Tor Krautter and Tistrya Hamilton met me recently at the Gypsy Joynt on
Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington. The restaurant is well known for the good
food and a casual atmosphere as well as its weekly musical lineup. The three of us
met briefly outside in the drizzle, then headed indoors. We found comfortable
seating (a huge couch and an overstuffed chair… with a plate of ‘cheesy bread’ in
arm’s reach) and talked about the upcoming Shire Mountaintop Music Festival.
Smelly Dog Productions has planned an overnight music event for the holiday
weekend – Saturday and Sunday, September 4 – 5.
Tor and Tistrya have been over this route before, bringing music to the
Washington hilltops. “I’ve been playing Bucksteep since, probably… 1993,” he says.
“The legendary Halloween show originated at Bucksteep.” This summer, the team
has also brought free concerts to Bucksteep and a day with the regional band Max
Creek.
Bucksteep Manor Inn, 885 Washington Mountain Road, Washington, MA has
the space and layout to accommodate campers and yet produce an intimate music
experience. The grounds, at 400 acres, provide ample opportunities for a morning
hike both on the property and at the nearby Appalachian Trail. Once noontime rolls
around there will be another focus.
“It’s all about the music,” Tor says. And so it is. With eighteen bands in the
lineup – plus late jam sessions featuring Rev Tor and Friends – music will be playing
on the festival’s two stages from noon and until midnight on both days. After the
music, for those inclined to stay up past midnight, the family Vernville will be
showing a late-night selection of movies.
Local businesses Brighter Daze of Great Barrington, and The Earth Shoppe
from the Lanesboro Mall, will be there with many others. There will also be vendors
with hand-made crafts, a good number of activities for the kids, and a food drive by
the non-profit organization, Strangers Helping Strangers.
The kitchen at Bucksteep Manor will be serving food throughout the
weekend, staying open from the beginning of the music until midnight. There will
also be a Beer Garden, featuring local brewers including The Berkshire Brewing
Company.
Tickets for this event are limited. “As far as ‘how many people can be at the
Shire Festival’, we have to cap it at four-hundred tickets sold,” Tistrya explains, “so I
definitely encourage people to get their tickets ahead of time.” Tickets are $60 in
advance or $75 at the door. Overnight camping is included. To keep tabs on the
number of tickets sold go to www.theshirefestival.com. Status updates and any “sold
out” notices can be found there.
“The whole idea, [of the festival]” says Tor, “is the music of the jam band
scene”. And Tor brings the scene together well. Central to the weekend is a sense of
community. This starts with the deep musical strains of Berkshire talent. “The first
bands I invited were to local bands,” he says, “The Longview Gunslingers, The Tony
Lee Thomas Band… then we wanted to have some really cool regional and national
acts to round it out. I think we’ve been pretty successful.”
Among the bands in the lineup are Chris Merenda, The Brew, The Breakfast,
Poor Becket Rebels, and Jen Durkin’s Big Band.
The limited number of tickets being sold actually brings something to the
weekend that one can’t find in the larger gatherings. “Some of my favorite
gatherings are the smaller [ones],” says Tistrya. “You really get to meet people. It’s
not overwhelming.”
Tor agrees, “Smaller scale events create a better sense of community. You get
to meet everyone.”
Tickets are available at -
BRIGHTER DAZE – Great Barrington, MA
EARTH SHOPPE – Pittsfield, MA
DEAD AHEAD – New Lebanon, NY
Or online at: brighterdaze.biz
For those hoping to come to the gate, check the website first and remember
that any tickets sold at the gate will be on a first come, first serve basis. Enjoy.
Written by Jeffrey E. Brace
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