ARTS Pick: Chickenhead Blues Band

If you’re longing for the high energy of swank New Orleans, then spend an evening with the Chickenhead Blues Band. The five-man ensemble delivers classic blues with a funky twist and is sure to get the boogie-woogie going. Vibrant bass chords play jauntily with blissful notes of the sax, creating a musical experience hopping full […]

Film review: Godzilla steps out of the blockbuster gate

George Carlin used to a do a bit about his favorite movies: westerns in which a bunch of cowboys face off with a bunch of Native Americans. “You know what the big scene is going to be, right? It’s going to be the attack the Indians finally make on the cowboys. You wait for it […]

Play On! Theatre begins a new era in a new space

Nothing screams summer like weekend yard sales, and on this sunny Saturday in late April, one lot at The Ix Project stands apart from the rest. Instead of the typical hand-me-down clothes and dated board games, bargain hunters comb through overflowing costume trunks, warehouse shelves of lighting equipment, and table after table of stage props […]

Interview: Felipe Rose’s unexpected role in The Village People

Like Playskool figures come to life, The Village People emerged on the disco scene in 1977, and by the following year the entire country was singing and mimicking the vocal group’s famous “Y.M.C.A.” moves. An act derived from the gay culture of Greenwich Village, the group formed when Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo spotted a […]

ARTS Pick: Bach’s Lunch

In the third performance of the five-part Bach’s Lunch series, Angela Kelly and Johanna Beaver unite for a meditative midday respite. Melding the flute’s soft, subtle tones with the viola’s deep, mellow sounds, Kelly and Beaver combine their talents, offering some passion-filled lunchtime downtime to break up your busy day. Bring your lunch or buy […]

Charlottesville’s newest race is a splash for the arts

Between last week’s Discovery Dash, the annual Ten Miler, the Women’s and Men’s Four Milers, and many others, Charlottesville is hardly in need of another running event. However, need and desire are different beasts—and this is a town that’s addicted to the runner’s high. To satisfy this craving, there’s a new 5K that aims to […]

ARTS Pick: Charles Owens

Sometimes there’s nothing more enjoyable than listening to a cool cat pound out the mellow beats of classic jazz, and nobody does it better than Charles Owens. Fully embracing the blues traditions of the 1930s, the exceptional saxophonist teams up with drummer Devone Harris and bassist Andrew Randazzo to perform smooth riffs of dreamy jazz […]

Album reviews: Needtobreathe, Nick Pollock, Lindsey Stirling

Needtobreathe Rivers in the Wasteland/Atlantic Records This Southern rock trio has made an album filled with hope and energy—seemingly with the intention of easing the weight of life’s challenges. Rock and soul numbers like “State I’m In” and “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” corner the market on encouragement, while the swelling folk pop track “Rise […]

ARTS Pick: Deer Tick

Providence, Rhode Island’s Deer Tick has become the darling of the alternative-rock world, and while the press may have difficulty labeling the band (a certification of indie cred), Rolling Stone, USA Today, and even The Wall Street Journal have showered the group with accolades. Led by singer and guitarist John McCauley, the septet channels Nashville […]