BTG Announces Winter/Spring Programming for The Garage

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced the programming for their newest performance space, The Garage, in the lobby of The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. The Winter/Spring lineup includes a variety of musical genres ranging from Hip Hop to Country to Singer/Songwriter to Rock and beyond.

After a successful first two months, The Garage will continue to present the best emerging artists from the Berkshires and beyond. The coming months will feature Adam Ezra Group, Rev Tor, Billy Keane, DJ BFG, Whiskey City, Chris Merenda, Jamie Kent and the Options, Pat Gochez, Brooklyn35, Nostalgia, Domino Theory, T Bone Daddy, Tony Lee Thomas Band, The Citizens and The Raft.

Located in the lobby of The Colonial Theatre, The Garage pays homage in its name to the old Berkshire Auto Co. Garage. The building, originally built in 1921, still features the original façade, while the interior is fully restored, having been included in the Colonial Theatre restoration in 2006. With an audience capacity of upwards of 100, The Garage’s focus is to provide a dedicated music venue for local and regional acts as well as to host touring acts. Musicians from near and far will take the stage mostly on Wednesdays or Thursdays throughout the year, except during Colonial Theatre Main Stage productions. The venue provides a space for local musicians to thrive as well as draws up and coming musicians to downtown Pittsfield.

Dance Party with DJ BFG
Thursday 1/5 9pm
Free

DJ BFG (a.k.a. Pittsfield author Gabriel Squailia) is an old-school mixologist trained at NYC's Scratch Academy in 2003. Schooled on vinyl, he uses a digital rig to blend funky music from disco to dubstep into a seamless groove made for dancing.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BFG/123574931851

Rev Tor's Dead of Winter Party
Wednesday 1/11 9pm
$5

Since its conception in the mid-90s, The Rev Tor Band, led by singer and lead guitarist Tor Krautter, has become one of the most compelling and exciting acts on the blues and jam-band circuit. This show will be a mid-winter celebration of the music of The Grateful Dead featuring a multitude of guest artists. Pulling inspiration from a variety of influences, Krautter and his band have shared the stage with members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Allman Brothers and The New Riders of the Purple Sage.
http://www.revtor.com

Singer/Songwriter Showcase featuring Billy Keane, Chris Merenda and Pat Gochez
Thursday 1/19 9pm
Free

Born in Australia, raised in Connecticut, jaded in Brooklyn, schooled in Seattle and weathered in Louisiana, Billy Keane released his debut album, The Pine Street Sessions in the spring of 2010. He writes with honesty and experience and he performs with raw, naked emotion. To see him is perhaps to see you. You may just find yourself hidden somewhere in his lyrics or melodies, in a story or in a word, smiling or teary-eyed. Somewhere you may not have expected to be. But as you watch, and listen, you’ll know that at least you won’t be there alone.
http://www.billykeanemusic.com

Hailing from Great Barrington, MA, Chris Merenda is one of the most prolific songwriters and performers in Western Massachusetts. His music is defined by a sense of raw, unbridled emotion and he is known for delivering performances you will not forget. Merenda’s songs weave passionate, compelling stories with virtuosic accompaniment on the banjo as well as the guitar.
http://www.chrismerenda.net

Patrik Gochez performs throughout Boston and beyond as a solo singer/songwriter as well as the front man of the band White Shoe Brown Shoe. He won the 2006 Granite State Songwriters Competition with the title track from his debut album 'Strawberry Bitter Chase.' Considered a "jukebox" writer, he covers an eclectic number of musical styles, from pre-war jazz to R&B to danceable pop/rock, all while retaining his own identity. Set to be released December 2011, Heavy Loader is his second album on which he showcases songs influenced by yesterday, inspired by today and sung for tomorrow.
http://www.patrikgochez.com

Hip Hop Showcase featuring Brooklyn35 and Nostalgia
Saturday 1/21 9pm
Free

Brooklyn35 is a collaborative music project featuring the talents of Dana Athens, Earl Greyhound, Eliki, The Faculty (Jared Pauley, Lee Turley, Raydar Ellis), George Reefah, Teenbeats, Lisa Marr, Manchilde, R.Me, Shahab Zargari and Gabriel Starrc. This is show is hosted by Brownbird Rudy Relic, mastered by Tough Dumplin & Gabriel Starrcand and brought to you by the fine folks of Brooklyn35.
http://www.brooklyn35.com

Hometown Hip Hop sensation, Nostalgia features core members DRAMATIC, J.Soul and Quik Monee who have been performing together under various names for the past 10 years. Nostalgia marks a point when all contributing parties have come together to produce music that reflects the reasons and ways the three initially became interested in hip hop.
http://www.nostalgiamusic.tumblr.com

Domino Theory
Thursday 1/26 9pm
$5

Domino Theory is one of Berkshire County’s most exciting and dynamic musical acts. The band fuses influences from rock, funk, blues and reggae to form a genre-bending original sound. Their high energy live performance draws you in and engages you for the entirety of the show.
http://www.myspace.com/dominotheorymusic

Jamie Kent and the Options
Thursday 2/2 9pm
Free

A young singer-songwriter with big dreams and an ever-expanding fan-base, artist Jamie Kent’s future as a performer looks promising. Drawing on influences from modern artists like Jack Johnson and Jamie Cullum, as well as paying tribute to classic greats Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra, Kent’s perfectly mellifluous tunes are roll-the-windows-down, soak-up-some-sun kind of good.
http://www.jamiekent.com

T Bone Daddy
Thursday 2/9 9pm
Free

T Bone Daddy is a rockin’ blues trio, plain and simple. Influenced by blues legends like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton, coupled with new flavors of artists like John Mayer and Joe Bonamassa, this band puts its own fingerprints on everything it does.
http://www.tbonedaddytrio.com

Tony Lee Thomas Band
Wednesday 2/15 9pm
$5

Tony Lee Thomas has travelled the country and the world connecting with audiences from all backgrounds and walks of life. His shows feature intimate and poignant solo performances as well as momentous and commanding performances with his full band.
http://www.tonyleethomas.com

Adam Ezra Group
Thursday 2/23 9pm
$10

The Adam Ezra Group is one of Boston's leading acoustic rock bands. They are a dynamic roots/rock band whose unique diversity of folk, pop and rock sound, perfectly combines Ezra's passion for smart, well-written lyrics and the band’s amazing musicianship. Bringing their sound together with rich and hook-laden melodies, the band's energetic performance creates a buzz everywhere they play.
http://www.adamezra.com

Whiskey City
Thursday 3/1 9pm
Free

Whiskey City performs high energy country rock guaranteed to make you raise your glass and yell. They have recently released their debut album, Concrete Rodeo, and their live show is taking audiences by storm.
http://www.whiskeycityband.com

The Citizens Celebrate Jack Kerouac
Thursday 3/8 9pm
Free

Celebrate Jack Kerouac’s birthday with The Citizens! This performance will feature guest appearances from local poets as well as a number of guest musical appearances. The Citizens will rock you, roll you and generally leave you wanting more.
http://www.facebook.com/TheCitizensBerkshire

The Raft
Thursday 3/22 9pm
Free

The Raft is a six-piece aggressive groove machine. Their original music has roots in R&B, rock, reggae, funk and West African music. Get up, get out and get on The Raft.
http://www.facebook.com/get.on.the.raft

About Berkshire Theatre Group
The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. Having united in November of 2010 under the helm of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, these two institutions are providing the Berkshires and beyond with the finest in live theatre, music, dance and the visual arts on three stages in Stockbridge, MA and Pittsfield, MA. The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (408 seats), cataloged by the National Register of Historic Places, was originally designed and built by Stanford White as the Stockbridge Casino in 1888. The intimate Unicorn Theatre (122 seats) is a home for emerging artists and new theatrical ideas. The Colonial in Pittsfield (800 seats) re-opened in August of 2006, following a $21 million restoration, and boasts pristine acoustics, classic gilded age architecture and state-of-the-art technical systems. Together they serve over 100,000 patrons per year and reach over 10,000 students through their educational and outreach programs. For more information on BTF call (413) 298-5536 and on The Colonial call (413) 448-8084. To purchase tickets, call (413) 997-4444 or (413) 298-5576 or go online to www.berkshiretheatre.org or www.thecolonialtheatre.org.

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