The first week of 2025 kicks off with a more relaxed pace in Berkshire County’s music scene, featuring 25 performances that spotlight local and regional talent. As always, there’s a wide range of genres to enjoy, from classical and jazz to rock and beyond. Below are some highlights for the week ahead, followed by our comprehensive show rundown.
Classical and Opera
We have one classical performance this week: Palaver Strings (pictured above), whose members will perform solo and in small chamber ensembles at Tourists in North Adams on Friday night. (They perform a jazz-oriented concert on Saturday night.)
Jazz
We have four jazz performances this week. Wednesday, the Charlie Tokarz Trio is at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Friday, The Lucky Five is at the Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn in Lenox. Saturday night, catch Palaver Strings (pictured above) at Tourists in North Adams, featuring the Palaver Strings ensemble with special guests jazz pianist Chris Pattishall and South African vocalist Vuyo Sotashe. On Sunday night, you’ll find Michael Junkins and Friends at The Lion’s Den. This week, Michael features “Junk” with Will Hudgins on vibraphone.
Popular (Rock, Pop, Folk, Blues, etc.)
The popular music category dominates our calendar this week, with nearly 20 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 night with Camellia, an indie folk duo comprised of Hannah Bracken and Taylor Slonaker, performing at The Lion’s Den in Stockbridge. Also on Thursday, the Rees Shad Trio performs at the Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn in Lenox (Note: we were informed after publication that Rees’ Thursday performance has been canceled). Rees performs again Friday night when Railway Cafe Presents – Rees Shad and Meghan Cary Live at Studio in North Adams. Also on Friday night, catch Mr. Doubtfire at Firefly Gastropub in Lenox or Lexi Weege and J.J. Slater at Hot Plate Brewing in Pittsfield. Bird Streets, the indie rock, pop, and folk project of John Brodeur, is back at The Lion’s Den. We enjoyed his music when he last performed in the County in September at The Den. Or, after a great day of skiing, listen to Billy Gilbert at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock.
Saturday evening, you’ll find the Gospel United Birthday Bash at Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield. The event honors Warren Dews, Jr. and features performances by Hogmobzion and Isaiah Smallwood. All proceeds will support the church’s “Feed Thy Neighbor” meal ministry. Greg Caponi performs at Antimony Brewing in Lenox, while the Celtic rock band Kilashandra performs at the Becket Arts Center. Vaguely Pagan, featuring Wes Buckley, Brian Kantor, and Miles Lally, is back at The Lion’s Den.
Sunday morning, enjoy the Domingo Brunch featuring Diana Quetti at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield. Quetti, a Pittsfield native, is a New York City-based actor, singer, and songwriter. She released her debut EP, “Begin,” just over a year ago. On Sunday afternoon, you can see Nate Martel at Antimony Brewing in Lenox, Brian Benlien at portaVia in Dalton, and the Ladies Diane at Route 8 Pub in Becket.
Something Else
We have one performance in our Something Else category: Saturday evening’s New England Synth Fest and Synthesizer Petting Zoo at The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. Local synth musicians Architrave, Hissquiet, OrangePeelMystic, NXOR, and Michael William Gilbert will create electronic soundscapes with striking visuals in the Clark’s Michael Conforti Pavilion. During the event, the audience can explore the “synthesizer petting zoo” and interact with these unique instruments.
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 Charlie Tokarz Trio @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
Thursday
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm CANCELED – Rees Shad Trio @ Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Camellia @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
Friday
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm The Lucky 5 @ Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Mr. Doubtfire @ Firefly Gastropub, Lenox.
7:00 pm Lexi Weege and J.J. Slater @ Hot Plate Brewing Co, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Pug & John @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Birdstreets @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Billy Gilbert @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock.
7:30 pm Railway Cafe Presents – Rees Shad and Meghan Cary Live @ Studio 9 @ Studio 9, North Adams.
8:00 pm Palaver Strings @ Tourists, North Adams.
Saturday
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Evan Lanoue @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm The Bennett Brothers @ Catamount, South Egremont.
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Barbara Stein @ Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm New England Synth Fest and Synthesizer Petting Zoo @ The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Gospel United Birthday Bash @ Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Greg Caponi @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Kilashandra Live! @ Becket Arts Center, Becket.
7:00 pm John Nalepa & Friends @ Methuselah Bar & Lounge, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Vaguely Pagan @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Arlen Hart Ginsburg Trio @ Ostrich Room at Apple Tree Inn, Lenox.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Pug & John Show @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock.
8:00 pm Palaver Strings @ Tourists, North Adams.
Sunday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Domingo Brunch featuring Diana Quetti @ Dottie's and Dorothy's, Pittsfield.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Brian Benlien @ portaVia, Dalton.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Hot Vox Trio @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Ladies Diane @ Route 8 Pub, Becket.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins and Friends @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Nate Martel @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
Happy New Year – and please get out and support your local musicians and venues!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires