Go west, young men and women
Students who go to college in Western Massachusetts know what a lively visual and musical arts scene the area has to offer, and it doesn't shut down when they leave for the summer.
One of our favorite nightlife hot spots in the Pioneer Valley is the Rendezvous, a newly renovated cafe/bar in the Turner Falls neighborhood of Montague where artists, poets, and other bohemian types host performance art, open-mike poetry, and live music. This weekend, the Rendezvous is hosting two dance parties: Tonight at 9:30 it's a disco/funk/groove night with DJ Studebaker Hawk ($3), and tomorrow night at 9:30 it's the monthly ROCKITQUEER shindig, a freaky get-together described simply as "the dance party" ($3). The food is a notch up from standard bar grub, so come early and grab a bite while bizarre documentaries play in the background.
All ages. 3 p.m.-1 a.m. daily, hours are flexible. Free-$5. 78 3rd St., Turner Falls. 413-863-2866.
There's also the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, which houses all types of studio arts, installations, and performance art. This month the museum is putting on the Bang on a Can experimental music festival, going on daily through July 26. On Saturday, regular gallery admission will grant you access to the museum's visual art exhibits as well as to two recitals, at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The latter features music composed by Christine Southworth for the arrhythmic Balinese Gamelan ensemble and is sure to be unlike anything you've heard in Western music. Many galleries around Downtown North Adams are participating in the festivities this month; check out the full schedule and score festival passes or individual tickets online.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. $12.50, $9 students, $5 children 6-16. 1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams. 413-662-2111. massmoca.org
Max Pearl is a second-year student at Hampshire College who blogs about under-21 events in Boston. He can be reached at maep07@hampshire.edu.
