Berkshires Weekend Outlook for April 8-10
By Sabrina Damms
April 08, 2022
April 08, 2022
Berkshire County is offering a wide array of indoor events to keep dry this rainy weekend from live concerts to comedy nights. Or keep warm in the barns with the baby animals at Hancock Shaker Village.
Mamadou Diabate & Percussion Mania
Mass MoCa, North Adams
Want to experience Afro style music that will bring "the Sun of West Africa" to the stage? Then look no further than Mamadou Diabate & Percussion Mania in concert at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday, April 9, at 8 p.m. in the Hunter Center.
Audience members can experience the art of music and language through the virtuosic balafon music that is supported by the powerful African rhymes and refined chants mixing the traditional West African storytelling rhythms with Western rock.
"The internationally acclaimed balafon virtuoso Mamadou Diabate hails from the Sambla people of Burkina Faso where music and language are one and the same." Mass MoCa wrote on its website.
The price of a ticket with a student ID is $12. Tickets are $16 in advance or $22 at the door. Visitors can also pay $40 for preferred seating to appreciate the music up close.
Harlem Wizards at Wahconah
Watch some basketball wizardry and support the Kittredge Elementary School PTG on Sunday as the Harlem Wizards take on the Central Berkshire Crushers at Wahconah Regional High School this Sunday at 2 p.m.
General admission tickets at $13 are on sale here through Saturday.
Last Farmers Market
Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsfield
A sure sign of spring is the last Pittsfield Farmers Market — for the winter season!
The final indoor market runs Saturday from 9 to 1 at the church, 74 First St., with offerings from local farms, jewelry, woodcrafts and more. This wraps up the winter market and it will move to the Common in May. Interested in selling your produce at the summer market, or looking to volunteer? Find all the information here.
Lexi Weege & JJ Slater
Tourists, North Adams
Dance to "vintage vibes" during the Lexy Weege and JJ Slater performance on Sunday, April 10
Sunday at 8 at the Tourists resort at 915 State Road as part of the hotel's "Sing For Your Slumber" series. The performances are powered by Bose.
Lexi Weege of Weege and the Wonder Twins is a singer and songwriter who joins guitarist JJ Slater in an effort to create a vintage vibe that is inspired by The Kinks, Julie London, Bessie Smith and more.
Proof of vaccination will be required for everyone. All Sing For Your Slumber shows are free but donations are encouraged. Seating and admission is limited and is first-come, first-served. To reserve seating or for more information visit the hotel's website.
Comedy @ Bright Ideas Brewing
Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams
Stay warm at Bright Ideas located at 111 Mass MoCA Way on the museum campus to drink and laugh over the puttering of the rain. This 90-minute event happens every second Saturday of the month starting at 8 p.m.
This event is produced by Iconix Productions in collaboration with Bright Ideas Brewing. Tickets are $10 to $15 and can be purchased here.
Rees Shad & The Conversations Jamming with Java at Dottie's
Dottie's Coffee Lounge, Pittsfield
Have a cup of coffee during Dottie's Sunday Brunch and listen to the music by Western Mass singer and songwriter Rees Shad and his jazz pop band the Conversations on Sunday from 10 to noon.
The Conversations trio is led by Shed and supported by drummer Bobby Kay and bassist Jeff Link. Shad has 30 records under his belt with an upcoming release "One Glass at a Time."
"In the tradition of heartland storytellers like James McMurtry and John Mellencamp comes another authentic voice," according to New Country Magazine.
Dottie's Coffee Lounge is located at 444 North St. For more information on Shad and the band visit their site.
Talking About History
Milne Public Library, Williamstown
The Williamstown Historical Museum hosts a free panel discussion on "A Conversation About Stories, Told, Revised, and Untold" this Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Community Room at the Milne Public Library.
In the Crook of the Elbow
The Foundry, West Stockbridge
This Friday at 7:30, audience members will get a chance to "explore the intersection of movement, spoken word, and embodied delight" through the dance performance by choreographer and poet Gillian Ebersole and dancer Shannon Nulf.
The performers' movement and performance will explore the idea of "What is dance if not joy?"
Gillian showcases their love for language and movement in combination with Nulf’s work which reflects her commitment to human connection and community building. Both Gillian and Nulf worked for Jacob’s Pillow.
Tickets are available online for $18 and at the door for $20. Proof of vaccination and masks are required at the show. For more information or to buy a ticket visit The Foundry website.
African Americans & Civil War Photography
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
The Clark presents a virtual talk at 2 p.m. on Saturday by Deborah Willis, author of "The Black Civil War Soldier," exploring the crucial role of photography in shaping African American narratives of the Civil War. The event will also be broadcast via Facebook Live. For more information and to register, visit clarkart.edu/events.