In brief: Brackney exposes insurrectionist, tax lawsuit ruling, and more

Tax victory  Last week the Virginia Supreme Court upheld Charlottesville Circuit Court’s decision that said the city cannot require freelance writers to pay its business license tax. As a result of the ruling, local freelance writer Corban Addison, who filed the lawsuit against the City of Charlottesville, will receive a tax refund for the $2,461.23 […]

Let freedom ring

By Eshaan Sarup and Brielle Entzminger This Sunday, June 19, marks the 157th annual celebration of Juneteenth, which commemorates the day—June 19, 1865—that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved people there that the Emancipation Proclamation freed them, and the Civil War was over. Though President Abraham Lincoln signed the proclamation […]

Pick: Juneteenth Celebration

Commemoration: The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center’s Juneteenth Celebration kicks off with Honoring the Ancestors, during which community members give presentations about local ancestors through readings and songs. Saturday’s day-long celebration features a parade, food, music, dance, an expo of over 30 Black-owned businesses and orgs, and the Emancipation Concert. Performers over the weekend […]

Pick: Fae Festival

Fare thee well: Hear ye, hear ye, ‘tis time for merriment and revelry galore, as the Fae Festival is nigh upon us. Meander through a medieval market, where vendors display their wares, and witness demos and workshops from Raptor Hill Falconry, The Amethyst Cauldron Witch Crafts, and more. Feast on a fine selection of food […]

Pick: Andy Grammer

Stay positive: Andy Grammer’s head-bobbing pop anthems go hard on the radio, and even harder on stage. The multi-platinum artist is currently on The Art of Joy Tour, where he performs earworms like “Honey, I’m Good,” “Fine By Me,” and “Keep Your Head Up ‘’ with contagious energy. On Naïve, an encouraging, spiritual pop record, […]

In brief: Gun violence memorial, weed crimes, and more

Guns down Sporting an array of orange attire, several dozen community members gathered in the Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church parking lot on Friday afternoon to honor and remember the thousands of lives lost to gun violence nationwide each year. The National Gun Violence Awareness Day event—hosted by the B.U.C.K. Squad, Moms Demand Action […]

Pick: Radio Relics

Radio gaga: Whether you’re a morning commuter listening to the soothing sounds of “Classical Sunrise,” a night owl working along to “Virginia Overnights,” or an early riser enjoying “With Good Reason,” you’ve probably tuned in to WTJU during the last 65 years. In celebration of its six-plus decades of community broadcasting, a new micro-museum, Radio […]

Pick: Michael Bisio

Can’t touch this: Michael Bisio is one of the most prolific bassists working today—he’s composed over 100 works, appears on more than 100 CDs, and can jump from classical poise to jazzy fervor in a heartbeat. His 2022 release, Inimitable, is an album of solo bass improvisations that showcases the range of the bass, from […]

Pick: Tim O’Brien

Carrying a tune: Tim O’Brien went from singing in church and school in West Virginia, to being a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of country and bluegrass music. His latest release, He Walked On, explores what it means to be American with intimate histories and stories told through eight new original songs and five carefully curated […]

In brief: New leadership at Montpelier, call for library name change, and more

Montpelier gets new leadership With more than half its members now representing the descendants of enslaved workers at Montpelier, the Montpelier Foundation Board is moving quickly to undo actions taken by previous leadership during a months-long dispute over control of the board. First on that to-do list: rehiring high-level staffers who’d been fired for speaking […]