When Harper Lee’s surprise second book, Go Set a Watchman, was announced earlier this year, lots of questions popped up. Was the release of the book in line with the aging author’s wishes? Should it be released at all, given that some felt Lee was unfit to give her consent? And would the book be […]
Over the past decade, swamp-funk outfit JJ Grey & Mofro has built a solid following and a reputation for intense, intimate performances. The Florida-based band incorporates soul and jazz into tight, guitar-driven original grooves, backed by bluesy basslines and bold brass. Though the group’s latest album Ol’ Glory, has garnered a slew of rave reviews from […]
Perhaps Israel wasn’t the best environment for Yonatan Gat to grow as a musician. “The thing about Israel is, it’s very small and very isolated,” said Gat, who now lives in Brooklyn. “Personally, I found the kind of music that I am excited about is not a really good fit for Israel. It’s a very […]
If you’ve never heard of Jordan Rock, who’ll take the stage at Piedmont Virginia Community College on February 28, you can be forgiven. He’s never played Charlottesville, and his Web presence isn’t exactly on the level of an “Ultimate Split.” Come to think of it, his Web presence isn’t really on the level of an […]
Author Edwidge Danticat weaves stories of strong women overcoming hardship and forging new identities in unfamiliar places. Born in Haiti, Danticat moved to Brooklyn when she was 12 years old, and the experience of transporting from one culture to another has since informed her writing, which is dominated by characters that have their feet in […]
Robin Wynn said Google might lead you astray if you’re looking to find out what she’s up to these days. A C’ville-based songwriter who toured extensively from 2005 to 2008 and saw one of her songs get attention from NPR’s “All Songs Considered,” Wynn recently licensed a tune to the CW show “Vampire Diaries.” Put […]
Why is popularity always the reward for quirky high schoolers in movies where the whole plot is about learning to be happy without it? You don’t celebrate your twelfth step with a shot, you don’t get a mansion after reaching nirvana, but somehow our teenage morality scripts are still peddling the idea that trying to […]
Watch the documentary I’m Not Racist… Am I? and you can’t help but ask yourself the same question. The story unfolds around 12 students of varying backgrounds who complete a year-long program of workshops and discussions about race and privilege. As they grapple with these issues, the students find their relationships with each other, their […]
Observing the fantastic world of The Convolution of Pip and Twig, it’s as if you’ve stepped through the looking glass and into a children’s pop-up book. The minimal, vibrant set uses low tech manipulations, visual metaphor and physical magic to tell a story almost entirely without words, and Performer’s Exchange Project members Sian Richards and […]
Mid-month is usually a pretty quiet time in a local art gallery. First Fridays crowds have long since returned home and the promise of free wine and cheese is a faint memory. But the downtown Charlottesville gallery scene isn’t dead between opening and closing receptions. Many would argue that this is the best time to […]