The Rogovoy Report: Berkshire & Hudson Valley Cultural Preview

Nov 15-19, 2023

Nov 14, 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 …

MARTY STUART BRINGS ECLECTIC COUNTRY SOUNDS to THE EGG

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Marty Stuart brings his band, the Fabulous Superlatives, and his eclectic brand of country music to the Egg in Albany, N.Y., on Thursday, November 16, at 7:30pm. Stuart’s contemporary style of country draws equally upon honky-tonk, rockabilly, country-rock, traditional country, Western music, and bluegrass. (Thu, Nov 16)

JASON MORAN BRINGS HIS PIANO TRIO to MASS MoCA

Pianist and composer Jason Moran brings his trio to MASS MoCA on Friday, November 17, at 8pm, in connection with his exhibition Black Stars: Writing in the Dark. One of the most enduringly creative piano trios in jazz, The Bandwagon features Moran on piano, bassist Tarus Mateen, and drummer Nasheet Waits. The musicians are said to be “restlessly creative and share [Moran’s] open-mindedness and diversity of influences beyond jazz or classical or hip hop to theater, film, dance, and beyond.” (Fri, Nov 17)

SAMANTHA BEE BOOKENDS REGION WITH ‘JOY of SEX’ PROGRAM

Comedian Samantha Bee bookends the region with shows at the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Friday, November 17 at 8pm, and at the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington, Mass., on Saturday, November 18, at 8pm. Bee’s current tour features her multimedia program, “Your Favorite Woman: The Joy of Sex Education,” taking audiences on a journey through puberty, menopause, and beyond. (Fri, Nov 17; Sat, Nov 18)

YASSER TEJEDA BRINGS AFRO-DOMINICAN FUSION to RACE BROOK LODGE

Yasser Tejeda brings his exciting, provocative fusion of Afro-Dominican roots music, jazz, rock, Afropop, and Caribbean rhythms to Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield, Mass., on Saturday, November 18, at 8pm. Together with his dynamic four-piece band, Tejeda seamlessly merges traditions from the Dominican Republic’s countryside with contemporary innovations. (Sat, Nov 18)

HABBINA HABBINA BRINGS MIDDLE-EASTERN PSYCHEDELIA to HUDSON

Brooklyn Mediterranean trio Habbina Habbina brings its blend of Brooklyn indie, Middle-Eastern psychedelia, and surf-rock in the tradition of Dick Dale to Park Theater in Hudson, N.Y., on Saturday, November 18, at 8pm. Israeli-NYC guitarist Amit Peled is joined by bassist Ran Livneh and percussionist Cem Misiliorglu. Their repertoire includes retro-Mediterranean-hits, James Bond soundtracks, Umm Kulthum, and Britney Spears. (Sat, Nov 18)

ALSO OF NOTE:

Comedian Pete Davidson performs at UPAC in Kingston, N.Y. (Wed, Nov 15, 7:30pm)

Boston’s Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band brings old-time Yiddish dance music to the Venable Theatre at MCLA in North Adams, Mass. (Thu, Nov 16, 7pm)

Banjo Weekend at Ashokan in Olivebridge, N.Y., kicks off with a superstar showcase of banjo talent featuring Tony Trischka, Joe Newberry, Cedric Watson, Hilary Hawke, and Scott Hopkins. (Fri, Nov 17, 7:30pm)

Oregon-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mat Kearney brings his acoustic trio to the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington, Mass. (Fri, Nov 17, 8pm)

Danish folk duo Gangspil brings old Scandinavian dance tunes to Dewey Hall in Sheffield, Mass. (Fri, Nov 17, 8pm)

Jake Swamp and the Pine bring their blend of Americana and folk music to the Egremont Barn in South Egremont, Mass. (Sat, Nov 18, 7:30pm)

Concerts in the Village presents Fidelio, Beethoven’s only opera, in a concert version at Kinderhook [N.Y.] Reformed Church. (Sun, Nov 19, 2:30pm)

The Brentano Quartet plays works by Haydn, Bartók, and Mendelssohn at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., as part of the Capital Region Classical series. (Sun, Nov 19, 3pm)

Hey, did you like this edition of The Rogovoy Report? If so, please consider clicking on the “LIKE” button at the very end of this message. It matters to the gods of Substack.

The Rogovoy Report