The most talked-about revival in the Berkshires this summer is not a play or musical. It's a legendary restaurant and live music venue that's always been like immersive theater: the Dream Away Lodge, which reopened in April. The former roadhouse on the backroads of Becket epitomizes the Berkshires' bohemian past; it's the place where Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Arlo Guthrie shot scenes for Dylan's film Renaldo and Clara in 1975. For two decades, owner Daniel Osman attracted an eclectic clientele by keeping the bar open late and cultivating a nostalgic boho vibe. Last year, he sold it to a new ownership team that has preserved the quirky character of the Dream Away with its thrift-shop decor, lush scenic groundsfirepits, and nightly roster of live performances in the wood-paneled music room. Nw, the music program is overseen by co-owner Andy cDowell, who has the bona fides to book the right acts; he's owned a small live-music venue, Pete's Candy Store, in Brooklyn, for nearly 24 years. "There's lots of overlap with the artists who've played Pete's and the Dream Away, a lot of singer-songwriters and folk rock," he says. "The only change we've made is improving the sound quality in the music room and extending it out to the porch."

Co-owner Scott Levy, who's been patronizing the Dream Away since buying a house in Becket 19 years ago, says the diversity of customers (including dancers and patrons of all ages from nearby Jacob's Pillow) are essential to the Dream Away's spirit. "It's the people who make it a great time," says Levy. "And because the Dream Away is remote, people have to make an effort to get here."

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Written by
Dan Shaw