The Live MUSIC Alternative

HOT PLATE BREWING ENCOURAGES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO HAVE A TASTE OF THE ALT-ROCK MUSIC SCENE

By Mark Greenlaw

Photos By Olivia Douhan

Hot Plate Brewing Co. in Pittsfield isn’t just serving up craft beer —it’s cultivating a vibrant and diverse music scene that is fast becoming a vital part of the region’s cultural fabric. Mike Dell'Aquila, who co-founded Hot Plate with his wife, Sarah Real, is leading the cause to bring alternative music programming to the heart of the city. 

Toluca Lake, above, and Sentiments, opposite, performed at Hot Plate Brewing Co. in Pittsfield this summer. 

Several venues in the Berkshires feature original music. Hot Plate is different, though. It focuses on genres that rarely take center stage. Under Dell’Aquila’s direction, the taproom hosts shows rooted in the DIY music movement, with acts that lean into alternative rock. It’s a programming choice that not only diversifies the local music landscape, but also positions Hot Plate as one of the few venues in the area actively courting younger music fans.

The Vibe

Dell’Aquila and Real designed Hot Plate to provide customers with a “chill” experience so that newcomers and regulars alike feel welcome. The taproom walls are painted in vibrant colors, with wooden elements added to soften the atmosphere. They brought their old sofa and coffee table from their Brooklyn condo, where the brewing began 20 years ago, to create a lounge area featuring comfy chairs and a rug. They have board games and a small bookshelf filled with some of Dell’Aquila’s personal collection of books. 

With the craft beer industry growth leveling off, Dell’Aquila and Real recognized the need to attract new clients. One way they achieve this is through programming—meeting people where they are and offering something that reflects them. Events not only include music, but also literary gatherings, fundraiser bingo, and benefit shows. Says Dell’Aquila: “We’re constantly asking, ‘What subgroups exist in our community that might not currently have a home? Can our taproom be that meeting place?’” 

Fresh Take on Live Music

Live music has been a staple at Hot Plate since it opened in February 2023. Dell'Aquila seeks to avoid typical programming—such as solo musicians playing acoustic covers of songs like "Wonderwall"—which he believes often results in mere background noise that doesn’t benefit either the musician or the audience. While Hot Plate has hosted several artists who perform at other venues in the Berkshires, like Nate Martel and Jake Manzi, what sets Hot Plate apart is that it’s one of the few venues that welcomes touring bands from the DIY music scene. These bands, typically performing hardcore punk, emo, and progressive rock, often struggle to gain traction on streaming platforms and rely on live shows to connect with new audiences. Hot Plate has played a vital role in reviving the local punk scene after it went underground during the pandemic by providing a legitimate venue as an alternative to basement shows. 

These performances attract a younger and often very energetic crowd to the taproom, and Hot Plate welcomes an all-ages audience by issuing wristbands to those 21 and older, creating a safe space for teenagers to hang out. Many opening acts feature recent high school graduates or younger-aged bands just starting out. As a result, Dell’Aquila has seen a noticeable influx of younger audiences, both local and from outside the Berkshires. 

That increase has a lot to do with Dell’Aquila discovering a winning formula: pairing one or two local or regional bands with one or two touring bands from places like Long Island, Texas, or Ohio. During a recent Saturday night performance that featured Map of the Stars, Sentiments, Toluca Lake, and B.U.G. World, the bands encouraged the young crowd to come stand very close to the musicians. Audience members swayed and nodded along to the music, cheering loudly at the end of each song. While it wasn't quite a mosh pit, the scene was full of energy. 

Local music fans like Hot Plate regular Josh Reynolds value having a venue in the Berkshires that supports original alternative music. "Pittsfield is being put back on the map of the alt-rock scene in Massachusetts, thanks to Hot Plate," says Reynolds. The attendance and support at the shows are strong, and Reynolds sees the venue as not only a place to enjoy alternative live music; it’s also where new bands are formed after attending a show and then playing their first set together at a subsequent show there.

Music as a Catalyst for Connection

Hot Plate now boasts three distinctive music series. First, it hosts monthly shows in collaboration with the local Silver Lake Booking. These performances generally feature punk, emo, and progressive rock and typically have a $10 cover charge. Hot Plate has been organizing an outdoor series called “The Pitt” on Dunham Mall in downtown Pittsfield, just a short block from their taproom. Other local businesses support these free concerts, which showcase a variety of music. Additionally, they host a monthly “Original Voices” series in partnership with Potency recreational cannabis dispensary. This free series presents a diverse range of genres, including folk, pop, Americana, and progressive rock. 

Hot Plate’s music programming also extends beyond the taproom. In August, the brewery will sponsor the Bousquet Summer Series, supporting live music at the mountain (with the Summer Stomp Country Festival on August 2; Fire on the Mountain Jam II on August 9; and Jazz Festival on August 16). Then in September, they’re launching “Skatoberfest” in downtown Pittsfield, a playful twist on Oktoberfest featuring local ska bands and a street fair atmosphere. 

Beyond the music itself, Dell’Aquila views Hot Plate’s role as fundamentally social and even urgent in today’s world. “The pandemic disrupted in-person gatherings, leaving many isolated in digital silos,” he says. “It’s not just Pittsfield or the beer industry facing challenges—we’re all trying to rebuild real-life, analog social experiences.” 

Dell’Aquila’s hope is that the taproom provides a space where labels and divisions fade, revealing the shared humanity underneath. “It might sound idealistic, but that’s really what it’s about for us—creating spaces for connection and reminding people of that human level.”

Hot Plate Brewing Co. is located at 1 School St., Pittsfield. Coming up at Hot Plate are Blackpool on August 1, Perennial & Friction Fit on August 8, Signature Dish on August 15, Ex-Temper on August 22, and Job Creators on September 5. Check out our sibling publication, Music in the Berkshires, for more details and updates. musicintheberkshires.com