Art Briefs: Music, Performances on Tap for August
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| There are a host of free concerts being performed during the month of August. |
'Celebration of Black Voices'
Barrington Stage Company, as part of its Black Voices Matter initiative, is sponsoring "Celebration of Black Voices," a free five-day festival on Pittsfield's West Side, with free events celebrating the local Black community through artistic engagement.
The festival will take place in an outdoor pavilion at the Polish Community Club, Linden and Center streets, from Wednesday, Aug. 4, through Sunday, Aug. 8. Seating is limited, and reservations are strongly encouraged and may be made here.
Community involvement is a key element to this weeklong event, and there are ample opportunities for everyone to participate — from talent show to volunteering. Among the events are a local youth talent show (ages 16-21), with a top prize of a $2,500 scholarship to any post-secondary program, and an adult talent show (ages 22+) with a top prize of $500. Talent show participants have the opportunity to be coached during a free week-long performance enhancement bootcamp beginning on or about Aug. 2.
For more details, contact Sharron Frazier-McClain at 413-997-6118 or at sfraziermcclain@barringtonstageco.org.
Lineup: Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 6: Brownskin Band with favorite soul, funk and R&B songs; Thursday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. the Interactive SupaDupa Storytelling Power Hour with Ty Allan Jackson and at 6 p.m., an evening of poetry featuring local poets; Friday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m. the West Side Takes the Stage: Take 2 talent show for ages 16–21; Saturday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. the West Side Takes the Stage: Take 2 talent show for ages 18 and older; Sunday, Aug. 8 at 1 p.m., Joyful Noise gospel concert hosted by Price Memorial AME Zion Church and, at 6 p.m., "Ain't I A Woman, written by Shirley Edgerton and Felicia Robertson and directed by Shirley Edgerton, tells the stories of unsung African American heroines.
BSO in North Berkshire
The final of three popup concerts by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and sponsored by Berkshire Medical Center will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 4, at noon at BMC's North Berkshire campus. The exact location has not been determined but it will be held outside so should not be difficult to find.
The concert is one of three this summer; two were held last month at BMC in Pittsfield and Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington.
August Adventures
Highland Street Foundation, a private, family foundation, is sponsoring free days at cultural institutions across the state, with one site open to all on each day during the month of August. Three of the 31 sites are located in Berkshire County: Berkshire Museum is open on Aug. 8, Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary on Aug. 23 and Norman Rockwell Museum on Aug. 31.
For more information on other locations and to register, visit highlandstreet.org.
'Music on Main' Concerts in Dalton
Mill Town and the Dalton Community Recreation Association have partnered to host a series of free weekly outdoor live music concerts, "Music on Main," on the CRA Memorial Lawn and the lawn of the Mill and Main property.
The events will run every Wednesday at the CRA Memorial Lawn at 400 Main St. from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and every Saturday at Mill and Main at 444 Main St. from 6 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 28. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own picnics and chairs to enjoy during the performance. All performances weather permitting.
• Wednesday lineup: Aug. 4, Misty Blues Band; Aug. 11, Lady Di and the Dukes; Aug. 18, Jack Waldheim, Aug. 25, Brian Benelin
• Saturday lineup: Aug. 7, The Kashmir Souls; Aug. 21, Misty Blues; Aug. 28, Lara Tupper & Bobby Sweet
Pipe Organ Concert
Berkshire composer and organist Matthew McConnell will perform a free pipe organ concert at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at All Saints Episcopal Church in North Adams. The music theme is "Music and Animals" and will oriented to children and families. All donations benefit the music program at All Saints.
Free Concerts in North Adams
The Concerts at Windsor Lake continue on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 with JP Murphy Band on Wednesday, Aug. 4; Champagne Jam on Aug. 11; and Common Folk Present on Aug. 25. (Aug. 18 is the date of the Downtown Celebration.)
Party in the Park, hosted at Joe Wolfe Field by WNAW and WUPE-FM, runs on Thursdays at 6 p.m. through Aug. 26.
Berkshire Museum Grand Reopening; New Mask Policy
Reminder that the Pittsfield museum is closed Monday through this week, Aug. 2-5, with grand reopening of the renovated second floor set for Friday, Aug. 6. The redone space will hold five new exhibitions.
Berkshire Museum members may enjoy special Member Preview Days during the closure: Monday to Thursday, Aug. 2 to 5, from 10 am to 5 p.m. Tickets and information are available at berkshiremuseum.org.
Beginning Aug. 2, all museum visitors ages 2 and older will once again be required to wear protective face coverings throughout their visit and will not be permitted inside the building without a mask or other suitable face covering. This week's switch to mandatory masking comes in response to recent federal guidance and changing COVID-19 conditions in the region.
More StoryWalk with Ty Allan Jackson
Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and the Berkshire Athenaeum will continue the Downtown Pittsfield StoryWalk of Ty Allan Jackson's book "When I Close My Eyes" through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6. They have partnered with CozQuest for a family-friendly Treasure Hunt along the route that starts at Dottie's Coffee Lounge, 444 North St.
Kids will be able to solve puzzles to find hidden QR codes that will unlock treasure at local businesses. If they find all of the QR codes, they'll be entered to win one of five limited edition "When I Close My Eyes" posters signed by the author, and one grand prize winner will also receive a tote bag full of library swag. Play and learn more at www.cozquest.com/storywalk.html.
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