Millicent Young seeks a new mythology through primordial totems

I was completely captivated by Millicent Young’s radiant show at Chroma Projects. Composed of horsehair and found wood, Young’s work thrums with nature and speaks to ancient mysteries that our modern selves can only dimly grasp. “The known, the unknown, and the unknowable is a trinity that has been with me a very long time,” […]

ARTS Pick: Darlingside

What does a string band composed of indie rock, bluegrass, barbershop, and classical sensibilities sound like?  Massachusetts quartet Darlingside wants you to know. In addition to combining virtuoso mandolin, cello and bass guitar performances with percussion and the more traditional guitar and bass, the band adds a whole other layer to its songs by including pitch-perfect […]

Film review: Thor: The Dark World lacks the superhero glow

Mere mortals, just who is Thor? Norse god? Superhero created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby? Bastard stepchild of the Marvel Avengers series? At this point, it’s not clear that anyone knows, least of all the filmmakers behind Thor: The Dark World. Is Thor a funny guy? Fear not, he’ll be beating someone […]

PVCC reaches out to the community for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

When Tom Stoppard wrote Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, an absurdist comedy about two minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, he was only 27 years old. Trapped in a nebulous otherworld, courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern debate the nature of freedom and fate from lives pre-scripted to death. Comic dialogue coupled with philosophical themes, including the use […]

ARTS Pick: Three Notch’d Road: The Charlottesville Baroque Ensemble

Indulge in the sounds of the 1600s with Three Notch’d Road: The Charlottesville Baroque Ensemble’s season opener, “O Sacred Oracles: Handel Oratorios & Sonatas.” Local instrumentalists perform using period instruments, like the baroque violin and recorder, which were popular in the era between Renaissance and Classical music. Highlighting works by German composer George Frideric Handel, […]

ARTS Pick: Up the Chain

Singer-songwriter Reed Kendall is an up-and-coming force within the booming Philly music scene. His touring act, Up the Chain, has been deemed a “collective of some of the city’s finest musicians.” With its smooth trumpet work and skillful blues guitar harnessed by a flow of rhythm, the band draws comparisons to Paul Simon’s solo work. […]

The Prism Coffeehouse is poised to reopen at The Haven

For 40 years, the Prism Coffeehouse was a highly-regarded venue in Charlottesville, and revered by folk and roots music connoisseurs nationwide. Originally located at the corner of Gordon Avenue and Rugby Road, the space could accommodate over 100 people, but it always felt much smaller. I have vague memories of going to concerts there as […]

C’ville Art Blog: Clay Witt at the Garage

The Garage is primarily recognized as a fun offbeat downtown music venue. However, if you squint and peer behind the lead guitarist, or stumble past on your way to your car on First Fridays, you discover the space also curates monthly art shows. While its shows are fairly difficult to access (the space is closed […]

Beams Release Bugs at the Southern

After four years and three releases, Adam Brock’s Borrowed Beams of Light project has become as well-known to locals as the various bands (most notably the Invisible Hand) for which he’s lent his not-inconsiderable talents as a drummer. In addition to his hammering accuracy behind the kit, Brock also has a crystal-clear singing voice and […]

ARTS Pick: Houndmouth

Driven by Zappaesque blues guitar riffs and enchanting three-part harmonies, Houndmouth is making its mark in today’s burgeoning folk scene. The young band enjoyed a hectic festival schedule this summer, and a run through the late night talk show circuit to promote its catchy debut album, From The Hills Below the City. There’s also an […]