In celebrating the area’s rich vein of Irish heritage, the Blue Ridge Irish Music School sponsors Dónal Maguire, a vocalist with profound reverence for his roots and one who instills pride and passion for his homeland. Singing unaccompanied or with mandolin, Maguire makes accessible the Emerald Isle’s enchanting melodies in songs about love, labor, and […]
Set the timer, choose your topic, write the script, select your cast (random drawing), rehearse, lights, action, and it’s show time. So goes the frenzied creative collective of 24/7, a wild theatrical ride that brings together a wide network of local talent in writing, directing, and acting to produce seven finished plays in 24 hours. […]
Songwriter and UVA alumnus Adam Long has popped in and out of various groups on the Virginia music circuit for the better part of a decade. His current group finds Long writing the lyrics while his friends play the tunes. Scrapping early names like Adam Long and the Quest for the Grapefruits, the band settled […]
After a successful Kickstarter funding, and a month-long session cloistered in the studio, folk rock family act The Currys are celebrating the release of their first full-length album, Follow, fresh from the hallowed boards of White Star Sound. Formerly an acoustic act consisting of Jimmy, Tommy, and Galen Curry, the trio has added Matt Kauper […]
We asked brwarchitects principal Bruce Wardell to give us insight into the state of architecture in the area, what inspires him, and why he chooses to practice in Virginia. Here’s what he had to say. Why architecture? When we describe the best cities in the world, they are filled with places that have been intentionally […]
Each week, the news team takes a look at upcoming meetings and events in Charlottesville and Albemarle we think you should know about. Consider it a look into our datebook, and be sure to share newsworthy happenings in the comments section. City and county offices are closed Monday, January 20 for Martin Luther King, Jr. […]
Known to fans as M4, MarchFourth re-imagines a traditional marching band through world music influences and big top visual spectacles. Electric bass, diverse percussion, and brassy horns mingle with Eastern European gypsy, samba, funk, Afrobeat, jazz, and rock. Meanwhile, Cirque du Soleil-style dancers and acrobats perform stilt routines, play with fire, and toggle hula hoops […]
When she’s not teaching composition at UMass Amherst, Sadie Dupuis moonlights as the lead singer for rock troupe Speedy Ortiz. Originated as Dupuis’ passion project, Speedy Ortiz’s composed garage rock is flighty, while anchored in distorted, klaxon guitars. The punk angst is softened by punchy, cryptic songwriting that captures themes of unrequited relationships and self-deprecation in […]
Hard rock never lost its appeal for fans of the Maryland-based band Clutch. Even after scaling back the long jams on its tenth studio album, Earth Rocker, the fret-shredding foursome still reigns as an unapologetic homage to the founders of heavy metal. Trading on clever lyrics emitted with a growl and pushing the limit on […]
Local artists, speakers, and writers compete at the Big Blue Door Grand Slam by telling true stories on the theme of schemes and dreams. Previous jam winners and runners-up will call on memory to riff on ideas like escaping summer camp, planning cons, and eternal love. Audience members vote for their favorite story and the […]