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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Downtown Pittsfield Western Massachusetts The Berkshires
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240720T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240720T170000
DTSTAMP:20240817T181611Z
CREATED:20240719T160742Z
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UID:10000577-1721484000-1721494800@downtownpittsfield.com
SUMMARY:Downtown Pittsfield Summer Music Series - Free!
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association\, with partners the City of Pittsfield\, MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI)\, and Downtown Pittsfield\, Inc. (DPI)\, are presenting a free Downtown Pittsfield Summer Music Series on Fridays\, Saturdays\, and Sundays (and select Thursdays) through early September. \n  \nFridays will feature a variety of local musicians and performers live at Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, from 5 to 8 pm. Saturdays will feature live Jazz in collaboration with Berkshires Jazz from 2 to 5 pm at Persip Park; and Sundays will feature Latin Dance Instruction in Dunham Mall\, 100 North Street\, from 5 to 7 pm. \n  \n  \n  \nCANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER: Saturday\, August 3\, 2 to 5 pm: Jazz in Persip Park with the Peggy Stern Trio \nPeggy Stern Trio: Peggy Stern\, Maryann McSweeney\, and Conor Meehan \n  \n  \n  \nSaturday\, August 10\, 2 to 5 pm: Jazz in Persip Park with Charlie Tokarz and Paul Arslanian \nCharlie Tokarz plays saxophone\, flute\, and clarinet. He has worked as an accompanist for modern dance at the Institute For Contemporary in Boston\, Contact Improvisation in New England\, and for The American Tap Dance Foundation in New York directly as a result of being introduced to the group by Paul Arslanian. He has played in the pit band for musicals for local theatre groups\, high schools\, the Colonial Theatre\, and Arena Stage in Washington\, DC. He continues to freelance with various jazz groups and teaches primarily at Hotchkiss School. \nPaul Arslanian has been playing professionally since 1970\, first in the San Francisco Bay Area as a freelance jazz pianist\, bandleader\, composer and dance accompanist and then\, since 1984\, in New England where he now resides. \nPaul was a Senior Lecturer in Dance at UMass\, Amherst from 1999-2018 until retiring\, teaching “Music for Dancers” and accompanying classes in ballet\, modern and tap dance. From 2010 to the present\, Paul has been pianist with the Green Street Trio and coordinator of the Northampton Jazz Workshop\, a weekly concert and jam session series. He has been a producer for the Northampton Jazz Festival\, in Northampton\, MA\, since 2015. \nThroughout his long career\, Paul has had the opportunity to play with\, and learn from\, many great jazz artists such as Pharoah Sanders\, Houston Person\, Freddie Hubbard and Gary Smulyan and with many vocalists including Karrin Allyson\, Rebecca Parris\, and Giacomo Gates. \n  \n  \nSaturday\, August 17\, 2 to 5 pm: Katherine Winston in Persip Park \nFrom the rolling hills of New England\, Katherine Winston is a Singer/Songwriter whose music is a blend of country\, folk/rock\, and pop. Inspired by musical icons like Stevie Nicks\, Brandi Carlile\, and Dolly Parton\, Katherine’s powerhouse vocals and raw emotional power have captivated audiences all over the country and beyond. \nKatherine’s deeply relatable songwriting explores the intricate layers of human emotion and experience. Her live shows are a testament to her ability to connect with audiences on a profound level\, leaving fans spellbound with each heartfelt lyric and impassioned melody. https://katherinewinston.com \n  \n  \nSaturday\, August 24\, 2 to 5 pm: Jazz in Persip Park with The Lucky 3 \nThe Lucky 3 is a slimmed down version of the quintet ’The Lucky 5’.  While a smaller outfit than their mainstay band\, the trio has more room to explore the music all the while maintaining their signature swing. Consisting of Jonathan Talbott on violin\, Matt Downing on bass\, and Kip Beacco on guitar\, The Lucky 3 plays everything from old hot jazz and swing to Parisian gypsy jazz and eastern European styles. The trio runs the gamut of the sounds their quintet is known for in the region and beyond. \n  \n  \nSaturday\, August 31\, 2 to 5 pm: Jazz in Persip Park with Luke Franco \nGuitarist Luke Franco purveys the rich tradition of jazz guitar by gleaning from the masters\, both past and present. Formative years spent with John Abercrombie—his main influence and one of the great guitar innovators—led Franco to develop his own style and compositional voice. While pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Miami\, he was Teachers Assistant in John Hart’s talented and ambitious guitar studio\, and performed as a featured soloist with the award winning Concert Jazz Band led by Grammy winner Jon Daversa alongside guest artists including Gonzalo Rubalacaba and Alan Ferber. He was featured as lead guitarist at the world premiere of Michael Tilson Thomas’s “Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind” along with the New World Symphony in 2016. Presently\, Franco has been performing in the Berkshires\, Hudson Valley\, and NY Capital Region presenting his own music both as a leader and as an in-demand sideman\, notably in trio with Tarik Shah and Jimmy Madison. As a counterpoint to his musical career\, he and his wife founded Tiny Hearts Farm in Copake\, NY in 2011 and manage the 35-acre farm with their two young boys\, growing cut flowers and playing music at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. \n  \n  \nSaturday\, September 7\, 2 to 5 pm: Jazz in Persip Park with the Peggy Stern Trio \nPeggy Stern – piano\nPaul Ostermayer – sax\nDave Christopolis – bass \nPeggy Stern has composed\, played\, recorded\, and toured in a wide variety of situations: from solos to octets to jazz choruses. Her compositions range from highly original pieces to reharmonized jazz standards. “Everything she writes wants to dance\,” says Ken Dais of Jazziz. \nPeggy’s background would account for her varied musical tastes. She began playing classical piano at an early age\, continuing her studies at the Eastman School of Music\, and finishing a master’s degree\, still in Classical music\, at the New England Conservatory. And then she began to improvise. While living in San Francisco\, she played in salsa bands\, notably Azteca and Supercombo with Benny Vallarde. She did a stint in an R&B band (called Cat’s Cradle) with singer Linda Tillery and was “instructed” by Paul Jackson (bass) and Mike Clark (drums) of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunter band. \nSubsequently\, Peggy moved to New York\, absorbing the piano stylings of the greats\, such as Jimmy Rowles and Tommy Flanagan. Peggy has worked and toured with many wonderful musicians: Lee Konitz\, Diane Schuur\, David “Fathead” Newman\, Jay Clayton\, Gary Peacock\, Gene Bertoncini\, Bud Shank\, Red Holloway\, Thomas Chapin\, Machito\, Puck Fair\, Bobby Shew\, Stanley Turrentine\, Gerry Mulligan\, Eddie Henderson\, and Emily Remler\, to name a few. \nPeggy has toured throughout Europe\, the US\, Canada\, Australia\, and Japan. In addition\, Peggy has worked as an educator for the past 20 years\, at colleges in the US. She has given workshops throughout Europe (Switzerland\, Sweden\, Denmark\, Italy)\, and the US. peggystern.com \n  \n  \nFollow along with @downtownpittsfield on Facebook for updates including cancellations due to weather. \n 
URL:https://downtownpittsfield.com/event/downtown-pittsfield-summer-music-series-free-2/2024-07-20/
LOCATION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, Pittsfield\, MA\, 01201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,Music,Outdoors
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240705T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240705T200000
DTSTAMP:20240623T215906Z
CREATED:20240623T215906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240623T215906Z
UID:10001150-1720198800-1720209600@downtownpittsfield.com
SUMMARY:Wandering Dance Society Presents! 
DESCRIPTION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, will feature a variety of interactive performances presented by the Wandering Dance Society as part of the July 5 First Fridays at Five and the free Downtown Pittsfield Summer Music Series. Performances will be 30-45 minutes each. At 5 pm\, enjoy an African Dance Lesson with Noel Staples-Freeman. At 5:45 pm\, Olawale “Wale” Oladehin will lead a Salsa lesson. From 6:30 to 7:15 pm\, the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers will perform led by Aimee Gelinas; and the night will conclude with more Salsa dancing from 7:15 to 8 pm. Dancers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate throughout the evening.Noel Staples-Freeman is a resident of Pittsfield and a graduate of Emerson College\, holding a B.S. in Children’s Theatre/Performing Arts and Dance. Noel has dedicated over five decades to teaching and the performing arts\, both locally and internationally. Her formal training started at age 11 at The Billie Pope School of Dance in Roxbury followed by The Boston Conservatory of Music\, The Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts\, The Art of Black Dance and Music\, and Koumpo West African Dance Company. Noel’s illustrious career includes notable performances such as Nelson Mandela’s visit to Boston in 1990\, participation in Dance Africa at the Brooklyn Academy of Music\, and appearances at Jacob’s Pillow. As the Founder and Director of Uprising Dance Theatre since 1983\, Noel leads an intergenerational group celebrating the African Diaspora’s traditional and contemporary dance\, music\, and theater.Olawale “Wale” Oladehin trained in Salsa and Afro Cuban dance with several Boston companies\, including Salsa Y Control\, MetaMovements\, and Masacote. After several years of training\, Wale joined Masacote as an instructor and performer in their professional Salsa company. Masacote’s emphasis on musicality and culture helped Wale better appreciate the interconnectedness of music and dance. With Masacote\, Wale has had the opportunity to perform in Canada\, London\, Istanbul\, and across the US.The Berkshire Rhythm Keepers are an intergenerational\, multi-level community drum and song group founded and led by Aimee Gelinas M.Ed\, Director of the Tamarack Hollow Nature and Cultural Center and co-founder of Gaia Roots and Trio Candela. BRK participants attend Aimee’s weekly Monday evening drum and song classes at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts in Pittsfield\, which is open to beginners and advanced drummers. The group performs traditional music on folkloric instruments from West Africa and the Caribbean\, as well as on original creations. Members of BRK have been studying and performing together for 15+ years.The BRK performance on July 5th will feature stories and the cultural context of the rhythms\, audience participation\, and may include guest dancers!
URL:https://downtownpittsfield.com/event/wandering-dance-society-presents/
LOCATION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, Pittsfield\, MA\, 01201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Dance,First Fridays at Five,Music,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://downtownpittsfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/JULY-Wandering-Dance-Society-First-Fridays-at-Five-Square.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240607T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240607T200000
DTSTAMP:20240602T160636Z
CREATED:20240531T211958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240602T160636Z
UID:10000550-1717779600-1717790400@downtownpittsfield.com
SUMMARY:The Pug and John Show at Persip Park
DESCRIPTION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, will feature The Pug and John Show from 5 to 8 pm as part of the free Downtown Pittsfield Summer Music Series! \nPug Demary and John Temple Zarvis have been a part of the Berkshire County music scene since their bands the Quarrymen\, the Zarvis Allen band and Blind Date. The universe brought them together out of their love for great guitar and vocals. Covering classics from every genre\, they live up to the their catch phrase: Music from everywhere.
URL:https://downtownpittsfield.com/event/the-pug-and-john-show-at-persip-park/
LOCATION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, Pittsfield\, MA\, 01201\, United States
CATEGORIES:First Fridays at Five,Free,Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://downtownpittsfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PugAndJohnFirstFridaysSummerMusic.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240503T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240503T200000
DTSTAMP:20240426T005211Z
CREATED:20240426T005211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240426T005211Z
UID:10001132-1714755600-1714766400@downtownpittsfield.com
SUMMARY:Fire Dancing with Opal Raven Cirque!
DESCRIPTION:Opal Raven Cirque will be doing fire dancing at Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, to kick-off the First Fridays at Five 2024 season! \nOpal Raven Cirque is a circus and sideshow performer based in the mountains of Western MA. She’s known across New England and the Tri-State area for her “Danger Dame of the Flame” variety show. Also known as the “Sword Queen of Gypsy Layne”\, Opal showcases masterful sword spinning\, daring prop tricks\, and some say she can even speak to snakes. Opal Raven’s one-woman circus is a unique performance that won’t soon be forgotten. \n  \nCheck out all of the May 3rd First Fridays at Five events at lovepittsfield.com/first-fridays \nFirst Fridays at Five is a brand-new event led by the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Pittsfield\, Inc. taking place in downtown Pittsfield from May-September. A portion of North Street and School Street will be closed during the event. \nSeason partners and sponsors include the Feigenbaum Foundation\, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America\, Mill Town Foundation\, MountainOne\, and the Pittsfield Cultural Council.
URL:https://downtownpittsfield.com/event/fire-dancing-with-opal-raven-cirque/
LOCATION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, Pittsfield\, MA\, 01201\, United States
CATEGORIES:First Fridays at Five,Outdoors,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://downtownpittsfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Opal-Raven-First-Fridays-at-Five-Square.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231006T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231006T200000
DTSTAMP:20230922T193937Z
CREATED:20230922T193937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230922T193937Z
UID:10001101-1696611600-1696622400@downtownpittsfield.com
SUMMARY:Fannie Pack plays Persip Park!
DESCRIPTION:Fannie Pack will take the stage at Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, on Friday\, October 6\, from 5 to 8 pm\, as part of the First Fridays Artswalk. \nFannie Pack is a band that will make you smile and compel you to dance. Melissa Brinton sings lead and plays guitar\, Elaine Morel holds the foundation on bass and sings backup\, Eileen Markland adds a touch of class with her blue violin and penny whistle\, and Paul Armstrong keeps the rhythm going on the drums. 
URL:https://downtownpittsfield.com/event/fannie-pack-plays-persip-park/
LOCATION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, Pittsfield\, MA\, 01201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Artswalk,Free,Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://downtownpittsfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/fanny-pack-may-2023.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230602T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230602T200000
DTSTAMP:20230518T001158Z
CREATED:20230518T001158Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230518T001158Z
UID:10001079-1685725200-1685736000@downtownpittsfield.com
SUMMARY:Sample the Cat at Persip Park
DESCRIPTION:Soulful rock band\, Sample the Cat\, will perform on June 2\, 5 to 8 pm\, at Persip Park located at 175 North Street. \nSample the Cat is a rising soulful rock band from Berkshire County\, MA. Their original music captures audiences with a fusion of familiar sounds from blues\, funk\, and soul while producing a fresh rock vibe that grooves. If you were to “put the cat in the box\,” their sound could be described as if Alicia Keys sang for Foo Fighters.
URL:https://downtownpittsfield.com/event/sample-the-cat-at-persip-park/
LOCATION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, Pittsfield\, MA\, 01201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Artswalk,Free,Music,Outdoors
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220701T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220701T200000
DTSTAMP:20220621T042203Z
CREATED:20220608T030222Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220621T042203Z
UID:10000979-1656694800-1656705600@downtownpittsfield.com
SUMMARY:Downtown Pittsfield\, Inc. and Indoors Out! present Indepen-DANCE by Boxxa Vine!
DESCRIPTION:Join Boxxa Vine for a pop-up dance party at Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, as she DJs and performs hourly\, moving and grooving to start the Fourth of July weekend! \nThere will be giveaways\, performances\, music\, and more! \n  \nHourly schedule: \n00:00-00:30 Dance party and meet and greet with Boxxa Vine \n00:30-00:45 Mini show with games and giveaways \n00:45-00:00 Boxxa is on break\, BRB! \n  \nBio: Boxxa Vine is a Pittsfield-based drag queen and costume creator with a flair for the dramatic and theatrical. A self-taught seamstress who has worked on pieces that have appeared locally\, across the country\, and on shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race\, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars\, and The View\, she is also a six-time pageant title holder (Miss Gay: Western MA\, Boston\, Central NY\, Camp Capital NY\, Werrrk.com\, and Berkshire). She spends most of her free time trying to get new and exciting drag events going around the Berkshires through her business Out of the Boxxa Productions. \nBoxxa Vine devotes her time to giving back to the community by serving as a board member for Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition and as the director of entertainment for Berkshire Pride\, as well as trying to support and foster safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people to explore drag as a way of self-expression. You can see what she’s up to next on BoxxaVine.com or follow her on her social media through Facebook or Instagram (@BoxxaVine). \n  \n  \nAll Indoors Out! Programming is presented by Downtown Pittsfield\, Inc. and funding has been provided by the Commonwealth Places Program created by MassDevelopment. These events are presented in partnership with First Fridays Artswalk.
URL:https://downtownpittsfield.com/event/downtown-pittsfield-inc-and-indoors-out-presents-boxxa-vine/
LOCATION:Persip Park\, 175 North Street\, Pittsfield\, MA\, 01201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Artswalk,Family Fun,Free,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://downtownpittsfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Independance-Square-Boxxa-Vine.png
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