“Blues Women of the Capital Region” begins Spencertown Academy’s concert series
Spencertown, N.Y. — Spencertown Academy kicks off its 2023 Roots & Shoots Concerts Series with “Blues Women of the Capital Region” on Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m. Presented in association with the Capital Region Blues Network (CRBN), the show will feature Robin O’Herin, Jill Burnham, and Amy Ryan.
Robin O’Herin is a touring blues and gospel musician, specializing in historically rich, often interactive concerts that include original and traditional American music. A finalist in both the International Blues Challenge and Memphis Blues Challenge, she has toured internationally to music festivals in Italy and the Czech Republic. She has also recorded a number of full-length albums and EPs.
Sultry Texas-raised singer Jill Burnham performs original and traditional blues with guitarist/singer Mark Tolstrup in Mark & Jill Sing the Blues. Together they won the 2022 EDDIES (Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards) “Blues Artist of the Year” award. They recorded their most recent album, “Mark and Jill Sing the Blues,” live at the legendary Caffe Lena in Saratoga.
General admission tickets ($25 public, $20 Academy and CRBN members) are available at www.spencertownacademy.org. Seating will be limited and advance reservations are strongly suggested.
* * *
See “My Neighbor Totoro” at the Mahaiwe
Great Barrington— The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents a screening of “My Neighbor Totoro” on Saturday, February 25 at 7 p.m.
Hayao Miyazaki’s “My Neighbor Totoro” is a fantasy favorite for all ages. Centered around a family that moves to the country, this anime follows sisters Satsuki and Mei as they discover the wonders of their lush new environment.
Tickets are $8 / $5 ages 12 and under. This movie is rated G, and has a runtime of 1 hour, 26 minutes.
* * *
Learn about composting in preparation for spring
Stockbridge— The Berkshire Botanical Garden is offering an introductory course “Composting for Beginners” on Saturday, February 25, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The online class will cover the basics of successful composting and its use in the garden. Styles of composters will be addressed as well as the tools needed to create and use this “black gold” in the garden. Led by Bridgette Stone.
Bridgette Stone is the director of education at Berkshire Botanical Garden, a graduate of BBG’s Horticulture Certificate Program and a teacher.
This course will be presented online. Registration is $10 for members, $12 for nonmembers.
* * *
Suzanne O Davis performs the title role in “Tapestry, the Carole King Songbook”
Pittsfield— On Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield will host a showing of “Tapestry, the Carole King Songbook,” the premier musical tribute to Carole King. This show recreates the sound and vibe of a 1970s Carole King concert experience following her legendary album, Tapestry. Not only will the audience be transported back to the iconic image of her multiple Grammy Award–winning album of 1971, but also the concert performance will bring to life many hits from the Broadway musical smash, Beautiful.
In addition to featuring all the music from Tapestry, the show will also feature many songs that Carole King and her husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote in the 1960s as one of the most successful songwriting teams in pop music history. The more than 400 songs were recorded by over 1,000 artists, including The Drifters, The Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, Donnie Osmond, Aretha Franklin, The Shirelles, Bobby Vee and many more.
Suzanne O Davis’ performance will take audiences on a journey back to those great recordings with stories about the music, history of Carole King’s incredible career and a fun, sing-along audience interactive experience.
Tickets are $25, available here.
* * *
Apply for the 2023 gallery shows at Becket Arts Center
Becket— The Becket Arts Center, the gathering place for arts in the Berkshires, is accepting applications from visual artists in all media including oils, pastels, watercolor, printmaking, mixed media, photography, ceramics, sculpture, and more.
Emerging and professional artists are invited to apply before March 31. Work is reviewed through a blind jury process and selected for specific 3-week group shows of no more than 5 artists between June 1, and October 1, in the BAC’s beautiful, accessible gallery in the North Becket village, just off Route 8.
New this year, there is an application fee of $20 per artist and a cash prize of $300 awarded to the best submission, as determined by the reviewing jury. (The BAC offers limited scholarships to reduce or eliminate the $20 application fee to younger artists; contact to inquire.) Along with the cash prize, the BAC season poster will feature the winning artist’s work. All applicants will be added to the BAC’s online Artist Directory.
To apply, visit: www.becketartscenter.org/artists/art-exhibitions
* * *
Ivy Sole to perform at MassMoCA
North Adams— On Saturday, February 25, 8 p.m. at MassMoCA see a performance by Ivy Sole.
Ivy Sole does not fit neatly into any one box—that uniqueness is their superpower. The 28-year old rapper-singer is a rare hybrid of sultry and soulful R&B paired with undeniable hip-hop lyricism. Ivy’s sound draws on a diverse set of influences including southern rap, gospel, spoken-word poetry, boom bap, and more. Their latest offering, CANDID, released in February 2022, has earned praise from fans and critics alike, getting love from Pitchfork, Fader, NPR, Metal Mag, DJ Booth, and many more.
Tickets are $22 Advance, $32 Day of, $46 Preferred.
