BerkshireWeekend Cultural Preview, Sept 2-5, 2015

JD Samson

JD Samson

JD SAMSON BRINGS ELECTRO-POLITICAL DANCE MUSIC to MASS MoCA

(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – Singer, songwriter, multimedia artist and producer JD Samson, best known as a member of the legendary electro-feminist-punk project Le Tigre, headlines a live concert and a DJ dance set at MASS MoCA on Saturday, September 5, at 8pm.

An eloquent activist, feminist, writer, and performer, Samson was raised in a Cleveland suburb by two artists. Coming out at the age of 15, Samson overcame hardships to become a strong activist for feminist and LGBT rights. She pursued her passion in film by attending Sarah Lawrence College, where she landed a job managing projections for the electronic, feminist group Le Tigre – an all-female band with roots in dance, punk, and pop music. Shortly thereafter, in 2000, Samson became a contributing member of the band. As a part of Le Tigre, Samson channeled her personal life to produce electrifying, upbeat music with strong sociopolitical and LGBT ties. When the band took a break in 2006, Samson formed a new project, MEN, with Le Tigre’s Johanna Fateman.

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Joe Iconis (photo Monica Simoes)

Joe Iconis (photo Monica Simoes)

JOE ICONIS BRINGS CABARET-ROCK to BSC

(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Award-winning songwriter Joe Iconis returns to Barrington Stage Company with his popular cabaret, Joe Iconis & Family: Outcast Superstars, for three performances on September 4, 5 and 6, at 8pm, at Mr. Finn’s Cabaret at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

The popular Joe Iconis, who won over audiences as the composer and lyricist of “The Black Suits” and his previous BSC sold-out cabarets, will present an evening of sly, mischievous, toe-tapping songs. Iconis and his band – Molly Hager, Lauren Marcus, Eric William Morris and Will Roland – return to Barrington this year for an intimate evening of Iconis old and new tunes.

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Karen AkersCABARET STAR KAREN AKERS at MUSIC & MORE

(NEW MARLBOROUGH, Mass.) – Karen Akers, star of stage, screen, and cabaret, will perform a special benefit concert for the Music & More series at the the Meeting House on Saturday, September 5, at 4:30pm. Akers wil be accompanied on piano by Don Rebic, for an evening of music from the French and English songbooks.

Karen Akers has appeared in many prestigious venues worldwide from Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, New York’s Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, and London’s Pizza on the Park. Her career also includes three performances at the White House. Her multifaceted career encompasses theater, television, film, and numerous recordings.

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Skull by Michael Boroniec

Skull by Michael Boroniec

MICHAEL BORONIEC CERAMICS on VIEW at BERKSHIRE MUSEUM

(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – A solo exhibition of complex ceramics by Michael Boroniec goes on view in the BerkshireNow gallery at the Berkshire Museum on Friday, September 4, and remains on view through November 22, . Boroniec is known for creating distinct bodies of work and the exhibition includes a number of the sculptor’s signature spiral vases as well as work from his series built on casts of human skulls. An opening reception for BerkshireNow: Michael Boroniec will be held on Friday, September 4, at 5pm, part of September’s First Fridays Artswalk.

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Harry Connick

Harry Connick

HARRY CONNICK, KRISTIN CHENOWETH BRING DOWN CURTAIN at TANGLEWOOD

(LENOX, Mass.) – The curtain comes down on the 2015 summer season at Tanglewood with back-to-back performances by jazz icon Harry Connick, Jr., on Friday, September 4, and Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on Saturday, September 5.

Connick is a multitalented musician, pianist, singer, songwriter and American Idol judge. His concert will feature music from Connick’s vast musical catalog, including songs from his most recent releases “Smokey Mary” and “Every Man Should Know.” To date, Connick has released 29 albums, won three

Kristein Chenoweth

Kristein Chenoweth

Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards, and garnered sales of 28 million albums. He last performed at Tanglewood in summer 2013.

Broadway and TV star Kristin Chenoweth — widely known for defining the role of Glinda in the hit musical “Wicked” — will join the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and conductor Thomas Wilkins for a program of music from the Broadway stage.  The program will be followed by a fireworks display over the Stockbridge Bowl, bringing the 2015 Tanglewood season to a close.

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Lake Street Dive

Lake Street Dive

LAKE STREET DIVE RETURN to HELSINKI HUDSON on CUSP of POP STARDOM

(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Since the last time Lake Street Dive performed here, the group has been discovered by the national press, with raves in Rolling Stone, the New Yorker, Hollywood Reporter and the Daily News, and championed by superstar producer T Bone Burnett. Yet the Boston-bred band, known for its unique fusion of jazz, classical, pop, swing and soul, are committed to keeping it real, returning to Club Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, September 5, at 9pm.

Lake Street Dive is a unique quartet with an approach like no other group you’ve ever heard. Four jazz- and classical-trained musicians who met at Boston’s New England Conservatory got together and formed an indie-pop band featuring a trumpet-wielding guitarist, a bassist, a drummer, and a female vocalist with pipes that can seduce you while at the same time they’re knocking you down with sheer power. The wonderful result produces a lazy, strutting New Orleans-inflected version of the Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back” or a steamy jazz-funk version of Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl.”

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Ruth Reichl

Ruth Reichl

SPENCERTOWN ACADEMY CELEBRATES 10TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL of BOOKS

(SPENCERTOWN, N.Y.) – Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s 10th annual Festival of Books – featuring a giant used book sale, two days of readings and book signings by nationally known and local authors including Simon Winchester and Ruth Reichl – and a children’s program takes place over Labor Day weekend, Friday-Monday, September 4-7, .  Featured authors this year include Simon Winchester, Luke Barr, Jeanne Bogino, Wesley Brown, Jamie Cat Callan, Talia Carner, David R. Gillham, Ann Hood, Daphne Kalotay, Alex Kershaw, Jonathan Mingle, Sonia Pilcer, Ruth Reichl, and James Scott.

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