Race Brook Lodge presents ‘Vieux Farka Touré & Trio Xalam’
Sheffield— On Thursday, June 29th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Race Brook Lodge presents “Vieux Farka Touré & Trio Xalam”. The concert is the first event of Race Brook Lodge’s “Eid al Adha Festival” weekend, celebrating the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Adha.
Often referred to as the “Hendrix of the Sahara”, Mali-born guitarist and impresario Vieux Farka Touré has clearly established himself as one of the world’s rare musical talents and virtuosos with a distinct style that always pays homage to the past while looking towards the future.
The concert features an opening set by Trio Xalam. Straddling the tightrope between Middle Eastern, West African, and downtown New York City improvisation aesthetics, Trio Xalam grooves hard and sets up the space for improvisational exploration. Xalam founder, Oud player Brandon Terzic, will be joined by Rufus Cappadocia on Cello and Matt Kilmer on percussion.
The concert is on Thursday, June 29th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Barnspace at Race Brook Lodge on South Undermountain Road in Sheffield. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins around 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 general admission, $40 in advance, $55 last call, and $60 at the door (if available). For tickets and more information, visit Race Brook Lodge online.
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Eid al Adha Concert at Race Brook Lodge
Sheffield— On Friday, June 30th at 7 p.m., Race Brook Lodge presents a special concert to commemorate the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha with a virtuosic ensemble coming together specifically for this occasion.
Race Brook Lodge will be celebrating the Muslim Holiday of Eid-al-Adha, also known as Bakrid Eid, with a sublime musical program featuring Middle-eastern and Turkish inspired music, as part of their Eid al Adha Festival celebration weekend. The Race Brook Eid ensemble features Rami el Aasser on percussion, multi-instrumentalist Zafer Tawil, Brandon Terzic on Oud, Rufus Cappadocia on Cello, Matt Kilmer on percussion, and other special guests.
The concert is on Friday, June 30th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Barnspace at Race Brook Lodge on South Undermountain Road in Sheffield. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins around 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For tickets and more information, visit Race Brook Lodge online.
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5th Annual Berkshire Jazz Showcase on the Pittsfield Common features four local bands
Pittsfield— On Saturday, July 8th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Berkshires Jazz, Inc. presents its popular Berkshire Jazz Showcase.
Berkshire County enjoys a long-standing reputation as a hotbed of jazz talent, going back nearly 75 years to Music Inn, and now enjoying renewed popularity throughout the region. On any particular weekend, and some weekdays, audiences can find dozens of locally-based world-class musicians in clubs and lounges, but rarely on a main stage. Berkshires Jazz addressed that oversight in 2018 when the showcase took off, with the City of Pittsfield’s outdoor stage as the launching pad. Demonstrating the wide variety of Berkshires-based jazz artists, this year’s event will feature a wide-ranging lineup including Wanda Houston, the diva of Berkshire vocalists making her Showcase debut; saxophonist Paul Ostermayer and guests; guitarist Luke Franco and his quartet; and Andy Kelly’s Dixieland Band.
Many of these artists could easily establish careers in jazz havens like New York, Chicago, New Orleans, or San Francisco, but they live in the Berkshires because this is where they want to be. Visitors and locals alike will be amazed at the talent that calls the Berkshires home.
The showcase will be held on Saturday, July 8th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the field adjacent to the First Street Common’s playground. There will be local food vendors. Audience members are advised to bring blankets or chairs. There is no cost of admission.
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Berkshire Botanical Garden presents ‘Music Mondays in the Garden’
Stockbridge— Beginning Monday, July 3rd, Berkshire Botanical Garden presents its “Music Mondays in the Garden” series of live concerts.
After the gates close to the public at Berkshire Botanical Garden, the shadows are long and the garden takes on the soft, golden hues of high summer. In this light, the “Music Monday” live concerts are presented. Continuing through August 28th, the concerts are on Mondays evenings in the garden from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
On Mondays in July, performers include Ciarra Fragale, Misty Blues, the O-Tones, Brother Sal Blues Band; and Johnny Irion. In August, the line up includes Zikina, Sol y Canto, Union Jack, and the Wanda Houston Band.
Bring a picnic, a blanket or lawn chairs, stroll the grounds, dance, and be merry. Berkshire Botanical Garden has partnered with Berkshire Picnics to make picnicking easy for “Music Mondays at the Garden”. Book a picnic in advance with Berkshire Picnics, and just show up. Picnic options range from a simple and delicious picnic basket meal for $75, or a full-service luxury picnic setup for you and your family and friends for $400.
The concerts start on Monday, July 3rd at 5:30 p.m. at Berkshire Botanical Garden on West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge. Tickets to Music Mondays are $15 and $10 for members. Children 12 and under are free. Pets other than service animals are not allowed on property or in the gardens. Tickets, picnic reservations, and more information can be found by visiting Berkshire Botanical Garden online.
Music Mondays will take place rain or shine, but in case of severe weather, the concert will be cancelled, and refunds given. In the event of questionable weather, please visit Berkshire Botanical Garden online or call 413-320-4794 for updated information.
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Local Artist showcases the beauty of vintage Berkshire matchbook art
Pittsfield— On Saturday, July 1st from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., local artist Sara Paul opens “Strike a Memory: Imagery & Illustration in Berkshire Matchbooks”, an art exhibit of vintage Berkshire matchbooks dating from the 1950s-1980s at the Beacon Cinema.
The exhibit will display for the month of July in the Beacon Cinema lobby and features vintage matchbooks with famous landmarks in Lenox, Pittsfield, Great Barrington, other Berkshire towns including Tanglewood and the Red Lion Inn, and classic former businesses like England Brothers and Alice’s at Avaloch, now the Apple Tree Inn.
Local designer, curator, and collector, Sara Paul, started Shire Prints to help the public discover the lost art of matchbook art. The matchbooks have been scanned at a high resolution and printed many times greater than their size so that viewers can get an up-close look at matchbook art in its full color, detail, and splendor.
Opening night is Saturday, July 1st from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Beacon Cinema on North Street in Pittsfield, with a reception afterward at the Hot Plate Brewing Company on School Street in Pittsfield. For more information, visit Shire Prints online.
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Sheffield Farmers Market’s celebration of our local farming community
Sheffield— On Friday, June 23rd from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the public is invited to the Sheffield Farmers Market’s celebration of our local farming community.
There will be local produce, food, crafts, farm animals to meet, and live music by Eli Elkus, the “Traveling Musical Storyteller & Songcraftsman”.
Sheffield Farmers Market proudly accepts SNAP and HIP benefits, with a triple SNAP match thanks to their SNAP Match sponsors: Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, Magic Fluke, Greenagers, Plaskolite, Bakin’ Bakery, Sheffield Ag-Com, Tomich Landscaping, Roberto’s Pizza, and One Mercantile.
The celebration is on Friday, June 23rd from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Sheffield Farmer’s Market in the parking lot of the First Congregation Church on Main Street in Sheffield. For more information, visit the Sheffield’s Farmer’s Market online.
