Comedian/actor/director and Shrewsbury native Mike Birbiglia headlines the two-day High Mud Comedy Festival at the Hunter Center at MASS MoCA in North Adams on Saturday at 9 p.m.
The fun starts Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with Sasheer Zamata Party Time!, featuring “Saturday Night Live” alum Zamata joined by a lineup that includes Maggie Crane, Joyelle Johnson, Matteo Lane and “glamazon hip-hop icon” Shasta Geaux Pop.
Saturday afternoon features a satire writing workshop with Reductress at 4 p.m., plus comedian-led museum tours by Lane, Johnson, Shasta Geaux Pop and others 5-7 p.m., followed by stand-up sets from Tom Lewis, Jon Ross, Luke Thayer and Abbi Crutchfield at 7:30 p.m.
Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Nellie McKay (who has a new album coming out in May entitled “Sister Orchid”) plays a short set on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
Birbiglia headlines the festival on Saturday at 9 p.m. He gained great popularity with “Sleepwalk With Me,” which swept through all media, starting as a critically lauded one-man show in 2008, then becoming a book, then a live record, and finally a film in 2012, with some “This American Life” visits in there along the way. More recently he wrote, starred in, directed and produced the highly acclaimed film “Don’t Think Twice.”
Birbiglia last visited the area in 2016, bringing his one-man show “Thank God For Jokes” to Northampton’s Calvin Theatre; it’s an expertly crafted night of comedy full of creative callbacks that got turned into a Netflix special last year.
The Iron Horse offers up two big local shows to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day — Dicey Riley with Zoe Darrow plays the Northampton venue on Friday at 7 p.m. (with Below the Gaff opening) and Big Bad Bollocks return to the stage for their 28th annual St. Paddy’s Day show on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Allston indie rockers Beeef (whose 2017 debut “A Beeef CD” was named one of the year’s best by DigBoston) share a quadruple-bill with Phenomena 256, Lost Film, and Pits at Bishop’s Lounge in Northampton on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
All-star trio I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan) released their debut album “See You Around” last month, and they appear at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Western MA bands Taxidermists and Smartyr are joined by the Albany-based Hill Haints for the latest Lowdown show at The Basement in Northampton on Saturday at 8 p.m. sharp. And don’t forget, following the show is Wooly Bully, the soul/garage/Motown/mod vinyl dance party!
Rocky Roberts & Friends (Bob Hennessy, Bethanie Yeakle, Matt Sharff, Don McAulay and, of course, Rocky himself, pictured at left) play the Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Playing earlier in the evening are Lonesome Brothers (8 p.m.) and Eddie Riel (7 p.m.) No cover charge, but tips are appreciated.
Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares continues its sixth season with Marty Ehrlich Philosophy of a Groove, featuring Marty Ehrlich (alto sax, clarinet, and flute), James Weidman (piano), Jerome Harris (bass guitar) and Chris Beck (drums) at Hampshire College Music & Dance Recital Hall in Amherst on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Michigan-based singer/songwriter May Erlewine (at right) appears at Click Workspace in Northampton on Thursday at 7 p.m.
NYC busking phenoms Too Many Zooz (with the colorful and indefatigable Leo Pellegrino on baritone saxophone) bring their “brass house” jams to Pearl Street on Thursday at 9 p.m. Bella’s Bartok (local faves and headliners in their own right!) will start off the night.