From the crowd and cameras of American Idol, to the stages of her home in Berkshire County, Katherine Winston is happy whenever she finds herself performing live. The singer-songwriter has had a busy summer, culminating in a jam-packed Labor Day weekend with a showing at the Three County Fair and two performances in the final week of Berkshire Busk!: one on the evening of Friday, September 1 in the Triplex Courtyard and one on the afternoon of Saturday, September 2 at Berkshire Mountain Distillers.
Katherine Winston has been pursuing music full-time since the age of 15, gaining national attention when she reached the Top 24 of season 14 of “American Idol.” Upon finishing her run on the singing competition show, she stuck around in Los Angeles, where she took up busking to meet fellow performers and make some extra cash.
“There are so many things that I love about street performing, but here are a few of my favorites.” said Winston “The audience is always changing so it’s a great place to grow your community and try out new material on different crowds. The atmosphere is relaxed so people feel more comfortable coming up, talking to you, and finding out more about your music and where you might be playing in the future. My absolute favorite thing while street performing is when people stop, listen, and sometimes even dance. It’s so great to be a part of those memories with people.”
Among her many original songs, you can expect to hear covers from pop, rock, country, and more in Winston’s repertoire. She crafts her busking set lists based on years of popular requests made by her audience. Whether you are spotting her in the dimly lit lounges of Stockbridge and Lenox, or in the sunshine of your local farmer’s markets and festivals, you are sure to hear some familiar favorites.
Engaging folks with songs they know can make for great memories for both the audience and the performer. Winston recalled one of her favorite experiences while busking: “One time I was performing and a couple stopped to listen right as I started to play ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ by Elvis. It turned out that it was their anniversary and that was their first-dance song at their wedding. That was really special.”
Katherine Winston’s upcoming performances at Berkshire Busk! are nothing new: She has been a favorite at the festival since its inception in 2021. She will be on the streets of downtown Great Barrington on Friday evening and at Sheffield’s Berkshire Mountain Distillers on Saturday afternoon. “Great Barrington is always one of my favorite places to play,” she said of her upcoming shows. “It’s a place where everyone really seems to enjoy music and all kinds of art. Everyone is very supportive and friendly. I have met so many wonderful people while playing at Berkshire Busk!, and I look forward to meeting new people as well as seeing the familiar, friendly faces.”
To find out more on Winston’s latest original releases, like 2022’s “Last Call,” and find out where she is playing next, visit her website.
