Great Barrington’s downtown summer street performing-arts festival begins on Friday, June 28, at 6:30 p.m., with a wide variety of musical and non-musical artists. On Saturday, the organization is partnering with Berkshire Pride for a glittering send-off of Pride month and a warm welcome to the festival’s summer season.
Friday Highlights: An Australian prodigy, fiery new talent
On Friday, June 28, Berkshire Busk! welcomes back Noah Robertson, a 14-year-old standout blues guitarist and 2022 Australian Busking Champion. Robertson has sailed back from his Australian home to appear on the Upper Railroad Street stage.
Lower Railroad Street will feature youth talent from a bit closer to home in the form of the Funk Box Dance Studio out of Pittsfield. Funk Box first came to Berkshire Busk! as part of the festival’s 2023 Dance Night in Partnership with Jacob’s Pillow. This weekend, they will be splitting the stage with a Berkshire Busk! newcomer: Luna Faun, a multi-prop performer who will be performing a fire dancing set.
Performances by other beloved local performers such as Garrin Benfield, Brian Hailes, Rich & Marilyn, and Balloon Ben will also occur in locations throughout downtown.
Saturday Highlights: Berkshire Pride comes to Great Barrington
Berkshire Busk! is delighted to partner with Berkshire Pride for the second year in a row, bringing an even bigger night of LGBTQ+ programming to Great Barrington. The evening’s festivities will begin earlier than usual through a Drag Queen Story Hour hosted by The Triplex Cinema, from 5 to 6 p.m.. Then drag performers Poppy DaBubbly, Bella Santarella, and Vuronika Baked will take to the Lower Railroad Street stage for lip-syncing, comedy, and other fun. The fabulous trio will split the stage with the eye-catching fire performer Opal Raven, who is returning for a second year.
Upper Railroad Street will feature the return of Galush, a three-time finalist at the American Beatbox championships. Galush is an artist as well as a musical educator, who works with the nonprofit Beatbox Safe Space to advance inclusivity within the beatboxing community. Recently, they were a featured collaborator of choreographer Alex Davis’ work for the Williams College Queering Perspectives Festival.
The night will also feature a special edition of Busk’s Saturday Night Market with local LGBTQ+ makers. The evening’s festivities will also feature some Berkshire Busk! newcomers and regulars sprinkled throughout downtown, such as Chrstine Bilé, Natalie Lewis, and Mike Pagnani.
Saturday evening will conclude with an outdoor showing of “Hedwig & The Angry Inch” in partnership with The Triplex Cinema and Boondocks Film Society. The movie will commence at 8:30 p.m. at Giggle Park behind Town Hall.
Extended schedule on Saturdays
Berkshire Busk! is bringing back their satellite performances for all-day fun on Saturdays. On June 29, music fans can begin the day with local rocker Colby Lewis at the Great Barrington Farmers’ Market. Then, at noon, Andrew the Balloonatic and face painter Deb Ellsworth will be ready to entertain children of all ages at Robin’s Candy until 2 p.m. Adult crowds can then look forward to a performance by Americana group Mike Cobb & The Crevulators at Berkshire Mountain Distillers at 2 p.m. in Sheffield.
Berkshire Busk! is free to attend and takes place in downtown Great Barrington every Friday and Saturday evening, from June 28 through August 31. Primary festival programming begins at 6:30 p.m. Visit the Berkshire Busk! website for the full schedule of events.
