September 6 First Fridays at Five

Start: Friday, September 6, 2024 5:00PM
End: Friday, September 6, 2024 8:00PM

The September 6 First Fridays at Five will feature live music, art, dance, family fun, shopping, food, and entertainment throughout downtown Pittsfield. The theme of the September 6th First Fridays at Five will be a Taste of Pittsfield and the event will also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (which officially kicks off on September 15). Get a Taste of Pittsfield with a section of the event dedicated to local food trucks, and there will also be many downtown restaurants serving food outside during the event. BB’s Hot Spot, D's Island Food Truck, La Chalupa & La Enchilada, and Two Sisters’ Spirits will be among the featured food trucks. Yo Soy Arte and Latinas413 will headline the September 6th event on the mobile City Stage with a curated line-up of artists with ties to Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil. Singer and musician, Clara Guatta will kick off the event on the City Stage at 5:30 pm. Clara was born in Pittsfield, but her entire family is originally from Argentina, and she grew up in the city of Buenos Aires. At 6:30 pm, Luana Dias David will perform. Luana is a performing artist and choreographer based in the Berkshires. Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, she brings a rich cultural background steeped in Samba, Capoeira, Break Dancing, Latin Dance, Jazz, and Classic Ballet, which profoundly influence her dance philosophy and style. With over 20 years of experience as a performing artist and instructor, Luana has traveled globally, sharing her art and passion for dance. Her work authentically represents cultural dance pieces, evident in collaborations with esteemed organizations such as Jacob’s Pillow, Berkshire Pulse, and the Mill Town Foundation. Cancioneros will close out the evening on the City Stage starting at 7:15 pm. Cancioneros features Mariano Cabrera (vocals/rhythm guitar), Erick Delmoral (Mexican guitarrón/guitar), and Juan Delmoral (lead guitar). Mariano and Erick are originally from Atlixco, a city in the Mexican state of Puebla. The group was formed after Mariano was invited to work in restaurants, playing from table to table. He invited Erick to join, and years later, Juan, Erick's son, joined the group, contributing a great natural talent for the guitar. Persip Park, 175 North Street, will feature a live performance by the Housie Shakers as part of the September 6 First Fridays at Five and the free Downtown Pittsfield Summer Music Series. While the Housie Shakers are a new band on the Berkshire music scene, its members have deep local roots and have been playing music in the area for decades. All four members grew up in the Berkshires, and after various adventures living around the country and the world, returned here to raise their families. Having played together informally for various short-term projects in recent years, they decided the time was ripe to solidify the lineup and start playing out more. The Housie Shakers bring a variety of styles to the mix, with wide-ranging covers and original music spanning rock, blues, pop, bluegrass, reggae, Americana, and improvisational groove. They don’t take themselves too seriously and have no ambitions to go on the road (as if the 12 kids they have collectively would make that possible anyway)… they’re just out to play local gigs and give people a chance to hang out, let loose, dance, and have a good time! The band’s name is a nod to their home community and the people and places that have shaped their musical journeys. The Housie Shakers are Simeon Bittman (drums & vocals), Noah Cook-Dubin (guitar, cavaquinho & vocals), Jonathan Denmark (guitar & vocals), and Colin Ovitsky (bass). In the case of inclement weather, the Housie Shakers will be at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue. Sottile Park, at the corner of North and Eagle Street, will feature the Pittsfield Disability Commission which is the Community Partner for the September First Fridays at Five. They will be joined by AdLib, Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA), Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), and UCP of Western Massachusetts. UCP will be demonstrating assistive tech, DCR/Universal Access will be bringing equipment, and the Commission will have a table supporting the Get Out and Vote effort for people with disabilities with voter registration cards. There will be giveaways of disability flags, bracelets, popcorn, and water. Across the street, there will be an art show at AdLib, Inc: Center for Independent Living (215 North Street). The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, will present "OUT OF THE STUDIOS: Artists of the Lichtenstein". “Out of the Studios” showcases artists who have studios at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts. These artists - Mario Caluori, Rick Casucci, Maru Dominguez, Peg Dotchin, Jim Horsford, Sean McCusker, Nicole Rizzo, Jesse Tobin McCauley, and Michael Vincent Bushy – will each contribute original artwork to the show.