BerkshireDaily

A daily aggregation of news, features, and reviews from around the corner to around the world, from a Berkshire point of view.

A Melting Pot or a Pot o’ Bleach?

When they first arrived on these shores, Jews, Irish and Italians were considered nonwhite. Hispanics are often described as driving up the nonwhite share of the population. But a new study of census forms finds that more Hispanics are identifying as white. Which raises the question — is the U.S. a melting pot, or a…

Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon Brings New Duo to MASS MoCA

(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – Sonic Youth cofounder Kim Gordon brings her newest musical project, Body/Head — a Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd-inspired improvisational duo – to the Hunter Center at MASS MoCA on Saturday, March 15, 2014, at 8pm. Joining Gordon will be Northampton-based free-noise guitarist Bill Nace. Kim Gordon rose to prominence as co-founder, bassist,…

North Mississippi Allstars Bring Southern Rock and Blues to Helsinki Hudson

(HUDSON, N.Y.) – The Grammy Award-nominated North Mississippi Allstars bring their blues-infused rock ‘n’ roll to Club Helsinki Hudson on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at 8pm. Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, sons of the late, legendary Memphis musician and producer Jim Dickinson (whose credits include Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones), form the core of…

Aoife O’Donovan Brings Rootsy Folk-Pop to Club Helsinki Hudson

(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan brings her rootsy folk-pop to Club Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, February 22, at 9pm. O’Donovan returns to Helsinki Hudson after kicking off a whirlwind summer tour here last June. From Helsinki Hudson, O’Donovan went on to perform at festival stages and such esteemed venues as Tanglewood and the Grand…

Matisyahu Brings Spiritual Reggae-Rock Back to Club Helsinki Hudson

(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Almost a year to the day that he last performed there, Grammy Award-nominated reggae-rock performer Matisyahu brings his annual “Festival of Light” tour to Club Helsinki Hudson on Wednesday, December 11, 2013, at 8pm. Fresh from tours of Mexico, South America and Israel, the spiritual seeker and beat-boxing phenomenon will perform Hanukkah-themed…

Ruth Reichl and Zak Pelaccio to Talk Locavorism at Spencertown Academy

(SPENCERTOWN, N.Y.) – Author Ruth Reichl and chef Zak Pelaccio will discuss trends in locavorism and farm-to-table in “Beyond Local: Taking Local Food to a New Level,” as part of the Conversations with Neighbors series at Spencertown Academy Arts Center on Saturday, December 14, 2013, at 4p.m. A reception featuring tasty illustrations of the subject…

Fund Delivers Grants to Women With Cancer

(SHEFFIELD, Mass.) – The Denise Kaley Fund for Berkshire County Women With Cancer just awarded its 69th grant since being founded in March 2010 to help Berkshire County women struggling with both cancer and extreme financial distress. The Denise Kaley Fund was founded by its namesake and Barbara Bonner a few weeks before Kaley’s death…

‘Earth Jazz’ Pioneer Paul Winter to Play Benefit for Orion Magazine

Paul Winter

(SALISBURY, Conn.) – “Earth jazz” pioneer Paul Winter headlines a benefit concert, taking place in the converted boathouse of Salisbury resident Anne MacDonald, for the Great Barrington-based environmental magazine Orion, on Saturday, September 7, 2013. The intimate event will include drinks and hors d’oeuvres catered by Old Inn on the Green. Winter will play some…