Berkshire Busk! has announced its July lineup to celebrate music and live performance each
weekend throughout the summer in downtown Great Barrington. This immersive arts experience
will place street performers (“buskers”) at an array of locations from one end of the charming
small western Massachusetts town, dubbed by Smithsonian Magazine as “America’s Best Small
Town,” to the other.
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The kickoff weekend, Friday July 2 and Saturday July 3rd, will feature 21 performers and groups
allowing visitors to experience performance art and musical styles including jazz, folk, rock, hip
hop, and blues. There will be a violinist playing with an electronic pedal, a Kazakhstani vocalist
performing in several languages, a Brazilian Samba Band, a Great Barrington high school
singer/songwriter, “The Statue of New England,” a living statue artist, and much more.
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“Performers of all kinds, cooped up for over a year, are bursting with anticipation to perform in
front of live audiences,” says Festival Director Eugene Carr. “We’ve been hearing great
enthusiasm from folks who are eager to welcome them back in settings that keep everyone safe
and engaged.”
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Visitors are invited to walk from one end of Great Barrington’s Main Street to the other, sampling
buskers as they perform from 6 PM to 8:30 PM, creating an immersive “sound museum.”
experience. Each busker group receives a stipend of $75. Visitors are encouraged to tip
generously, following the time-honored busking tradition.
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For buskers, there was no fee to apply. The public application process, which started in March,
has so far as attracted 115 applicants, three-quarters of whom are from Massachusetts; others from New York State, Connecticut, and Vermont; and some from as far away as Florida, Texas,
and Virginia.
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The full schedule and descriptions of performers for July is provided below. The most up-to-date
schedule is on the festival’s website at www.berkshirebusk.com. Applications are still coming
in, and the schedule for August will be released in the coming weeks.
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The project is supported by a broad group of local political leaders, business owners, and arts
professionals, which can be viewed here: https://www.berkshirebusk.com/about-us/team.

ABOUT BERKSHIRE BUSK!
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Conceived of and produced by entrepreneur Eugene Carr, Berkshire Busk! was born from a
love of arts and desire to support his adopted hometown through economic development. Great
Barrington, voted “Best Small Town in America” by Smithsonian Magazine, felt the impact of the
Covid-19 pandemic and resulting slow-down in tourism. As the summer 2021 brings back some
level of normal activity, there are still going to be constraints on experiencing music and art in
small, enclosed spaces. Berkshire Busk! will help bridge this gap bringing the celebration of the
arts to the streets.
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Berkshire Busk! is made possible by support from lead sponsors, Calyx Berkshire Dispensary,
Départ Wine, Warrior Trading, Berkshire Money Management, The Downtown Great Barrington
Cultural District and about 30 other sponsors. The current list can be viewed at:
https://www.berkshirebusk.com/sponsors. The project’s fiscal sponsor is the Nonprofit Center of
the Berkshires.
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The Berkshire Busk Schedule for July (subject to change) is below, with descriptions of
performers and groups provided by the buskers:

FRIDAY, JULY 2:
Ariana Seymourian: Statue of New England (living statue)
Awkward, At Best, Productions: Dancing and audience sketches with Ms. Pretty Smart
Danie + Bobby: Acrobatic circus duo
Daymen C. Toussaint: Acoustic and electric guitar duo
Eric Reinhardt and Francine Ciccarelli: Singer/songwriter duo
James VanDeuson: Folk singer/songwriter
The Michael Junkins Group: Jazz guitar trio
Natalie Lewis: Acoustic and electric covers and original songs - student at Monument Mountain High
School
Nick Murner: Americana folk singer/songwriter and guitarist
Rick and Marilyn: Edgy acoustic rock covers and original songs
Tante Friedl: Street folk, punk and cabaret music on accordion and banjo
Vita Kay Duo: Singer (multiple languages)

SATURDAY, JULY 3:
Adnaan Stumo: Violin and foot pedal
Amanda Cote: Folksy American covers
Ariana Seymourian: Statue of New England (living statue)
The Berkshire Bateria: Street samba dancing and drums
Danie + Bobby: Acrobatic circus duo
Michael Aaron: Americana singer/songwriter
Nick Murner: Americana folk singer/songwriter and guitarist
Patrick Sam McGarrity: Singer/songwriter and guitarist
The Railroad Street Dreamers: Blues and folk covers
The Hoping Machine: Group of singers/songwriters
T Bone Daddy: Blues, jazz, rock and reggae trio

FRIDAY, JULY 9:
Awkward, At Best, Productions: Dr. Roof (audience sketches)
Benjamin Court: Guitarist
Berkshire Theater Group: Songs from the Wizard of Oz
Breffny Irish Dancers: Irish dancing
Calvin and the Mossy Nuggets: Indie pop band performing covers and original songs
DUET: Blend of of jazz standards, swing music, Latin tunes, waltzes and Irish fiddle tunes
David Hodge: Guitarist performing covers and original songs
Dean Olsher/Notes from Underground: Accordion songs
Nido Di Cuculo: (Cuckoo’s Nest) Italian folk music on mandolin and accordion
Quiet Houses: Combination of modern indie folk and progressive pop
WackyChad: Entertainer and comedian
Willy Welch: Guitarist and singer/songwriter

SATURDAY, JULY 10:
Adnaan Stumo: Violin and foot pedal
Calvin and the Mossy Nuggets: Indie pop band performing covers and original songs
Darren Yong Magic: Magician and comedian
Dylan Patrick Ward: Singer/songwriter
Katherine Winston: Singer/songwriter and American Idol contestant
Lindy: Music from the heart
New Light 3: Mixture of jazz standards and original compositions
Prateek: Guitarist
The StringSmith a.k.a. "GypZbilly": Mixture of blues, jump and rockabilly
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FRIDAY, JULY 16
Aimee Van Dyne: Americana and folk singer/songwriter
My Oh Mime-O: Mime group
David Reed | Music Journeyman: Variety played on harmonica, guitar and cigar box instruments
Jaane Doe: Folk rock singer/songwriter
Sherry!: Ukulele and merlin dulcimer
Griffin & Indie: Jazz standards and original songs on clarinet, bass and piano
Rees Shad: American gothic storytelling
Lucky 3: Trio of parisian and gypsy jazz
Mary Ann Palermo & First Take Band: Ensemble of guitar, drums, bass and horns
The Michael Junkins Group: Jazz guitar trio
Mike Pagnani: Multi-instrumentalist and singer
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SATURDAY, JULY 17
Aimee Van Dyne: Americana and folk singer/songwriter
Anoush Froundjian: Interactive paper dress designs
Adnaan Stumo: Violin and foot pedal
My Oh Mime-O: Mime group
Eric Reinhardt and Francine Ciccarelli: Singer/songwriter duo
Erinn Furey: Singer and American Idol finalist
Griffin & Indie: Jazz standards and original songs on clarinet, bass and piano
Rees Shad: American gothic storytelling
Patrick B Ray: Blues and Americana singer/songwriter
Beat Greens: R&B, jazz and New Orleans style guitar duo
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FRIDAY, JULY 23
Barry Kay: Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist
Brain Hailes: Trained opera singer covering blues, country and jazz songs
Darren Yong Magic: Magician and comedian
Garrin Benfield: Singer/songwriter and improvisational guitarist
Harry & Karen: Improvisational music duo
HIP-HOP/Teflon Yak: Street dancer
Lucky 3: Trio of parisian and gypsy jazz
The StringSmith a.k.a. "GypZbilly": Mixture of blues, jump and rockabilly
Taya Win: Classically trained singer and guitaristVita Kay Duo: Singer (multiple languages)
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SATURDAY, JULY 24
Adam J. Kohlhepp: Americana singer/songwriter
Anoush Froundjian: Interactive paper dress designs
Benjamin Court: Guitarist
The Berkshire Bateria: Street samba dancing and drums
Darian Kaulahao: Juggler and circus artist
Harry & Karen: Improvisational music duo
Helen Hummel: Singer/songwriter
Lucky Bucket: Group of 6 covering rock, country, and oldies
The Midnight Anthem: Singer/songwriter trio
Patrick J Toole: Delta-style blues on guitar
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FRIDAY, JULY 30
Mary Ann Palermo & First Take Band: Ensemble of guitar, drums, bass and horns
Dean Olsher/Notes from Underground: Accordion songs
Sherry!: Ukulele and merlin dulcimer
The Silent Treatment: Miming duo
Willy Welch: Guitarist and singer/songwriter
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SATURDAY, JULY 31
Anoush Froundjian: Interactive paper dress designs
Dylan Patrick Ward: Singer/songwriter
James VanDeuson: Folk singer/songwriter
The Midnight Anthem: Singer/songwriter trio
Michael Aaron: Americana singer/songwriter
The Silent Treatment: Miming duo
Taya Win: Classically trained singer and guitarist
WackyChad: Entertainer and comedian###

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