Barrington Hall presents Afrobeat concerts with ARMO
Great Barrington— On Friday, January 16th from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, January 17th from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Barrington Hall presents Afrobeat concerts with ARMO.
Founded by longtime Antibalas bandmates, ARMO consists of trumpeter/percussionist Jordan McLean, percussionist/vocalist Marcus Farrar, guitarist/keyboardist Nikhil P. Yerawadekar, drummer Kevin Raczka, Justin Kimmel, and Dave “Smoota” Smith on trombone/keyboards. Currently, the five-to-eight-piece band features a revolving cast from the Daptone Records family and N.Y. Afrobeat Scene, creating spontaneous arrangements of the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tony Allen, Ebo Taylor, William Onyeabor, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Amayo, as well as original rhythm based compositions.
The Saturday concert is called “Afrobeat for Little Feet.” This afternoon concert for kids of all ages will feature the same groovy repertoire as any ARMO set with added explanations about how the different instruments and parts of the music work together to create one of the most danceable sounds in the world. Imagine a funky “Young People’s Guide to the Orchestra” where the music never stops.
From its inception, Afrobeat has been a music of resistance. The music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti has historic ties to the civil rights movement in the United States, and the importance of art in fueling social movements is as vital as ever. This weekend long celebration of rhythm and joy will embody the ideals of embracing our shared humanity to the fullest.
The concerts are on Friday, January 16th from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, January 17th from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Barrington Hall, formerly Crissey Farm, located at 426 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Clark Art Institute presents original musical performance by Luke Fischbeck inspired by special exhibition ‘Raffaella della Olga: Typescripts’
Williamstown— On Saturday, January 31st at 6 p.m., the Clark Art Institute presents an original musical performance by Luke Fischbeck inspired by the special exhibition “Raffaella della Olga: Typescripts,” on view through May 31st.
Raffaella della Olga considers her practice of typewriter art in musical terms, with the machine itself as an instrument and the resulting works as graphic scores. In this program, Williams College lecturer Luke Fischbeck, of the collaborative sound art group Lucky Dragons, performs two works inspired by della Olga’s practice: a solo piano composition by Parisian composer Alexandra Grimal, “Typewriter #2,” for Piano, and his own live mix of an electronic sound piece based on recordings made on the Clark campus.
The performance is on Saturday, January 31st at 6 p.m., at the Clark Art Institute, located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Multicultural community dinners return to BRIDGE Solidarity House
Great Barrington— On Friday, January 9th, Multicultural community dinners return to BRIDGE Solidarity House, where the beloved community will have access to nourishing meals, culturally specific conversations, and spaces where they feel seen, valued, and supported.
The community is warmly invited. Your support is not just a donation or buying a meal, it is an act of solidarity that strengthens community and sustains this work. Share in a comforting, culturally rooted meal and the opportunity to gather in community. Whether to come to dine, connect, rest, or simply be present, you are welcome.
The menu for January 9th features Momma Lo’s Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans with Pecan Pie or Stephanie’s Pineapple Upside-Down Cake for optional dessert. The upcoming community dinners are scheduled as follows:
- Jan 19th – Momma Los MLK Day of Service Annual Brown Bag Lunches
- Jan 24th – Tamales with Gabriela and Women to Women family
- Feb 13th – Valentines Dinner with Ariane
- Feb 28th – Haitian Dinner with Marcelene and Louidia
- Mar 13th – Dinner with Ariane & Momma Los
- Mar 20th – Indigenous Heritage Meal for Spring Solstice Meeting with Monica Weeks
The dinner is on Friday, January 9th. Carry-out is from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the drop-in meal is served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Solidarity House, located at 965 Main Street in Great Barrington. It is pay-what-you-can at the door. Online pre-orders and carryout dining is appreciated. You can also RSVP by emailing rsvp@multiculturalbridge.org.
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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College presents ‘Ukraine-Russia War in the Era of Trump 2.0’ with James Brooke
Pittsfield— On Wednesday, January 14th at 7 p.m., Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College presents ‘Ukraine-Russia War in the Era of Trump 2.0,’ a virtual talk by James Brooke.
Brooke, a former New York Times foreign correspondent and a former Ukraine reporter, will provide an informative update and lively discussion on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The free virtual talk is on Wednesday, January 14th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Registration and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Lyric welcomes adult and youth singers for upcoming season
Berkshire— Berkshire Lyric, the region’s oldest and largest community choral organization, is pleased to announce the start of its spring season rehearsals for both its youth and adult choruses. With performances scheduled throughout the spring, including concerts at Tanglewood and collaborations celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, Berkshire Lyric invites singers of all ages to take part in a vibrant season of music-making.
The Berkshire Lyric adult chorus begins rehearsals for its spring season on Monday, January 12th at Shakespeare & Company, located at 70 Kemble Street in Lenox. Interested new singers are welcome and are admitted by audition. Call Director Jack Brown at 413-298-5365 to schedule an audition.
Berkshire Lyric invites young singers to join its tuition-free educational program. Including the Lyric Children’s Chorus (ages six to 13) and Melodious Accord (ages 14 to 18) which begin rehearsals on Saturday, January 10th at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively. Both ensembles rehearse at the Berkshire Music School, located at 30 Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield.
More information, including the concert schedule, can be found online.
