It’s been over 10 years since pop group Parachute (formed at Charlottesville High School) found itself sharing a stage with the Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. The appearance was a promo for the band’s locally produced debut album, Losing Sleep, which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Digital chart, and opened the door to major tours with Kelly Clarkson, Plain White T’s, and Michelle Branch and the Goo Goo Dolls. In the years since, band members have come and gone, labels have changed, and the group’s songwriting has matured. Parachute says its self-titled fifth album (out on May 10) is reflective, intimate, and “unfolds with a more artfully minimalist sound than they’ve ever embraced before.”
Related stories

“Beauty and the Beast JR.”
DMR Adventures, a performing arts center for kids, has been making magic since 2009. This summer’s production of Beauty and the Beast JR. features 80 children performing in a downsized adaptation of the fan favorite Disney Princess movie. Join the French soirée to sing “Be Our Guest” along with lively Lumiere and timely Cogsworth, and […]
C-VILLE Writers | July 31, 2024
“Beauty and the Beast JR.”
DMR Adventures, a performing arts center for kids, has been making magic since 2009. This summer’s production of Beauty and the Beast JR. features 80 children performing in a downsized adaptation of the fan favorite Disney Princess movie. Join the French soirée to sing “Be Our Guest” along with lively Lumiere and timely Cogsworth, and […]
C-VILLE Writers | July 31, 2024

Brett Dennen
A soulful folk pop artist from Northern California, Brett Dennen began his musical journey as a youth at Camp Jack Hazard. He now shares his passion for song and conservation during his own outdoor weekend retreat (Camp Dennen), among other initiatives. Inspired by ’70s icons Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Paul Simon for their melodic […]
C-VILLE Writers | July 31, 2024
Brett Dennen
A soulful folk pop artist from Northern California, Brett Dennen began his musical journey as a youth at Camp Jack Hazard. He now shares his passion for song and conservation during his own outdoor weekend retreat (Camp Dennen), among other initiatives. Inspired by ’70s icons Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Paul Simon for their melodic […]
C-VILLE Writers | July 31, 2024

The Mountain Goats with Field Medic
The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle may have published several novels, served on the board of Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL), hosted a podcast about his music, and acted in an episode of “Poker Face,” but none of these achievements compare to his stature as a singer-songwriter. The New Yorker called Darnielle music’s “best non […]
C-VILLE Writers | July 31, 2024
The Mountain Goats with Field Medic
The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle may have published several novels, served on the board of Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL), hosted a podcast about his music, and acted in an episode of “Poker Face,” but none of these achievements compare to his stature as a singer-songwriter. The New Yorker called Darnielle music’s “best non […]
C-VILLE Writers | July 31, 2024