As Hanukkah unfolds and the Winter Solstice and Christmas draw near, the Berkshires come alive with 36 performances this week—including ten festive holiday shows on the final weekend before Christmas. Alongside the seasonal celebrations, you’ll find jazz, rock, Swedish folk, and even a rock opera in the mix. Explore the highlights below, and don’t forget to browse the full calendar to plan your next night out.
It’s a busy week packed with holiday concerts, so let’s begin with those:
- The Winter Solstice In Story and Song at Becket Arts Center on Thursday.
- TLI Presents: BSO Holiday Brass at Tanglewood on Friday, Saturday, Sunday morning (a special family-friendly version of the full-length performance), and Sunday afternoon.
- Paul Winter Consort Winter Solstice Celebration at St. James Place on Saturday (two performances).
- Berkshire Lyric Presents: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year at First Congregational Church of Stockbridge on Saturday.
- Children’s Holiday Sing Along with John and Ann Marie Farrell and Holiday Sing Along at Becket Arts Center on Saturday.
- Holiday Spectravaganza at Barrington Hall on Saturday.
- The Wizards of Winter at Colonial Theatre on Saturday.
- Holiday Cabaret | Mistletoe & Mischief at Ventfort Hall on Sunday.
- A Tapestry of Traditions: Unraveling the History of Christmas Carols at St. James Place on Sunday.
Other highlighted performances include:
- Kongero at The Foundry on Wednesday. The Swedish vocal group consisting of four female folk singers is back at The Foundry for a show you won’t want to miss.
- Saturnalia Party at Hot Plate Brewing Co on Friday. Featuring a multimedia musical experience from Padded Waltz, Hot Plate is celebrating Saturnalia, an ancient Roman midwinter festival honoring Saturn.
- What to wear at MASS MoCA on Saturday. Catch this work-in-progress production of a comedic, post-rock opera by composer Michael Gordon and the late downtown theater renegade icon Richard Foreman, who penned over 50 plays and nine operas across five decades.
- An Evening with Ellis Paul at Buttonball Barn on Saturday. Paul is an acclaimed singer-songwriter and folk storyteller whose poetic lyrics, expressive vocals, and decades of touring have made him a cornerstone of the modern American folk scene.
- John Pizzarelli Trio: Tony Bennett – The Art of Excellence (pictured above) at Mahaiwe on Saturday. The Grammy® Award-winning producer and guitarist honors the legendary Tony Bennett, celebrating over 60 years of unmatched artistry.
Along with these highlights, you can also enjoy your local favorites. On Wednesday, catch the Benny Kohn Trio, and on Thursday, see Hot Sauce, both at The Lion’s Den. Friday night, don’t miss Wanda Houston at Firefly Gastropub. Saturday night, Andy Wrba & Friends perform at The Lion’s Den, and Misty Blues is at Studio 9. Sunday afternoon, you’ll find Jack Waldheim at Antimony Brewing, and Sunday evening, Michael Junkins & Friends will be at The Lion’s Den.
You can learn more about all of these performances in our day-by-day show rundown below, or jump right to our music calendar. Use the subscribe button below to receive this free weekly rundown of upcoming performances in your inbox each Monday.
Monday
No Performances.Tuesday
No Performances.Wednesday
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Benny Kohn Trio @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:30 pm Kongero @ The Foundry, West Stockbridge.
Thursday
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Hot Sauce @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm The Winter Solstice In Story and Song @ Becket Arts Center, Becket.
Friday
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Wanda Houston @ Firefly Gastropub, Lenox.
7:00 pm Saturnalia Party @ Hot Plate Brewing Co, Pittsfield.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Tim Gallagher @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Maya Shaw & Friends @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm TLI Presents: BSO Holiday Brass @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Shaman @ Buttonball Barn, South Egremont.
Saturday
12:00 pm Kids Concerts with Terry A La Berry and Friends @ Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Jack Waldheim @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
3:00 pm TLI Presents: BSO Holiday Brass @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Joe James @ Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Sheffield.
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Paul Winter Consort Winter Solstice Celebration @ St. James Place, Great Barrington.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Berkshire Lyric Presents: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year @ First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, Stockbridge.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Children’s Holiday Sing Along with John and Ann Marie Farrell @ Becket Arts Center, Becket.
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Holiday Sing Along @ Becket Arts Center, Becket.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Celtic Christmas with Kilashandra! @ portaVia, Dalton.
7:00 pm Studio 9 Present Misty Blues Live @ Studio 9, North Adams.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Chuck Clough @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Andy Wrba & Friends @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
7:00 pm What to wear @ MASS MoCA, North Adams.
7:00 pm The Slackers @ Route 8 Pub, Becket.
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Holiday Spectravaganza @ Barrington Hall, Great Barrington.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Paul Winter Consort Winter Solstice Celebration @ St. James Place, Great Barrington.
7:30 pm The Wizards of Winter @ Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield.
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm An Evening with Ellis Paul @ Buttonball Barn, South Egremont.
8:00 pm John Pizzarelli Trio: Tony Bennett – The Art of Excellence @ Mahaiwe, Great Barrington.
Sunday
10:30 am TLI for Families: BSO Holiday Brass @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm The Honig Brothers @ portaVia, Dalton.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Mike Duffy @ Balderdash Cellars, Richmond.
3:00 pm TLI Presents: BSO Holiday Brass @ Tanglewood, Lenox.
3:30 pm Holiday Cabaret | Mistletoe & Mischief @ Ventfort Hall, Lenox.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm A Tapestry of Traditions: Unraveling the History of Christmas Carols @ St. James Place, Great Barrington.
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Jack Waldheim @ Antimony Brewing, Lenox.
5:00 pm The Ladies Diane @ Route 8 Pub, Becket.
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Michael Junkins & Friends @ The Lion's Den, Stockbridge.
Please get out and support your local musicians and venues!
— Mark @ Music in the Berkshires