Billy Strings’ live shows are guitar shred-filled fever dreams that feature all the improv aspects of bluegrass while totally rocking out. His 2021 release, Renewal, is an ambitious 16-song collection that infuses acoustic bluegrass with elements of heavy metal, jam bands, psychedelia, and classic rock. On Me/And/Dad, Strings leans into tradition for a collaboration with, […]
Billy Strings’ live shows are guitar shred-filled fever dreams that feature all the improv aspects of bluegrass while totally rocking out. His 2021 release, Renewal, is an ambitious 16-song collection that infuses acoustic bluegrass with elements of heavy metal, jam bands, psychedelia, and classic rock. On Me/And/Dad, Strings leans into tradition for a collaboration with, […]
Nobody’s doing it like NNAMDÏ. Mere months after releasing his genre-fusing LP Brat, the Chicago-based do-it-yourselfer released Krazy Karl, a brain-tingling tribute to Looney Tunes composer Carl Stalling. NNAMDÏ pays homage to Stalling’s iconic style on songs like “Coochie Cannon,” “The Lord is My Glock, I Shall Not Want,” and “Milkshake made my tummy hurt! […]
John Kelly is a writer. Sometimes, he’s a songwriter. And with “Three Bright Stars,” he proves he’s a pretty damn good one. Best known for his work as the Virginia Film Festival’s PR pointman, Kelly has been writing for decades—penning reams of corporate communications along with songs. Before moving to Charlottesville in 2001, Kelly started […]
For artist Janet Bruce, the forced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic was an opportunity to turn inward, to seek solace in nature and delve into a deep exploration of color. Directing her attention to the color theories of Goethe and Eugène Chevreul, as well as modern and contemporary colorists, Bruce produced over 360 color studies. […]
Jazz duo Allison Miller & Carmen Staaf used pandemic distancing as an opportunity to heighten the intimacy in their music. The result is Nearness, an electrifying full-length album of original compositions with a few standards. Drummer and composer Miller’s pop-like original “Dan Dan” opens the record, followed by pianist Staaf’s wistful and moving “Blue Thrush.” […]
Cozy up to your Valentine at Winter Songs & Stories, an intimate evening of music from the British Isles and America. Early Access Music Project artists Brian Kay, David McCormick, Peter Walker, and Sarah Walker spin tales and tunes featuring baroque violin, robust bagpipe, and bewitching vocals. The musicians draw from many inspirations, including music […]
Saturday 2/11 Couples and singles are invited to Black Love, a symposium and soirée hosted by comedian Chris Alan with DJs, dancing, a couple’s fashion show, and a panel discussion on self-care, mental health, and love. @bpncville Monday 2/13 Take the girls out for Galentine’s Day screenings of Bridesmaids at Alamo and Clueless at Violet […]
Fun comes first for Kendall Street Company. That’s not to say, though, that the quintet isn’t serious about musicianship. The lineup, Louis Smith (rhythm guitar/lead vox), Brian Roy (bass), Ryan Wood (drums), Ben Laderberg (lead guitar), and Jake Vanaman (sax/keys), is stacked with talent (the group covers the Grateful Dead, The Beatles, Alanis Morrisette, DEVO, […]
Love is in the air! To celebrate, we asked you to submit Valentine’s Day haiku that summed up the season—and you delivered. Here’s the contest winner, plus 10 more 17-syllable poems that got our hearts beating. Winner The geese in a V… Streaked, honked, to the low slung sun. Did we love the sky? by […]
Treat your ears to a bevy of never-before-heard sounds at an intimate evening with Alash. The trio of Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Ayan-ool Sam, and Ayan Shirizhik began studying Tuvan music in childhood, and are now masters of throat singing, a technique for producing multiple pitches at the same time. Alash’s sound is continually evolving, a result […]