Albert Cummings to record album at Williams College
Williamstown — Blues guitarist and Williamstown native Albert Cummings will record his eighth album during a live show at Williams College on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. on the MainStage in the ’62 Center. The show will consist of Cummings and his band performing a mix of fan favorites from his collection, which will then be edited to a 45-60 minute CD/DVD to be packaged for worldwide release in the spring of 2017.
Cummings began playing the banjo at age 12 and switched to guitar in college. In 1999 he competed in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge. In 2003, Cummings released a solo album, “From the Heart,” featuring Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s rhythm section. He signed to Blind Pig Records in 2004, and has released five albums with the label. He has played with blues legends B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy, and worked with Grammy Award-winning producers Jim Gaines and David Z. Born and raised in Williamstown, Cummings works is also a general contractor and has worked on projects that include the college’s Class of 1966 Environmental Center and the restoration of the Log on Spring Street.
Tickets range from $40 to $50. Attendees are encouraged to bring food donations for the Williamstown Food Pantry. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar. For building locations on the Williams campus, consult the online map or call the Office of Communications at (413) 597-4277.
–E.E.
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BTG to hold auditions for ‘A Christmas Carol’
Pittsfield — Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) seeks non-Equity actors for its annual community production of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, adapted by Eric Hill and directed by Travis G. Daly. Children ages 9 and up as well as adults are sought to fill roles in the production. Rehearsals will begin Monday, Nov. 14 and will take place in Stockbridge. Attendance at all rehearsals is required. The show will run Saturday, Dec. 10, through Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Colonial Theatre.
Auditions will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre. Those auditioning will need to prepare a short, traditional Christmas Carol to sing and will be asked to read from the play. Auditions will be by appointment only. To schedule and appointment or for more information, call (413) 448-8084 x23 by Monday, Oct. 17.
–E.E.
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‘Clay Politics’ conversation at Ferrin Contemporary
North Adams — Ferrin Contemporary will host “Clay Politics,” a discussion between artist Justin Rothshank and editor Elenor Wilson, on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. “Clay Politics” will explore the ways in which contemporary ceramics and art is used to raise awareness of social and political issues. The discussion is part of “Know Justice,” an exhibit of works by Justin and Brooke Rothshank on display through Sunday, Nov. 13.
Ceramicist Rothshank’s work uses photographic collages created from images sourced from public domain web imagery and applied as decal transfer prints onto hand-thrown dinnerware, pitchers, trophies, and objects used in ceremony. Wilson is the editor of Studio Potter and an independent artist living in western Massachusetts. She has traveled extensively as an artist and has had residencies in Taiwan, Finland, and throughout the U.S.
For more information, contact Ferrin Contemporary at (413) 446-0614 or info@ferrincontemporary.com.
–E.E.
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Egremont Fire Department’s annual steak dinner
South Egremont — The Egremont Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual steak dinner on Sunday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the South Egremont firehouse, 36 Main St. The event will feature table service and salad, beverages, steak, baked potatoes, garlic bread, coffee, tea, and sundaes with chocolate sauce prepared by chefs Terry Moore of the Old Mill and Dan Smith of John Andrews Farmhouse Restaurant. Tickets are $22 and take-out orders are available. Proceeds will benefit the fire department. For more information, call (413) 528-0971.
–E.E.
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Crescendo director to speak on ‘The Effects of Music”
Great Barrington — On Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Crescendo Founding Artistic Director Christine Gevert will present “The Effects of Music and Singing on Body and Mind With Highlights of Choral Repertoire of the Baroque, Romantic and Modern Times from Palestrina to Today” at the Mason Library. The program is free and open to the public.
During her hour-long, multimedia talk, Gevert will present an overview of the latest scientific findings about music and choral singing, and illustrate them with the story of Crescendo. The talk will also include a preview and explanation of some choral works that will be presented in Crescendo’s upcoming concert on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the First Congregational Church, 251 Main St. The concert, titled “Praise & Gratitude: Renaissance to Modern Choral Music,” will feature music by Palestrina, Pachelbel, Telemann, Mendelssohn, Gjeilo and local composer Myers. Gevert holds a master’s degree in organ and early music performance; a bachelor’s degree in music theory, basso continuo and choral conducting; and has studied choral and orchestral conducting in Berlin and harpsichord in London.
For more information, call the library at (413) 528-2403. Gevert will repeat her talk at 4 p.m. at the Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury, Connecticut.
–E.E.
