Interview: Billy Campbell discusses lessons from his Virginia youth

Some people claim that Disney World is the only place where dreams come true. I beg to differ, Cinderella’s castle notwithstanding. My case in point: a broke intern, far from her hometown of Williamsburg, Virginia, forced to babysit on the side to finance her fanatical addiction to Nike running shorts, can, in fact, find herself interviewing […]

ARTS Pick: The Lenny Marcus Trio

Take a walk on the wild side with refreshing jazz renditions of Beethoven classics performed by The Lenny Marcus Trio as part of the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival. A protégé of the legendary Ray Bryant, Marcus brings a highly creative approach to his music, mixing flute, bluesy vocals, and cool jazz piano for a unique, […]

Black Prints from Cicada Press

When first observing the “Black Prints from Cicada Press” at the Kluge Ruhe, the print “let’s be polite about aboriginal art” by Vernon Ah Kee jumps out and sets the stage for the exhibit. The print is a simple black square with an aesthetically arranged column of text. The font is simple, it looks like Arial, […]

Album reviews: The Mars Patrol, Shannon Curtis, Jenn Bostic

The Mars Patrol Young Lovers/Self-released London-based sextet, The Mars Patrol, has been making undeniably catchy music for almost a decade, and its latest EP Young Lovers is no exception. The band’s trademark upbeat sound shines on the rousing opener “Here We Go,” while “Stop Pushing You Away” and the closing title track feature the driving […]

ARTS Pick: Gregory Alan Isakov

Now living in Colorado by way of Philadelphia by way of Johannesburg, South Africa, indie folk singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov first found his roots in song.  “I’ve always had this sense about music and writing, that I sort of have to do it. Like I’ll implode without it. I probably wouldn’t do it if I […]

ARTS Pick: Red Wing Roots Music Festival

While some may drive hours to catch these acts on their own, the premiere of the Red Wing Roots Music Festival delivers the South’s best talent straight to Central Virginia’s doorstep. The three-day schedule includes performances by 40 bands on four stages, kids’ activities, and opportunities for outdoor leisure. With The Steel Wheels presenting, the […]

ARTS Pick: Ash Lawn Opera’s La Bohème

If you prefer passionate narratives to summer blockbusters, then the annual Ash Lawn Opera Festival is probably already on your radar. The arts community stronghold is kicking off another season with Giacomo Puccini’s beloved masterpiece La Bohème. Set in 19th-century Paris, the foundation for the popular Broadway musical Rent follows a group of struggling artists […]

ARTS Pick: Shooter Jennings

The son of country music icons Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings has forged a name for himself that has nothing to do with family ties. Country rock’s bad boy came slamming onto the music scene with his rebellious Southern rock in the early 2000s, and has remained a favorite across genres. Although his […]

Heritage Theatre Festival’s Red depicts an artist in turmoil

The year is 1958, and abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko sits in a chair in his New York studio, smoking a cigarette and considering the audience. Or rather an invisible canvas that hangs between us. Aside from a coffee pot, a phonograph, and scotch, every surface is dedicated to artistic detritus. Rusty buckets, stained drop […]