A highly selective preview of cultural events taking place this weekend in the greater Berkshires region, including a big-name comedy festival at MASS MoCA; New Yorker writers at Williams College; a free environmental film festival; a trombone concert; and the return of a favorite roots-rock outfit.
Tig Notaro
TIG NOTARO HEADLINES TWO-DAY COMEDY FEST at MASS MoCA
(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) — Provocative deadpan comedian Tig Notaro headlines the inaugural High Mud Comedy Festival, hosted by NPR’s Ophira Eisenberg and featuring Brooklyn- and Hollywood-based live wire Sean Patton, in the Hunter Center at MASS MoCA on Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12. The festival, curated by Jay Tarses, the TV comedy writer and executive producer of “The Bob Newhart Show” (and a MASS MoCA Trustee), will also feature the MASS MoCA return of absurdist Dave Hill and a Berkshire-based comedy slate organized by and including Pittsfield’s Thomas Attila Lewis, North Adams-based humorist Seth Brown, and Adams-based Mark Jagiello.
Elizabeth Kolbert
ELIZABETH KOLBERT, ALEX ROSS to LECTURE at WILLIAMS
(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.) – Simultaneous lectures by New Yorker writers Elizabeth Kolbert and Alex Ross will pose a dilemma for those wanting to hear both at Williams College on Friday, March 11, at 4:15pm. Kolbert’s talk takes place in Wege Auditorium; Ross’s is in Presser Choral Hall of Bernhard Music Center. Both talks are free and open to the public.
Occupy The Farm protestors
PROJECT NATIVE HOSTS 6TH ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – Project Native will host its 6th annual Environmental Film Festival at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center and the Triplex Cinema on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13. The festival will showcase 25 feature and short films on a range of current environmental topics. Each selection is intended to educate, inspire, enrage, and engage the audience. Admission is free and open to the public.
Cool World by Andrew Zdziarski
PAINTINGS by ANDREW ZDZIARSKI at KNOX GALLERY
(MONTEREY, Mass.) – Works by Andrew Zdziarski are featured in the exhibition “Reworded: Paintings by Andrew Zdziarski,” at Knox Gallery in the Monterey Library, from Friday, March 11, through April 23. There will be an opening reception with the artist on Saturday, March 12, from 6 to 7:30 pm.
Ron Barron
WORKS for TROMBONE FEATURED in RICHMOND BENEFIT CONCERT
(RICHMOND, Mass.) – A recital of American music for trombone, featuring Ronald Barron, retired principal trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will take place at Richmond Congregational Church (1515 State Road-Route 41) on Sunday, March 13, at 3pm. The concert, which will benefit the Richmond Emergency Fuel Assistance Fund, also includes pianist Larry Wallach, cornetist Allan Dean, violinist Ron Gorevic, and Greg Spirodopoulos conducting the University of Massachusetts Trombone Choir, performing a cross-section of American musical culture. Three of the composers of music played today will be present to speak about their compositions.
Tarbox Ramblers
TARBOX RAMBLERS BRINGS RAW ROOTS-ROCK to HELSINKI HUDSON
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Tarbox Ramblers brings its patented blend of raw roots and blues music to Club Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, March 12, at 9pm. Longtime favorites of Helsinki audiences going back to the club’s roots in Great Barrington, Mass., the Tarbox Ramblers are left-field traditionalists whose rough-hewn, direct sound has drawn raves from Rolling Stone, All Things Considered, the New Yorker, and many more. Warming up the crowd for Tarbox Ramblers is Hudson’s own emerging roots-music ensemble, Oxbow Road, featuring Deborah McDowell, Kiki Dufault, Cameron Melville, Scott Clarke, and Adam Post.