Hudson Hall presents Marc Ribot Quartet’s Hurry Red Telephone
Hudson, N.Y.— On Saturday, February 22nd at 7 p.m., Hudson Hall presents Marc Ribot Quartet’s Hurry Red Telephone.
Over his 40-year career, guitarist Marc Ribot has collaborated with music legends like Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, earning a reputation as one of the most versatile and respected guitarists in modern music.
In his new quartet, Ribot reunites with drummer Chad Taylor to explore the Albert Ayler-inspired path they forged with Spiritual Unity and the Grimes Taylor Ribot Trio. Joining them are bassist Sebastian Steinberg (Soul Coughing) and fearless guitarist/improviser Ava Mendoza (Unnatural Ways, The Violent Femmes, tUnE-yArDs.)
The concert is on Saturday, February 22nd at 7 p.m. at Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House, located at 327 Warren Street in Hudson. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Theatre Group presents Manticore, a tribute to Emerson, Lake & Palmer at The Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield— On Friday, February 21st at 7:30 p.m., Berkshire Theatre Group, as a part of Pittsfield’s 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival, presents Manticore, a tribute to Emerson, Lake, and Palmer with special guest Paul Bielatowicz at The Colonial Theatre.
Experience the electrifying music of Emerson, Lake & Palmer like never before with Manticore, the New York-based tribute band that brings the iconic sound of ’70s symphonic rock back to life. Manticore pays homage to ELP’s unforgettable blend of rock and classical music, honoring the band that transformed the likes of Bach, Mussorgsky, and Prokofiev into powerful, daring compositions laced with rock ‘n’ roll’s edge and energy. This is a performance that captures the spirit of an era, an immersive journey through ELP’s legacy.
Led by Rob Shepard on keyboards, Ron Ponella on bass, vocals and guitar and Little John Cristando on percussion, Manticore faithfully recreates the bombastic live experience ELP was known for. Fans can expect to be transported with classics like “Fanfare for the Common Man,” “Lucky Man,” and “Pirates,” as well as rare gems that even ELP rarely performed. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to this epic fusion of rock and classical music, Manticore’s show is a must-see celebration of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s groundbreaking legacy and the unforgettable thrill of rock symphony.
The concert is on Friday, February 21st at 7:30 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre, located at 111 South Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Wander Berkshires presents ‘Together We’re Unlimited, A Wicked Drag Show’
Pittsfield— On Saturday, February 22nd from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Wander Berkshires presents “Together We’re Unlimited, A Wicked Drag Show,” a night of fierce drag performances inspired by the musical “Wicked.”
Get ready to be dazzled by wickedly talented drag performers as they take the stage and hold space for the lyrics of Wicked Part 1, promising to be an unforgettable evening of glamour, performance, and activism. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to come together and celebrate the spirit of the local drag community.
Performers include Jayde Violet as Elphaba, Scorpia Galaxia as Glinda, Sativo Green as The Wizard, and Casi Kristant as MC/Narrator. The show is on Saturday, February 22nd from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Wander Berkshires, located at 34 Depot Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Springfield Museums’ live animal center reopens with new displays
Springfield— The Springfield Museums is delighted to announce its popular live animal center has evolved into the new permanent exhibition “Living Waters: From Oceans to Valleys.”
The renovated space explores habitats from around the world and right in our own backyard. Beloved inhabitants like the wood turtle and poison dart frogs are joined by new animals from Africa and South America, with new large interactives and a wall of fish fossils for a deeper experience. New displays and animals include Lake Tanganyika Aquarium, Epaulette Shark Aquarium, Amazon River Terrariums, Mangrove Aquarium, Connecticut River Watershed Aquarium, and the Riparian Zone Wood Turtle Terrarium, featuring an upgraded home for the museum’s longstanding animal ambassador, Woody the Wood Turtle.
From February 17th through the 21st, “Living Waters” and the special exhibition “The Robot Zoo” serve as inspiration for the Museums’ school vacation week program “Critter Crossing.” The Springfield Museums are located at 21 Edwards Street in Springfield. More information can be found online.
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Berkshire Art Association presents their annual ‘10×10 Real Art Party’
Pittsfield— On Thursday, February 20th at 5 p.m., Berkshire Art Association (BAA) presents their annual “10×10 Real Art Party” at Clock Tower Artists Studios.
Well-known Berkshire and regional artists have produced beautiful 10×10 art for this show, with many having donated for over a decade. The party is free, and partygoers are invited to purchase a $35 ARTIX, guaranteeing them a piece of original art to take home. Proceeds will benefit BAA Fellowships for college art majors and art field trip awards for high school art classes.
The event is on Thursday, February 20th at 5 p.m. at Clock Tower Artists Studios, located at 75 South Church Street in Pittsfield. More information can be found online.
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Yiddish Book Center presents ‘Litvaks in Love’ with Professor David G. Roskies
Amherst— On Thursday, February 20th at 7 p.m., the Yiddish Book Center presents ‘Litvaks in Love,’ a Zoom presentation with Professor David G. Roskies.
In David Roskies’s memoir, “Yiddishlands,” a son acts as his mother’s medium as they conjure up Vilna, the Jerusalem of Lithuania. Armed with his mother’s stories and Yiddish songs, David sets out to discover traces of Vilna throughout the diaspora, from New York to Krakow, Moscow to Jerusalem.
Dr. David Roskies is the Sol and Evelyn Henkind Chair emeritus in Yiddish Literature and Culture and a professor emeritus of Jewish literature at The Jewish Theological Seminary. A prolific author, editor, and scholar, he has published eleven books and received numerous awards. A native of Montreal, Canada, and a product of its Yiddish secular schools, Dr. Roskies was educated at Brandeis University, where he received his doctorate in 1975.
The virtual presentation is on Thursday, February 20th at 7 p.m. on Zoom. More information can be found online.
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Lenox Library and The Bookstore present author, journalist, and historian Eoin Higgins
Lenox— On Friday, February 21st at 5 p.m., the Lenox Library and The Bookstore will partner to present journalist and historian Eoin Higgins to discuss his brand new book, “Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left.”
“Owned” is the story of the underreported and growing collusion between new wealth and new journalism. In recent years, right-wing billionaires like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and David Sacks have turned to media as their next investment and source of influence. Their cronies Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi, once known as idealistic and left-leaning voices, are now beneficiaries of Silicon Valley largesse. Together, this new alliance aims to exploit the failings of traditional journalism and undermine the very idea of an independent and fact-based fourth estate. “Owned” examines how this shift has allowed spectacularly wealthy reactionaries to pursue their ultimate goal of censoring critics so to further their own business interests—and personal vendettas—entirely unimpeded while also advancing a toxic and antidemocratic ideology. A rich history of the decades-long rise of this new right-wing alternative media takeover, “Owned” follows the money, names names, and offers a chilling portrait of a future social media and news landscape. It is a biting exposé of journalistic greed, tech-billionaire ambition, and a lament for a disappearing free press.
Eoin Higgins is a journalist and historian from the Berkshires. His work has appeared in many publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Intercept, The New Republic, The Nation, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), Common Dreams, The Outline, Splinter, Deadspin, and many others. Additionally he writes for Morning Brew’s tech newsletter, IT Brew, with an audience of nearly 100,000.
The free event is on Friday, February 21st at 5 p.m. at the Lenox Library, located at 18 Main Street in Lenox. Books will be available for purchase and signing. More information can be found online.
