Friday, November 14, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

HomeLife In the Berkshires

Life In the Berkshires

BITS & BYTES: Harvest & Rust at The Colonial; Indian Classical Music at Racebrook Lodge; Maddie Wiener at MASS MoCA; Berkshire Art Association seeks...

Known for their authentic renditions, Harvest & Rust captures the essence of Neil Young’s music, delivering both beloved hits and deep cuts with precision and passion.

BITS & BYTES: Third Thursday at Olana; Pilobolust at The Mahaiwe; Warren Zanes at The Crandell; AI for All for BCC; Women of Spirit...

Stop by the Wagon House Education Center for a chance to celebrate Indigenous History Month and learn more about the history, culture, and craft of native peoples throughout the world.

BITS & BYTES: Tarik Shah at Race Brook Lodge; Fall Festival of Shakespeare at Shakespeare & Company; Great Barrington Public Theater 10-Minute Play Festival;...

Legendary bassist Tarik Shah is a remarkable and extraordinary individual who is serious about the music and brings a high level of jazz improvisation with a lot of joy and integrity.

BITS & BYTES: Albert Cummings at The Colonial; Catalyst Quartet at Linde Center; YATTA at ART OMI; Spencertown Academy member exhibit; Edward Pelkey at...

Albert Cummings is a powerhouse blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose electrifying sound has cemented him as a leading voice in modern blues.

BITS & BYTES: Dan Tyminski at The Mahaiwe; Music Mountain presents Ulysses Quartet at Wethersfield; The Orchestra Now presents ‘Jurassic Park’; Rick McLaughlin Trio...

Tyminski’s voice famously accompanies George Clooney’s performance of the Stanley Brothers’ classic song, “I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow,” in the film, “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”

BITS & BYTES: inkBoat at Kaatsbaan; Berkshire International Film Festival presents ‘SLAY’; Berkshire County Historical Society at The Beacon; ‘Sno-ciety’ at The Colonial; Samuel...

This choreographic project combines traditional practices of Daoist Internal Arts with inkBoat’s performance-devising practices, rooted in the Japanese avant-garde, delving into the nature and quality of a body nearing the end of its run, and speculating on the afterlife and the tenderness of recognizing fellow travelers.

BRIGHT SPOTS: Week of November 5, 2025

Congresspeople are standing up for SNAP benefits that feed families and for opening the government. They are speaking up and passing bills like Stop Politicizing the Military, terminating the emergency declared to justify tariffs, probing the cost of Trump’s National Guard deployments, and stopping illegal detentions.

BITS & BYTES: Stephen Glantz at BIFF; ‘The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne’ at The Crandell; ‘La Bohème’ at The Mahaiwe and The Clark; Ohan Breiding and Lisa E....

‘WUNDERKINDER’ tells a tale of three exceptionally musically talented children who develop a deep and genuine friendship, extending beyond their different religions and nationalities.

WHERE WE ARE: Liana Toscanini — Famous name, familiar face, and local nonprofit connector extraordinaire

I decided to learn the story of how Liana came to play such a central role in the Berkshire County economy and what it is like having a music legend as an ancestor.

BITS & BYTES: World premiere at PS21; Silkroad Ensemble featuring Wu Man at The Mahaiwe; Eagles Band at The Colonial; ELO tribute at The...

Throughout the performance, the musicians become part of the choreography, the gestural dance movements become part of the soundscape, and traditional relationships are redefined.

THEN & NOW: Mount Washington’s South School

The South School location was moved several times during the 1800s. According to "History of Mount Washington, Massachusetts" by Evelyn Shearn, the building was repaired, painted red, and moved to its present location in 1895.

BITS & BYTES: Ulysses Owens Jr. at Tanglewood; Jazz at Norman Rockwell Museum; Ecological symposium at Berkshire Botanical Garden; Vincent Valdez at MASS MoCA; Candlelight concert...

Three-time GRAMMY™ Award-winner Ulysses Owens Jr. is a powerhouse drummer, producer, and educator known for his thrilling performances and innovative approach to jazz.

BITS & BYTES: Jaye Alison at Stockbridge Library; Dawn Nelson at Future Lab(s); Christopher St. Clair Boswell at Becket Arts Center; Kyle Turgeon at...

“It seems incomprehensible that dialogue and diplomacy are not more fervently pursued to avert such senseless loss of life,” said artist Jaye Alison.

BITS & BYTES: The Carle After Dark; Close Encounters with Music presents ‘The Golem’; Neo-Noir at The Triplex; OLLI presents Marty Baron; Emily Arnold...

“The Museum will transform into a playground of wonder, celebrating the mysteries of night, the sparkle of dreams, and the magic of timeless tales,” said The Carle’s Executive Director Jennifer Schantz.

BITS & BYTES: Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band at Fisher Center; Amy Ryan Band and Dusty Wright Four at Spencertown Academy; Lexi Weege at...

Bridging diverse legacies, the vital present, and an exhilarating future of Indigenous peoples in jazz, the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band is an ensemble of Native and Indigenous jazz musicians from across Indian Country.

EYES TO THE SKY: Notes for transitional moments — Sun, moon, planets, stars for all ages

Without the necessity of adjusting daily routines to allow for stargazing when nightfall is late, as in summer, now it is easier to include children in both morning and evening “eyes to the sky.”

BITS & BYTES: Berkshire Carousel events; Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents Wu Man and Sandeep Das; Guild of Berkshire Artists at Art on Main; Laura Dickstein Thompson at...

Berkshire Carousel presents a weekend of events to close out their 2025 season, celebrating a ridership that grew to over a thousand each weekend.