Club Helsinki

Club Helsinki is a music club located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Known for its small size, eclectic booking and tendency to book artists more often seen in bigger rooms, Helsinki has become an important part of the nationally known cultural scene in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Opened in November 1999, Club Helsinki is an offshoot of The Helsinki Tea Company Cafe next door. Over its four years of operation, the cafe hosted open mic nights, poetry nights and other performances to the delight of the rising artist community of Great Barrington. Those cultural nights were such a success that when the bicycle shop next door vacated their space, the restaurant broke down the wall and Club Helsinki was opened. Later that year, Helsinki Productions began to produce live shows in larger venues across the county.

Performers

Club Helsinki has succeeded over the years in attracting the loyalty of musicians, booking agents and music-lovers alike through its unique programming, ambiance and chemistry. Along the way, audiences have enjoyed intimate performances by such legends as Norah Jones, Mose Allison, jazz clarinetist Don Byron, and reggae pioneer Burning Spear. Michelle Shocked, who typically performs before audiences in theaters and concert halls, played the club twice, once defying a major Northeast snowstorm, driving straight through from Maryland for eight hours just to entertain a dozen listeners.

The club has played host to a veritable who’s who of rock history, including Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of The Band, Al Kooper of Blood, Sweat and Tears and the Blues Project fame, English punk-rocker Graham Parker, and legendary side man David Bromberg. Fans of the New Orleans tradition of Zydeco music have enjoyed the legendary Buckwheat Zydeco, the new king of the genre C. J. Chenier, and other favorites from the bayou like Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco Playboys & Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Cha’s

The club’s eclectic booking policy has also seen downtown artists like Gogol Bordello and Marc Ribot and Gary Lucas follow in the wake of blues artists including Carey Bell and Shemekia Copeland. Country legends Rodney Crowell, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Guy Clark and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot have graced the same stage as klezmer artists like Margot Leverett and Alicia Svigals, and folk singers including Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, and Janis Ian have entertained audiences who also enjoyed jazz bands like Sex Mob, jam-bands such as The Slip, funk groups including Tom Tom Club, classical performers such as cellist Matt Haimovitz and Bang on a Can’s Michael Gordon, jazz improvisers like Hamiett Blueitt, and perennial favorites including the Holmes Brothers, The Tarbox Ramblers and Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks.

Phish bassist Mike Gordon kicked off his duo tour with guitarist Leo Kottke at Helsinki, and legendary pop vocalist Carly Simon joined her daughter, Sally Taylor, onstage in one of several, memorable unbilled appearances at the club, including keyboardist John Medeski, who stretched out at several open-mic jam sessions, including one with bassist Chris Wood representing two thirds of their jam funk group Medeski, Martin & Wood. Jazz guitarist John Scofield rehearsed his band at the club for a recording session, and included the club’s crowd noise on his subsequent recording. Maria Muldaur has sang the blues at the club, as has her ex-husband, Geoff Muldaur, and their old friend from the Cambridge folk-blues scene, Chris Smither.

Helsinki has produced over 1500 shows on the downtown club stage and Helsinki Productions is responsible for bringing a host of shows to the region at larger venues with artists like Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Ralph Stanley, Patty Griffin, Steve Earle, The World Saxophone Quartet, Dar Williams and more. Helsinki Productions sponsored a Tsunami Relief Benefit after the 2004 tragedy in the Indian Ocean, The W. E. B. DuBois Concerts Series which brought prominence to one of Great Barrington most under-recognized natives, concerts to support the downtown development of Pittsfield, MA, and a show in support of the eventually successful fight against a planned cement plant in Hudson, NY, where Helsinki plans to open another nightclub soon.

References

*Morse S, "The Helsinki Of The Hills", The Boston Globe, June 28th, 2001
*Rogovoy, S. "Nightspot's Recipe For Success", The Berkshire Eagle, November 9th, 2001
*Rogovoy, S. "Singing About Spirit", The Berkshire Eagle, February 8th, 2002
*Chartok, A. "I Publius: A Neglected American", The Berkshire Eagle, February 9th, 2002
*Rogovoy, S. "Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon Play It Safe At Helsinki", The Berkshire Eagle, November 7th, 2002
*Rogovoy, S. "Michelle Shocked Gives For The Cause", The Berkshire Eagle, January 1, 2004
*Borak, J. "Tea Room To Pop Venue", The Berkshire Eagle, November 26th, 2004
*Madeloni D. "Making Downtown Rock", The Berkshire Eagle, March 11th, 2005
*Madeloni D. "Global Connection", The Berkshire Eagle, March 25th, 2005
*Madeloni D. "Club Helsinki Prepares For Birthday Bash" The Berkshire Eagle, November 10th, 2005
*Morse, S. "Scenic Berkshires Alive At Night" The Boston Globe, November 11th, 2007

External links

* [http://www.clubhelsinkiweb.com Official website]