MUSIC IN THE BERKSHIRES IS YOUR GUIDE TO ALL THE LIVE MUSIC THIS FALL
FALL 2024
By Benjamin Lerner
THE THRIVING MUSIC SCENE IN THE BERKSHIRES keeps going strong with an eclectic range of performances in welcoming venues. With so many live shows this fall, keeping track of them all can be challenging. Music in the Berkshires has you covered all year long with a comprehensive online calendar dedicated to upcoming shows in venues across the Berkshires, as well as video content promoting talented local musicians through its social media platforms. With listings for performances at dedicated music venues, bars, restaurants, community gathering spaces, and more, you’re sure to find the right fit for your musical palate.
Mark Greenlaw, founder of Music in the Berkshires, shares his excitement for the upcoming season: “I’m buzzing with anticipation about all the live music performances we have coming this fall. I wish I could clone myself so I could enjoy more than one show at a time!” Working together with Greenlaw, we have curated a preview of performances at some of Music in the Berkshires’ featured venues. Be sure to check out musicintheberkshires.com for more as the season approaches—and make sure to sign up for its e-newsletter to stay up to date on some of the best live music the region has to offer.
The Dream Away Lodge
Becket
Nestled in the hills of rural Becket, the historic Dream Away Lodge has hosted legends like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Tom Petty. Upcoming performances include Dead Gowns, a project by Portland, Maine, singer-songwriter Geneviève Beaudoin on September 1, followed by the emerging folk act Undercover Cameo from Rhode Island on September 12. The “fierce folk” band 5 Pound Horse, which made a notable debut at the FreshGrass Festival last fall, will perform on September 13 and October 12. Indie-folk rock band Little Wings, fronted by Kyle Field, will perform on October 13. More performances will be added to the calendar through December 1, when they will close for the winter, reopening on Valentine’s Day. A great way to experience The Dream Away is to go for dinner and stay to watch the performance in the storied music room or from one of the cozy tables just outside the music room on the porch. The Dream Away performances are free and don’t have a cover charge, but you can count on being asked to contribute to the tip jar that helps support the musicians.
Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield
The Colonial Theatre, a majestic London-style theater built in 1903 and beautifully restored in 2006, boasts amazing acoustics, classic Gilded Age architecture, and state-of-the-art technical systems. This fall, the Colonial will host a variety of performances, including several tribute bands. These tributes will feature the music of Steely Dan on September 14, Van Morrison on October 18, and Bon Jovi and Journey on October 19. On September 7, Roger McGuinn, co-founder of The Byrds, will perform. October 5 brings Jam for Jake: A Jake Galliher Foundation Fundraiser, featuring bands like Black Dog, Rev Tor Band, The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, and Misty Blues to raise funds for the Jake Galliher Foundation. On October 11, acclaimed Vermont musician Samirah Evans will star in “All of Me: A Tribute to Billie Holiday.” The 25th anniversary of Williamstown-based Misty Blues and their frontwoman, Gina Coleman, will be celebrated with a special concert on November 9. Performances are ticketed with reserved seating.
Egremont Barn
South Egremont
The Egremont Barn is one of the Berkshires’ most beloved small live music venues, featuring mainly original music artists with shows typically every Thursday through Saturday during the fall. While they are still finalizing their fall schedule, some known performers include Dead Man’s Waltz, who blend the classic songs and jams of The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Band, performing on September 6. The Rejuvenators with Wanda Houston will bring their blend of New Orleans funk and Mardi Gras favorites to the Barn on September 21. King Kyote, who mixes blues, roots-rock, and indie-Americana, will take the stage on October 5. Annapolis, Maryland-based Pressing Strings comes back to the Barn on October 13, with their original music along with memorable covers, including a must-listen-to version of Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California.” Charleston-based rock band Easy Honey is set to perform on October 18, and the Jamie McLean Band, known for their mix of New Orleans soul, Americana roots, Delta blues, and New York City swagger, will perform on November 9. Tickets are general admission, so if you want to ensure you get a table of your liking, get there early and enjoy a burger, burrito, tacos, or salad from the restaurant.
The Foundry
West Stockbridge
The Foundry is renowned for hosting a diverse range of musical performances, along with theater, comedy, and other programs. Skye Consort & Emma Björling will perform trans-Atlantic arrangements of songs and tunes from regions including Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, England, Québec, Acadia, and the U.S. on October 1. On October 19, Steven Santoro will present “here. gone.,” a contemporary song cycle for string quartet and voice, written and performed by the Berklee College of Music professor. Tickets are general admission, but it’s a small venue, and every seat is great. The Foundry serves drinks at their bar.
The Lion’s Den
Stockbridge
The Lion’s Den at The Red Lion Inn provides live music four to five nights a week throughout the fall and winter. Their calendar is typically announced at the start of each month. This fall, known performers include indie-rocker Bird Streets on September 5 and 6, Connecticut-based R&B, soul, and pop artist Glori Wilder on September 12, and Brooklyn rocker Lincoln Foley on September 13. Wednesdays and Sundays are jazz nights at The Lion’s Den, with local artist Michael Junkins performing most weeks with a variety of special guests. No tickets are required, but there is a $10 cover charge. Table seating is limited, but you can go early to secure a table and enjoy dinner and drinks.
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Great Barrington
The Mahaiwe has an exciting lineup for the fall. On September 28, the Villalobos Brothers, a Grammy® Award-winning family band renowned for their violin prowess, will perform as part of the Festival Latino of the Berkshires. Suzanne Vega, celebrated for hits like “Tom’s Diner” and “Luka,” (see page 8), take the stage on October 5 with her show “Old Songs, New Songs and Other Songs.” Pink Martini, known for blending classical, jazz, and pop, will celebrate their 30th anniversary tour on October 12. Performances are ticketed with reserved seating.
MASS MoCA
North Adams
MASS MoCA will host the FreshGrass Festival, one of the East Coast’s premier roots music festivals, from September 20 to 22. The lineup includes Shakey Graves, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Devil Makes Three, and Béla Fleck, among many others. (See page 12.) FreshGrass offers food and drinks at numerous locations across the MASS MoCA grounds. Following FreshGrass, the museum will continue to host other live music performances throughout the fall, with details to be announced. Performances are ticketed with general admission seating.
Race Brook Lodge
Sheffield
Race Brook Lodge offers a diverse array of music performances year-round, including a jazz brunch every Sunday at noon. Upcoming shows include Hubby Jenkins, a former member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, on September 5. The InBetweens, an electric guitar trio known for their improvisational style, will perform on September 15. The Tuvan throat-singing group ALASH will take the stage on September 26. On September 28, Brenda McMorrow and John De Kadt will present “Fire of the Heart,” blending exquisite vocals and folk-inspired guitar with mesmerizing percussion and spoken word. Most performances require a ticket, and seating is general admission. Race Brook Lodge offers dining in its Stagecoach Tavern. Drinks are available at most performances.
The Stationery Factory
Dalton
The Stationery Factory, known for its excellent sound and lighting, has a robust schedule of live music for the fall. R&B, soul, and pop singer-songwriter Glori Wilder will perform on September 5. Tribute bands will play the music of Tom Petty on September 6, Foreigner on September 7, and Neil Young on September 28. The Cold Stares, a trio known for their unique blend of blues, Southern rock, and hard rock, will perform on October 2. On October 18, Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and Californian cellist Natalie Haas will deliver a performance combining intimate chamber music with energetic dance rhythms. Performances are ticketed with general admission seating. Drinks and snacks are available at the bar, or go early and dine at the Shire Breu-Hous located under the venue.
More Venues
South Mountain Concert Hall in Pittsfield offers a highly popular classical music series each fall, often selling out. This year’s lineup includes performances on successive Sundays. On September 8, Wu Han (piano), David Finckel (cello), Chad Hoopes and Richard Lin (violins), and Matthew Lipman (viola), will feature works by Beethoven, Smetana, and Schumann. The Calidore String Quartet will perform on September 15, featuring compositions by Haydn, Korngold, and Beethoven. The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will present Mozart, Kodály, and Dvořák pieces on September 22. The Isidore String Quartet will play works by Mozart, Duttileux, and Mendelssohn on September 29. On October 6, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble will perform works by Shostakovich, Dvořák, and Mendelssohn. Advance tickets are required.
The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown will host live music performances this fall. On September 1, The Knights will present a family concert featuring works by Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Italian pianist Ivan Dalia will perform twice in September. On September 7, he will give an intimate performance at Flynn Pianos Workshop and Gallery in Great Barrington, and on September 8, he will perform “Bach to Rock” at the Church on the Hill in Lenox.
Other notable performances include the Lich Gate Concerts in the Park in Sheffield on September 14, which will feature works by Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Bartók, and Vivaldi. Also on September 14, the New Marlborough Meeting House will present “From Mozart To Piazzolla: A Panorama Of Musical Expression.” The BBS Harpsichord Festival at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington will feature Peter Sykes on September 21 and Elliot Figg and Caitlyn Koester on October 19. On October 13, Shakespeare & Company in Lenox will host “Grace Kelly With Strings plus Kids 4 Harmony,” presented by Berkshires Jazz, where saxophonist Grace Kelly will adapt classic and contemporary movie themes for an orchestral setting, accompanied by the Kids 4 Harmony advanced ensemble.
With this array of local performances, music lovers in the Berkshires have an incredible season ahead to look forward to. Be sure to check musicintheberkshires.com for the most current information and additional show announcements. Are you a local, Berkshire-based musician looking to promote an upcoming performance and/or musical project or have it potentially featured by Music in the Berkshires or Berkshire Magazine? Please email mark@musicintheberkshires.com or contact him
through Instagram @musicintheberkshires
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