Squeeze, Benatar, Reba, Berkshire Ramblers Spark Labor Day Weekend Finales
For the Labor Day weekend, Tanglewood welcomes pop and country stars, the Guthrie Center offers local folkies, Mass MoCA throws a dance party and the Egremont Barn jumps with hip-hop.
Tanglewood
Now that the Boston Symphony Orchestra has finished its summer season, Tanglewood revs up for stars from the rock and country worlds in its Popular Artists Series.
Squeeze, the British rockers who first began recording in the 1970s, is at the Shed on Thursday night, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. The lineup of band members may have changed over the years, but the current crew surely will do such hits as "Tempted" and "Hourglass."
Two enduring women rock stars take the Shed stage separately on Friday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. for a double-barreled shot of female energy. Pat Benatar and songwriting, guitar-playing husband Neil Giraldo celebrate their 40th anniversary of working together, way beyond "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." Melissa Etheridge (and her unmistakably husky voice) rounds out the bill.
On Saturday Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. Slide guitar wizard Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals top the bill, along with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Finally, the great Reba McEntire commands the Shed on Sunday, Sept. 1, at 3:30 p.m. Note the special time for Reba's show, which should be a fitting finale to a fine season.
Find more information and tickets about all of these Tanglewood shows online.
Mass MoCA
Leave it to the North Adams institution to come up with a full-on dance party Saturday, Aug. 31, starting at 7:30 p.m. Weather permitting, it's a courtyard show starring Flying Lotus (Steven Ellison) that's bound to include rap, electronica and far-out experimental sounds. The L.A.-based hip-hop artist is bringing not just beats, but a video wall and 3-D glasses. If the weather does not cooperate, the party moves to the Hunter Center.
Looking ahead, the annual three-day Fresh Grass festival at Mass MoCA begins Friday Sept. 20. More info and tickets can be found on Mass MoCA's website and the Fresh Grass website.
Guthrie Center
For the last weekend in this season's Troubadour series, folksinger and storyteller Joe Crookston arrives Friday, Aug 30, at 8 p.m. with his guitars, slide, fiddle and banjo.
On Saturday Aug. 31, local favorites the Berkshire Ramblers are onstage at 8 p.m. More info and tickets can be found online.
Egremont Village Inn
The Barn at the Inn in South Egremont has a full slate for the weekend. The Jackson Whalan live band, featuring danceable hip-hop and freestyle, appears Thursday, Aug. 29. The Steal Your Peach Band pays tribute to both the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers on Friday, Aug. 30. Wanda Houston, the local favorite who has been styling R&B, gospel, musical theater and every other kind of tune this summer, takes over Saturday, Aug. 31.
All shows begin at 8 p.m. Find more info on the website.
Mac-Haydn Theatre
To wind up its summer, the theater in Chatham, N.Y., is promoting a "greatest hits" show Saturday, Aug. 31, at noon. The company's stars from its productions of "Ragtime," "Grease," "Camelot" and other shows run through musical showstoppers in the End-of Season Cabaret, under the direction of John Saunders, with David Maglione handling the music. The choreographer is Lizzie McGuire. Tickets can be purchased online.
