(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – Darlingside, a band with roots in the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley, brings its uniquely styled chamber-rock to MASS MoCA on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at 8pm. After an appearance at Pittsfield’s WordXWord Festival in August 2011, I wrote about Darlingside: “The group’s sound ranged from moody to bright, with violin and mandolin played by Auyon Mukharji and electric cello courtesy of Harris Paseltiner lending classical and world-beat touches to college-rock and Beatlesesque group harmonies filled out by guitarist Don Mitchell, guitarist/bassist David Senft, and drummer Sam Kapala, who could well be the group’s secret weapon.” Its most recent album, Pilot Machines, exhibits influences ranging from the Police to Vampire Weekend to Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Darlingside’s genre-bending sound and unquestionable originality are borne of an unlikely hodgepodge of musical backgrounds: Harris Paseltiner began playing classical cello when he was six, and appeared twice on NPR with his classical piano trio. Auyon Mukharji earned a travel fellowship after college to study and write about the traditional music of Brazil, Turkey, and Ireland. Don Mitchel toured nationally as a boy alto, picked up the guitar in high school, and honed his singer/songwriter talents by playing for sunset boat cruises in Maine. Dave Senft began singing and arranging vocal music in college, where he became musical director of his a cappella group, and spent two subsequent years learning guitar as a street musician in Boston and abroad. Sam Kapala got started on drums at the age of seven – his intricate style fuses jazz, funk, hip-hop, and rock.

Rising to prominence in the Northampton music scene, the group released a self-recorded EP, titled EP 1, in 2010. After this impressive debut, Darlingside attracted the attention of producer Nathaniel Kunkel (Sting, Crosby/Nash, Maroon 5) who would produce the next three EPs and, in 2012, a full album titled Pilot Machines.

Darlingside takes the stage in MASS MoCA’s Club B-10 on Saturday, April 13, at 8 PM. Club B-10 is an intimate, casual venue on the third floor of MASS MoCA. Full bar plus dinner and snacks from Lickety Split are available before and during the show. Tickets are $12 in advance, $16 on the day of the show, and $10 for students. MASS MoCA members receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office, located off Marshall Street in North Adams, from 11 AM until 5 PM (closed Tuesdays). Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413.662.2111 during Box Office hours or purchased online at MASS MoCA.