Outdoor music venues offer '70s, bluegrass

By Dale OttPrint Story | Email Story
“We wanted to get people outside, to get people together, to bring people to a beautiful place where they could hear music and be in the Berkshires, and I think it’s special.” With those words, Lissa Willey described the essence of what she and her husband, Gene Fein, are trying to do with the four-show concert series they will present at Bousquet Ski Area on Dan Fox Drive in Pittsfield. The first two shows will feature two popular bands of the ’70s, KC & The Sunshine Band and The Doobie Brothers. “I guess the last time there was summer popular music of this nature was around ’78 or ’79, when the Music Inn shut its doors,” Willey said, adding that she thinks music is an important part of the community in Berkshire County. “There’s beautiful classical orchestra and other sorts of music represented, but I wanted to bring some of the popular music, not only for my age and older but for the young folks that are coming,” she said. Willey and Fein’s company, called Berkshire Music Glen, has worked out arrangements with Bousquet for the venture. Willey said Bousquet is centrally located with easy and safe access and has adequate parking, both onsite and close by. In addition, Bousquet will be handling food and beverage sales, along with other Berkshire County-based food vendors. Hiring locally is important, Willey said. “There’s such a broad base of talent here, there is no need to look outside of the county, and I want to keep the jobs here,” she said, adding that Berkshire County is home to everyone from the volunteers to the caterer and sound engineer. Both Willey and her husband have a long history in the entertainment industry, but Willey said Fein has the real concert-promoting experience. He has produced and directed many live concert events, including a New Year’s Eve production with 25,000 spectators and a live coast-to-coast television feed, she said. Based on that experience and what they saw as an unfilled niche — family-style popular music — they have planned a diverse variety of acts for the concerts. “We’re going to try to make it really fun and festive and something that’s all ages, age appropriate,” Willey said. “The acts that we’ve chosen are based on two main criteria – one is that they bring positive messages to the audience, and the other is that they’re fantastic to watch live. What we wanted to do was appeal to a broad base of people and present a broad variety of music within the popular music vein.” The first show, on Sunday, July 11, will feature KC & The Sunshine Band, one of the most successful bands of the disco era. The 14-piece South Florida band defined Miami Sound in the mid and late ’70s with hits like “Shake Your Booty” and “That’s the Way I Like It.” The Sunshine Band features a full horn section, Latin-style percussion and dancers. Willey said they would be promoting the show with contests for the best ’70s clothes, shoes and hairstyle. Doors will open at 1:30, and the main act will start at 4:45. On Monday, July 19, The Doobie Brothers will headline. Featuring six members of the original (pre-Michael McDonald) lineup, including Pat Timmons and Tommy Johnston, they are sure to reprise many of the hits with which they ruled the FM airwaves of the ’70s, including “Listen to the Music,” “China Grove,” “Long Train Runnin’” and “Black Water.” Doors will open at 2:30 and The Doobies will start at 6. All Berkshire Music Glen shows will have both non-alcohol and alcoholic beverages, as well as food for sale. No food or drinks may be brought in. There will be onsite security and an EMT for first aid, according to Willey. Parking for 7,500 will be at Bousquet and in adjacent areas, with shuttle service from outlying parking sites. Watch for previews of the August Berkshire Music Glen concerts in a future edition of InBerkshires. Tickets and more information are available at www.BerkshireMusicGlen.com or by calling Music Today, 800 594-8499. Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival The Rothvoss Farm, a few miles over the state line in Ancramdale N.Y., is celebrating 28 years of bluegrass music on the same site. The Berkshire Bluegrass Festival of the ’70s became Winterhawk through the ’80s and ’90s, and at noon on Wednesday, July 14, the fifth Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival will open its gates for the long weekend. Known for presenting the finest acts in a range of bluegrass styles, from traditional and old-timey to progressive, Grey Fox has another stellar lineup this year. Heading that lineup will be legendary banjo player Earl Scruggs, performing with family and friends on Saturday evening “He’s never been here before,” said Mary Burdette, Grey Fox assistant director. Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin and Ralph Stanley have been to Grey Fox or its predecessors in the past, she said, adding “Earl is the last cornerstone, and we’re just very glad he could make it.” Other high profile acts will include the Del McCoury Band, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Natalie MacMaster, acoustic Hot Tuna and the Tim O’Brien Band, with Railroad Earth, Leftover Salmon and Donna The Buffalo for those who prefer a more contemporary sound. All told, there will be over 40 acts on the Main Stage, Dance Pavilion and Family Stage at Grey Fox. But bluegrass festivals are more than sitting in front of a stage watching performers. Perhaps more than any other music genre, bluegrass encourages those who enjoy it to learn how to play it, and Grey Fox is more than accommodating in that department. There is a Masters Workshop Stage where the pros discuss tips, tricks and techniques and a Grass Roots Learning Tent where budding pickers can get hands-on experience. There’s even a four-day pre-festival Jam Camp run by Pete Wernick, not included in festival admission, that will be held at the Copake Town Hall. But Burdette thinks the most popular learning area may well be the Slow Jam Tent, new this year. “Last year, we had slow jams for people who were just beginning to pick with other people, and it was so popular that it was just packed. So we decided to have a tent of its own. People can bring their instruments and learn how to play very simple songs. And they keep the pace slow,” she said. Patrons can also wander through the campgrounds listening to (or playing with) the groups of musicians that seem to gather randomly at different campsites. Other special parts of music festivals are the shopping and the food. Jewelers and vendors with wares from all over the world will be at Grey Fox. As for the food: “A couple of years ago we were mentioned in Gourmet magazine,” Burdette said. “They did an article on festivals that have great food – and we were in there!” Grey Fox offers 24-hour security and onsite first aid. Burdette noted that camping tickets are nearly sold out, and she recommended calling ahead for day tickets if they aren’t purchased in advance – 888 946-8495. Links to nearby accommodations and additional information are available at www.greyfoxbluegrass.com.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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