The Rogovoy Report: Berkshire & Hudson Valley Cultural Preview
Nov 24-29, 2023
With so much going on culturally speaking in our greater Berkshires/Hudson Valley region, this is my highly selective, curated snapshot of some of the most promising upcoming events …
ALI McGUIRK BOOKENDS REGION WITH BLUESY, SOULFUL ROCK
Boston native Ali McGuirk brings her soulful, bluesy brand of original music to Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Friday, November 24, at 8pm. McGuirk's vocals recall the likes of Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, and Janis Joplin, and she is also hailed for her deft command of the electric guitar. Ali also plays at Bombyx in Florence, Mass., on Sunday, November 26, at 7pm. (Fri, Nov 24; Sun, Nov 26)
TRIO of BLUESWOMEN at SPENCERTOWN ACADEMY
Gina Coleman, Leslie Barkman, and Robin O’Herin join forces for Blues Women of the Capital Region II, at Spencertown Academy in Spencertown, N.Y., as part of the venue’s Roots & Shoots Concerts Series, on Saturday, November 25 at 7:30pm. Coleman is the lead singer and founder of Misty Blues, a Berkshires-based blues group with hints of jazz, soul, funk, and tent revival gospel. Leslie Barkman is a vocalist, songwriter, and piano player who will sing both “lady blues covers” and originals. Robin O’Herin is a touring blues and gospel musician, specializing in historically rich, often interactive concerts that include original and traditional American roots music. (Sat, Nov 25)
LUKAS NELSON BRINGS COUNTRY-LACED AMERICANA to UPAC
Lukas Nelson brings his band, Promise of the Real (POTR) and his country-inflected roots-rock to UPAC in Kingston, N.Y., on Saturday, November 25, at 8pm. The son of country legend Willie Nelson, Lukas has carved his own space in the Americana idiom with his compelling vocals and timeless melodies. (Sat, Nov 25)
BUFFALO STACK BRINGS ROOTS-ROCK to THE FALCON
Buffalo Stack brings its blend of Americana and roots music to the Falcon in Marlboro, N.Y., on Saturday, November 25, at 7:30pm. Led by guitarist/vocalist Andy Stack, the group includes guitarist/vocalist Adrien Reju, keyboardist Jeremy Baum, bassist Brandon Morrison, and Lee Falco on drums. Like the Band before them, the Hudson Valley-based group plays a unique, soulful fusion of blues, folk, rock, and country. (Sat, Nov 25)
BORIS GILTBURG PLAYS PIANO WORKS BY RACHMANINOFF at UNION COLLEGE
Pianist Boris Giltburg will perform works by Beethoven, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., on Sunday, November 26, at 3pm, as part of the Capitol Region Classical series. The Moscow-born, Israeli pianist has been a Naxos recording artist since 2015, widely hailed as a leading interpreter of Rachmaninoff. (Sun, Nov 26)
‘LATE NIGHT’ HOST SETH MEYERS BRINGS COMEDY to THE EGG
Comedian and ‘Late Night’ TV host Seth Meyers will entertain audiences at the Egg in Albany, N.Y., on Sunday, November 26, with two shows at 5pm and 8pm. Meyers joined the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2001 and became a writer on the show in 2005. In 2013, Meyers succeeded Jimmy Fallon as host of ‘Late Night,’ where just last week he welcomed back the program’s OG host, David Letterman, as a guest. (Sun, Nov 26)
PRESERVATION HALL BAND BRINGS CREOLE XMAS to TROY MUSIC HALL
Preservation Hall Jazz Band brings its Creole Christmas program, featuring New Orleans classics and holiday selections with a Big Easy twist, to Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, N.Y., on Wednesday, November 29, at 7:30pm. (Wed, Nov 29)
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Roll Call: Founding Members
Anne Fredericks
Anonymous (6)
Erik Bruun
Benno Friedman
Richard Koplin
Steve and Helice Picheny
Rhonda Rosenheck
Elisa Spungen and Rob Bildner/Berkshires Farm Table Cookbook
Julie Abraham Stone
Mary Herr Tally