A descendant of Thomas Jefferson explores inheritance through poetry

In The Forage House, published by Red Hen Press, Tess Taylor explores the historical and individual toll of inheritance and how we are shaped by the legacies that come to represent our past and present realities. A descendant of Thomas Jefferson, Taylor was greatly affected when, in 1997, University of Virginia biologist Eugene Foster discovered a […]

The Fire Tapes release the impressive Phantoms before disbanding

In 2010, The Fire Tapes were virtual unknowns in Charlottesville. Made up of recent transplants from D.C. and Richmond, they had a strong sound and solid songs, but had yet to gather a following or make local connections. Three years later, they’ve become a beloved staple in the rock community. Their second album, the excellent Phantoms, […]

ARTS Pick: Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival

Loose strings Refresh your appreciation for classical music with the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, a month of small group performances that range from the kid-friendly Carnival of the Animals to edgy improv with modern masters. The festival includes Downtown in the Key of C-ville, a four-day lineup of concerts in mid-September. Quartet Brooklyn Rider, an […]

Pun Picks: Chris Eldridge of The Punch Brothers

With the Lockn’ Festival happening this weekend, I decided to post a session I did with The Punch Brothers’ guitarist, Chris Eldridge from back in April. Jay’s “Pun Picks” – Chris Eldridge – “The Mean Mother Blues” (Ep. 8) from Pun Picks on Vimeo. I first heard about Chris (aka Critter) when I first moved back to Charlottesville […]

ARTS Pick: Sarah Jarosz

Angel’s share Grammy-nominated greatness visits the Virginia countryside in the form of 22-year-old folk sensation Sarah Jarosz as she tours the East Coast to promote her upcoming album, Build Me Up From Bones. Despite being new to the music industry, Jarosz has captured a sound that many musicians spend a lifetime trying to master. She can expertly strum it […]

Schools in session: WSP bassist gets prepped for Lockn’

Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools is a Virginia native. When reached for a recent phone interview he sounded genuinely enthusiastic about his old home state hosting the Lockn’ Festival, a high-profile jam band bash taking place at Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington this Thursday through Sunday and featuring Grateful Dead offshoot Furthur, Trey Anastasio Band, the Black Crowes and the String Cheese Incident, among many others.

ARTS Picks: Suuns

Ride the wave Montreal-based electro-prog rockers Suuns take dance beats to new punk heights following the launch of their sophomore album, Images Du Futur. Tightly edited melodies layer and clash, building huge waves of sound with a crashing intensity matched only by the musical soothsayers’ boundless energy. Saturday 9/7 $12, 9pm. The Southern Café & Music […]

Folk royalty: Pegi Young warms up for festival

If you were devastated by the news that Neil Young won’t be playing at the Lockn’ (nee Interlocken) music festival this weekend, here’s some good news. You’ll still see a member of the Young clan at the fest. Pegi Young, Neil’s wife of 35 years, launched her own solo singing career in 2007 and has […]