Berkshire Beat

 
Many of the year’s warmest holidays happen during its coldest months. With the bonhomie of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s behind us, we now face the final two winter holidays: a cozy night of romance on Valentine’s Day and the raucous revelry of St. Patrick’s Day.
 
The Berkshires offer seemingly endless opportunities to celebrate holidays—or to simply enjoy a Friday or Saturday evening out with dinner and perhaps a visit to one of the many venues offering music in the region.
 
Where you go, the ambiance you choose, will set the tone for the evening. Is it time for romance? Perhaps a quiet venue, with soft lights and a quiet table will be the setting for meaningful conversation. Want a more vibrant vibe? The Berkshires are a petri dish of creativity, drawing bands and musicians of all genres and backgrounds—from symphony orchestras to karaoke to indie pop.
 
Reviews can often help patrons gauge noise levels and atmosphere before making a reservation.

Here are a few possibilities for you dining and listening pleasure in the southern Berkshires. Some of the most popular venues are seasonal, but there is still plenty to choose from as the world slowly turns toward spring’s renaissance.
 
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, is a central piece of the Berkshires’ musical community, offering not only live music but also live performances, film and cultural events year-round. Here one can find talent ranging from Broadway stars, to rising composers to dancers to opera.

Among its February offerings, will be the Berkshire Music Mixer on February 17th, hosted by Berkshires-born recording artist and music producer Jackson Whalan. True to its central role in the local arts scene, the goal of the Mixer is to bring the entire local music industry together to meet and network with new collaborators, converse about the music scene, and play music together. All are invited, whether a musician, audio engineer, venue owner, songwriter or someone who just loves being around music. (RSVP required to reserve your spot).
 
Just down Main Street from the Mahaiwe, is Saint James Place, a former Episcopal church that has served as a state-of-the-art cultural center and event space since 2017. Residents and visitors can enjoy year-round music, theater, dance and other performances along with lectures, classes and meetings.

Billed as the Carnegie Hall of the Berkshires, it will feature two diverse programs in February, reflecting its wide-ranging offerings: Close Encounters with Music’s “Endings”, a concert of piano trios by Shostakovich and Schubert and Chat GBPT—The Great Adventure of Making Theater in Non-Traditional Ways, during which four theater artists reveal what drew them to venture down alternative paths and how do they see their unique creation methods adding to or changing the face of the theater in 2026?

Farther north, Williams College in Williamstown offers a large number of music events throughout the year. All are free. They host many classical events, as well as jazz, gospel, and other genres. Performances feature visiting artists, faculty and students.

The breadth of their events can be seen in the remainder of February’s offering: he Club Zambezi Dance Party on February 13th and 14th, when everyone is invited to dance to music inspired by traditional Zimbabwean music. Those rousing happenings will be followed on February 21st, 25th and 27th by chamber music concerts.

Want something a little less highbrow? Buttonball Barn located at 17 Main Street in Egremont may be just the ticket. It’s a cozy, rustic venue tucked behind an old inn in the Berkshires that is part honky-tonk and part house party. It was completely renovated in 2025 to create an intimate live music experience that brings artists and audiences closer together. Reviews recommend an early arrival to secure a seat at a table to hear acts like Wanda Houston and the Rejuvenators or the Wolff Sisters.

The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge is a cultural hub for those visiting the region, providing lodging, fine dining and music in its venerable Lions Den, a speakeasy-like hideaway underneath the inn that hosts live music regularly for both visitors and locals. Its Den Sessions feature rock, blues, and folk acts Thursday through Saturday nights from and a Jazz Series on Sundays. Table seating is limited, so guests will want to get there before the show starts to secure a table.

The Lions Den and the Inn are a short drive or walk from some of the best music venues in the area. In February the Berkshires music scene features a mix of jazz, folk and tribute acts, with highlights including the ever-popular Wanda Houston again appearing at Firefly Gastropub, February 20th, The Alpaca Gnomes at Buttonball Barn, February 28th, and Black Violin at the Mahaiwe, February 27th.

The month also includes local jazz with Tammy McCann at Tanglewood February 13th-15th, Celtic Sessions at the Olde Heritage Tavern, 12 Housatonic Street, Lenox, on February 11th, and chamber music, again at Tanglewood with the TLI Chamber Concerts on February 22nd.

Be sure to check specific venue schedules for the most up-to-date information, as smaller, local performances may be added closer to the dates. 

Want to get up and dance? Like tradition? How about attending a contra dance at Dewey Memorial Hall one of Dewey Hall's most popular events. It is easy for beginners to join as a beginners’ class is held at the start of the evening. There is live music at every dance and a caller to call out every step. The next dance is schedule for February 28th.

Clearly there is something for every taste and level of interest in the cultural climate of the Berkshires that neither sleet nor snow, nor dark of night can discourage. So don’t hibernate. Get out of your easy chair and embrace the rich panoply of performances that are open to all.