ARTS Pick: The Free Bridge Quintet

When trumpet genius John D’earth isn’t playing his weekly gig at Miller’s (Thursdays) or monthly set at Fellini’s (first Saturdays), he’s performing with The Free Bridge Quintet, UVA’s official faculty jazz outfit. This week he’s doing it all—and in conjunction with the Virginia Film Festival, Free Bridge will play D’earth’s original score to accompany the […]

ARTS Pick: Spititout Inc.

A night of local hip-hop starts off with Spititout Inc., a quartet of hardcore rap artists that has been producing since 2012. In old-school style, the collective strives for social justice and activism to be present in its music. The evening of storytelling-driven rap continues with Ben FM, DistantStarr and Brian Moon. Friday 11/6. $8, 8pm. […]

ARTS Pick: Music in Motion | Gumbo Music

Darrell Rose is a percussionist, painter and teacher who is best known for his drumming skills. He performs across musical genres including jazz, African and reggae. The former organizer of Charlottesville’s Afrikan Drum fest is one of several world-renowned musicians, including Matthew Willner, Houston Ross,  Jeff Lauderback and Michael “Moziah” Saleem, who are coming together […]

ARTS Pick: Papadosio

Papadosio’s fourth album, Extras in a Movie, combines orchestral, electronic, acoustic and celestial sounds. The inspiration behind some of its songs comes from archaic cave paintings, and when song titles don’t easily appear, the group invents its own words, as in “Obove.” Papadosio even has a clear mission: to create music that gives people a […]

Let’s go to the movies: Virginia film festival 2015

Original print: Leonard Maltin preaches the gospel of classic film Beyond all the glitz and glam and celebrity appearances, there’s no better place to be a lover of film in its purest form than at a festival. Between the premieres and sneak peeks of future hit films before award buzz and marketing tactics dominate the conversation, […]

ARTS Pick: Mock Stars Ball

A frighteningly talented lineup of local groups recreate the songs and styles of five legendary bands at the Mock Stars Ball. This version of the annual Halloween tradition finds Erin & the Wildfire performing as No Doubt, The Secret Storm rocking out as Guns N’ Roses and Lord Nelson slaying the audience with tunes from […]

ARTS Pick: DVA

Bára Kratochvílová and Jan Kratochvíl make up DVA (meaning two in Czech), a worldly duo that’s carved out its own sophisticated version of neo-pop. Employing a unique performance style—at times singing in an imaginary language—the pair charms its audience with an aural collage self-described as “pop for non-existing radios.” Modern folk specter Diane Cluck and […]

ARTS Pick: The Paisley Fields

The Paisley Fields is a country band that could easily be heard on commercial radio, but what differentiates the Brooklyn act from the mainstream is its open approach to same-sex relationships. Frontman James Wilson grew up in Iowa and draws from influences such as Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks to write songs that reflect the […]

Local haunt: The Moon ghost of Albemarle

Reports of the ghost’s frequent appearances had everybody buzzing. The fantastical newspaper accounts mesmerized the entire state—no one more so than the students at the University of Virginia. Thoroughly intrigued, a crowd of 40 students tramped the 16 miles to Church Hill, the John Schuyler Moon property in southern Albemarle County where the hauntings were […]