February First Fridays Guide

Crozet natives Kathleen and Minal Mistry get close to nature in their duo show “Wood and Wings” at C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery. Kathleen pairs colorful bird paintings with mixed metal jewelry such as pendants displaying miniature versions of her aviary artwork. Meanwhile, Minal’s woodwork upcycles industrial products like pallets and construction waste to become one-of-a-kind […]

ARTS Pick: Nettles

The Kickstarter funded album Locust Avenue, by local folk group Nettles, is a rural Virginia creation through and through. The record was made in a farmhouse in Waynesboro that the band rented in exchange for a six-pack of Heineken. Led by Guion Pratt on acoustic guitar and vocals, Nettles went into seclusion for four days […]

Film review: Black or White lacks clarity on the big screen

“It’s not about black and white. It’s about right and wrong,” pleads wealthy lawyer Elliott Anderson (Kevin Costner) before a courtroom in defense of maintaining sole custody of his biracial granddaughter Eloise (Jillian Estell). Up until this moment, Black or White almost works. The entire film has been building to this moment, the linchpin of […]

ARTS Pick: Diana Ross

After leading the Supremes to 12 No. 1 singles in the 1960s, Diana Ross began a solo career that has spanned five decades, piling up dozens of hit songs that are still dance floor anthems and soft rock inspirations including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Touch Me in the Morning,” “I’m Coming Out” and “Endless […]

Not just another band: Pat McGee on the Trax days and Dave comparisons

For those yearning for the days of yore, when C’ville was an unknown but up-and-coming music town, yearn no further than February 7 at The Southern Café and Music Hall. That’s the night Pat McGee will reconvene his band in Charlottesville for the first time since the venerable Trax nightclub was torn down in 2002. […]

The art of Pollock: One-time national songwriter goes local

Jason Pollock has achieved more fame making music than most people ever dream of. As a member of ’90s post-grunge rock band Seven Mary Three, he toured the world and played to tens of thousands. He co-wrote the band’s 1997 Billboard Top 100 No. 1 hit “Cumbersome,” as well as its No. 7 hit that […]

ARTS Pick: Celtic Fiddle Festival

Deemed “three of the finest folk violinists anywhere” by The Washington Post, Celtic Fiddle Festival is a touring trio of Irish fiddlers that takes the art of playing very seriously. The “violinists” are accompanied by Nicholas Quemener, a master open-tune guitarist, for a musical set that showcases a fascinating blend of traditional, international and individual […]

ARTS Pick: Corey Smith

In a culture of designer cowboy boots and custom fitted blue jeans, Corey Smith breaks the mold and brings some grit and authenticity back to the country scene. Raised in the rolling hills of Jefferson, Georgia, Smith sings about experiences from rural Southern life. With nine albums to his credit, the country star has amassed […]

ARTS Pick: 2001 A Space Odyssey

It’s man vs. monolith in Stanley Kubrick’s enigmatic sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood star as two astronauts on their way to Jupiter aboard a sentient, computer-controlled spacecraft. From its iconic soundtrack to the tackling of evolution, artificial intelligence and extraterrestrial life, this 1968 epic continues to grow a cult […]