Adams is a former mill town in the northern Berkshires at the foot of Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts. It's the birthplace of Susan B. Anthony and a gateway to one of New England's most exciting music corridors. Next-door North Adams is home to MASS MoCA and its FreshGrass and Solid Sound festivals, plus a weekly open mic at a boutique inn. This guide covers Adams's history, the northern Berkshires music scene and its venues, and where to find open mics and open jams nearby.
A Brief History of Adams
The Hoosic River valley was part of the homeland of the Mohican people. Colonists settled the area, known as East Hoosuck, in the mid-1700s, and the town was incorporated in 1778 and named for Revolutionary leader Samuel Adams. Quaker families were among the early settlers, and in 1820 Susan B. Anthony was born here; her birthplace is now a museum.
The fast-flowing Hoosic powered textile mills, and in the 1800s Adams became a busy manufacturing town. The Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing Company, founded here, later merged into Berkshire Hathaway, the textile firm that Warren Buffett transformed into his famous holding company. President William McKinley visited to lay a mill cornerstone in 1899, and the town erected a statue in his honor after his assassination. In 1878, the northern part of town separated to become North Adams.
Polish and other European immigrants filled the mills in the early 20th century, leaving a rich cultural heritage. Today Adams is known for outdoor recreation: Mount Greylock State Reservation and the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. Its restored downtown Adams Theater has become a community arts venue.
The Adams and Northern Berkshires Music Scene
The northern Berkshires punch far above their size musically, largely thanks to MASS MoCA in North Adams, a sprawling contemporary art museum in a former factory complex five miles from downtown Adams. Each summer it hosts the Solid Sound Festival, curated by the band Wilco, and every September its FreshGrass festival brings top bluegrass and roots artists to the region, complete with picking sessions around the grounds.
In Adams itself, the Adams Theater presents bluegrass, folk and spoken-word events alongside local productions. Neighboring Williamstown, home of Williams College, adds a jazz festival and campus concerts. The Berkshires as a whole, from Tanglewood in Lenox to the clubs of Pittsfield, give local players plenty to listen to and learn from.
Popular Live Music Venues In and Near Adams
- Adams Theater (Adams) – A restored downtown theater for bluegrass, folk, literary and community performances.
- MASS MoCA (North Adams) – A museum with indoor and outdoor stages for concerts and the Solid Sound and FreshGrass festivals.
- Studio 9 at The Porches Inn (18 Veazie St., North Adams) – An intimate performance space with a weekly open mic.
- Williams College venues (Williamstown) – Chapin Hall and other campus stages host concerts and the Williamstown Jazz Festival.
- Colonial Theatre and Berkshire Museum (Pittsfield) – About 25 minutes south, for touring acts.
- Tanglewood (Lenox) – The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, about 40 minutes south.
Open Mics and Open Jams Near Adams
Adams has few open stages of its own, so local players head five minutes north to North Adams or south to Pittsfield. Below are the best options, followed by a schedule.
Before you go: Small-town open mics and jams change often, and winter weather can cancel events. Always check the venue's or host's website or social media before heading out with your gear.
Open Mics
- Open Mic at Studio 9, The Porches Inn (18 Veazie St., North Adams) – Tuesdays, 7:00–9:00 p.m., with sign-ups at 6:30 p.m. A weekly open mic for performers of all levels: musicians, spoken-word artists and comedians.
- Williamstown open mic nights – Destination Williamstown lists periodic open mic nights in town. Check its calendar for dates.
Jams and Picking
- FreshGrass picking (MASS MoCA, September) – Informal jams spring up around the festival grounds, and the festival has offered workshops for players.
- Irish and folk sessions – Traditional sessions have met in North Adams and elsewhere in the Berkshires. Check thesession.org and local folk calendars for current dates.
Adams-Area Open Mic & Jam Schedule at a Glance
| Day | Event | Venue | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Open Mic (7 p.m.) | Studio 9, The Porches Inn, North Adams | All Styles |
| Periodic | Open Mic Night | Williamstown | All Styles |
| September | FreshGrass festival picking | MASS MoCA, North Adams | Bluegrass |
Tips for Playing Open Mics and Jams Around Adams
- Make it a Berkshires circuit. North Adams, Williamstown and Pittsfield are all within 25 minutes.
- Plan around the festivals. Solid Sound and FreshGrass bring musicians from all over; it's the best time to meet players.
- Watch the weather. The Route 2 and Route 8 corridors get heavy snow in winter.
- Learn some bluegrass. Thanks to FreshGrass, the region has a deep love of string-band music.
Helpful Local Resources
- Berkshires.org events (berkshires.org) – The region's event calendar, including open mics.
- MASS MoCA (massmoca.org) – Festival and concert schedules.
- Adams Theater (adamstheater.org) – Local performances and events.
- The Berkshire Edge (theberkshireedge.com) – Berkshires arts and music coverage.
