hosts 38 performances across various genres, including classical, jazz, rock, folk, and even a children’s interactive opera. Below are some standout shows, followed by our full event lineup.
Classical and Opera
This week, we have three classical and opera performances. On Saturday, catch the Historic Organ Rededication Concert at the First Congregational Church of Stockbridge. Three organists will play on the church’s recently restored historic 1865 Johnson organ. Sunday, enjoy Crescendo: Revolutionary Renaissance—Motets and Madrigals at St. James Place in Great Barrington. The Crescendo Vocal Ensemble of twenty singers with soprano soloists Jennifer Tyo and Sarah Fay, alto soloist Laura Evans, and tenor soloist Igor Ferreira are joined by Christa Patton, harp and recorder, with Christine Gevert directing from the organ. They will perform works by Lusitano and female composers Casulana, Aleotti, de’ Medici, Quinciani, Massarenghi, and Rusca. Also on Sunday, bring your kids (or someone else’s) to the Berkshire Opera Festival – Choose Your Own Opera Adventure at the Indigo Room at the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington. Recommended for ages 8-14, with accompanying family members of all ages. Participate in an afternoon of opera adventures where you get to decide what happens. The program features favorite arias by Mozart, Puccini, Bizet, and others.
Jazz
We have six jazz performances this week. The jazz week starts Wednesday night with the Good Vibes Trio w/ Grisha Alexiev at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Thursday night, catch the Lucky 3 at the Ostrich Room at the Apple Tree Inn in Lenox. Friday night, Dave Guy (pictured above) performs at MASS MoCA in North Adams. Guy is a NY City-based trumpet player known for his hip-hop and soul-inflected jazz. He’s performed with Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Pharell, Al Green, Black Thought, Questlove, and on TV with Jimmy Fallon. Also on Friday, the Andy Wrba Trio jams at the Ostrich Room. Sunday morning, you can enjoy the Domingo Brunch featuring Pete Toigo and Dave Bartley at Dottie’s in Pittsfield, and on Sunday night, you’ll find Michael Junkins and Friends at The Lion’s Den. This week, Michael features Will Hudgins on vibraphone.
Popular (Rock, Pop, Folk, Blues, etc.)
The popular music category dominates our calendar this week, with nearly 30 performances. We can’t highlight them all, but we will mention a few (see our calendar or show rundown below for all the performances).
The music starts Thursday with DCSC: Kendra McKinley Soul Trio at Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield. This is the third and final performance of Kendra’s February residency at the lodge – we went to see her tribute to Joni Mitchell and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the pleasure of speaking with Kendra three weeks ago – read my interview with this creative and fascinating multi-faceted artist. Elsewhere on Thursday, The Pinkerton Raid is at Tourists in North Adams. The band is “a fine blend of Beatles-esque dreamy folk,” according to Americana Highways. John Brodeur, aka Bird Streets, is back at the Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Be inspired by the talent of the future by attending Calliope Cafe at The Stationery Factory in Dalton. Also in Dalton at the American Legion, you can enjoy Dan Hamilton.
Friday night, The Black Legacy Project is back in the county, performing at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. The Black Legacy Project is produced by Music in Common, a Berkshire-born, Atlanta-based nonprofit that strengthens, empowers, and connects communities through the universal language of music. Last January, I spoke with Music in Common founder & director Todd Mack and Music in Common program coordinator Trey Carlisle – you can read the interview here. Also in Pittsfield, you’ll find All of Us at Methuselah Bar & Lounge and hard-core rock at Silver Lake Presents: The Maladaptive, Modern Ego, Radical Joy, And Neverless.Am at Hot Plate Brewing in Pittsfield. Down the road in Lenox, local favorite Wanda Houston is at Firefly Gastropub, while Evan Lanoue is at The Lion’s Den.
Saturday night is packed with 14 performances. Morgan James takes the stage at the new Indigo Room at the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington. Morgan is a Juilliard-trained singer, songwriter, actress, and recording artist from New York City who performs everything from Broadway and rock to classic soul. Diva & The Dirty Boys will be at The Lion’s Den, while one of our favorite bands, 5 Pound Horse, will perform at the Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn in Lenox. They describe their musical style as “fierce folk.” Two tribute bands will perform Saturday night: The Seven Wonders, honoring the music of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, at The Stationery Factory, and Tramps Like Us, performing (you guessed it) the music of Bruce Springsteen at Colonial Theatre.
On the Sunday afternoon “winery and brewery circuit,” you can enjoy Frank Manzi at Balderdash Cellars in Richmond and Mike Duffy at Antimony Brewing in Lenox. Dave Brown performs in the early evening at Route 8 Pub in Becket.
You can read about all of these performances and more in our day-by-day show rundown below or jump right to our music calendar. Please note that our deadline for inclusion in the weekly narrative above and the day-by-day listing below is Wednesday at noon. 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
No Performances.
Tuesday
No Performances.
Wednesday
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Good Vibes Trio w/ Grisha Alexiev @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
Thursday
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Dan Hamilton @ Dalton American Legion, Dalton.
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm The Lucky 3 @ Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Calliope Cafe @ The Stationery Factory, Dalton.
7:00 pm The Barstools @ Route 8 Pub, Becket.
7:00 pm Birdstreets @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
8:00 pm The Pinkerton Raid @ Tourists, North Adams.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm DCSC: Kendra McKinley Soul Trio @ Race Brook Lodge, Sheffield.
Friday
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Andy Wrba Trio @ Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox.
7:00 pm All of Us @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm Evan Lanoue @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Jim Witherall @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm Silver Lake Presents: The Maladaptive, Modern Ego, Radical Joy, And Neverless.Am @ Hot Plate Brewing Co, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Wanda Houston @ Firefly Gastropub, Lenox.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Peak Music – Arthur James @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock.
7:30 pm The Black Legacy Project @ Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield.
8:00 pm Dave Guy @ MASS MoCA, North Adams.
Saturday
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Acoustic Mafia in the Catamount Lodge @ Catamount, South Egremont.
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm Historic Organ Rededication Concert @ First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, Stockbridge.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Pug and John @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Kollin Kozlowski @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm Diva & The Dirty Boys @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm Mass Beer Week Kickoff W/Anna May @ Hot Plate Brewing Co, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm Peter Pashoukos @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Peak Music Series – Livio Gravini @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm The Seven Wonders @ The Stationery Factory, Dalton.
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm 5 Pound Horse @ Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox.
7:30 pm Tramps Like Us @ Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield.
8:00 pm Morgan James @ Mahaiwe, Great Barrington.
8:00 pm Acoustic Bandwidth @ Knox Trail Inn, East Otis.
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Skeeter Creek @ Proprietor's Lodge, Pittsfield.
Sunday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Domingo Brunch featuring duo and Pete Toigo @ Dottie's and Dorothy's, Pittsfield.
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Mike Duffy @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
2:00 pm Berkshire Opera Festival – Choose Your Own Opera Adventure @ Mahaiwe, Great Barrington.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Frank Manzi @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Crescendo: Revolutionary Renaissance—Motets and Madrigals @ St. James Place, Great Barrington.
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Dave Brown @ Route 8 Pub, Becket.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins and Friends @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
Please get out and support your local musicians and venues!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires