Wilco Sets June Date for Return Engagement

By Larry MurrayBerkshireOnStage.com
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Solid Sound brought thousands of fans to North Adams last August.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Yeah, they want to build anticipation, and we are going to have to wait another few weeks for the ticket information and official announcement, but the dates for the second annual Solid Sound Festival have been set for June 24-26, 2011.

Happily it will once again be held on the extensive campus of MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts) in North Adams. Music lovers who attended last year loved the integration of Wilco with cutting-edge contemporary visual arts. Performances included far more than Wilco, and were tucked on small stages between buildings as well as the main stage that was pretty well-hidden from view to all but paid attendees.

The first Solid Sound Festival took place this past Aug. 13-15, 2010, and included a handful of other bands and artists including Mavis Staples and Avi Buffalo, a comedy stage, and special activities for children. Well over 10,000 people attended over the weekend. Towards the end of last year’s event guitarist Jeff Tweedy said "Let's do it again next year," and the crowd endorsed the sentiment. And indeed, Wilco is keeping true to their word.

The event helped put North Adams and the beautiful Berkshires on the radar screens of urban Americans from Chicago to Kalamazoo and pioneered the concept of a weekendlong festival in which attendees could only buy a three-day pass, not individual days. As a result virtually every lodging and campground space in the Northern Berkshires and Southern Vermont sold out prior to the festival, a first for the area. The financial impact of the event was estimated to be somewhere upwards of $1.5 million in extra lodging and restaurant sales.

This year the event is in the June shoulder season, which should make more rooms available since it is well before the high tourist season that begins immediately after their appearance with the opening of Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

So get out those calendars and block out the dates, more news will surely follow as 2011 gets under way.

More on the arts and theater in the Berkshires can be found at BerkshireonStage.com.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Healey, Driscoll Outline Municipal Funding Plans at MMA Conference

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The conference ran 'The Tonight Show' skit that had three Boston stars reading off the names of all 351 cities and towns. 
BOSTON — The Healey administration's 2027 budget will include boosts a 4.4 percent boost to local aid of more than $10.4 billion. 
 
Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have the Massachusetts Municipal Association's annual conference a small preview of the upcoming budget and other initiatives at Friday morning's opening session.
 
Healey expounded on her State of the Commonwealth address given Thursday night, and the state's efforts to maintain its even keel despite a less than helpful federal government.
 
"They're driving prices up and they're making things more difficult for all of us, whether that's freezing food and health benefits or cutting off services with for veterans," said the governor. on Friday. "Last month we're dealing with taking away health care. I mean, the hits just keep coming. But you know, we just have to stand strong together. 
 
"And I think now more than ever, we just need to double down on our partnership and our collaboration."
 
She reminded the gathering during her talk that America was founded because of Massachusetts, and that we still vote in town meetings, and play catch on town commons where the militia once drilled. 
 
"I think we can be a really positive response and a role model, frankly, for the country right now, people who are looking for stability, common sense, and a focus on their lives, what matters to them," the governor said. 
 
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