Phil Hanley at The Jefferson on 1/31

A favorite on the late-night TV circuit, comedian, actor, and writer Phil Hanley began his stand-up career performing at open mics around Vancouver. The Oshawa, Ontario, native has become a staple of the New York City comedy scene, uniquely blending material and crowd interaction in unpredictable, reflective sets dispatched with sharp observation. He’s delivered his […]

New Lettuce record blends music varietals and wine, too

Having a pair of Berklee College of Music-educated parents with two drum sets in the basement likely didn’t hurt Adam Deitch’s love of music—the drummer has been writing songs since he was 10 years old. That early access to instruments—and wading through his parents’ record collection, replete with Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of […]

Drum Tao at The Paramount on 1/29

In an awe-inspiring performance full of fire, athleticism, and pageantry, renowned Japanese group Drum Tao brings The Best to town. Blending traditional Wadaiko drums with modern energy and theatrical flair, the show features vibrant costumes, dramatic synchronization, and choreographed movement accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments, including flutes and harps, alongside the massive drums. $41.25–68.50, 7pm. […]

Susto Stringband at The Southern on 1/29

A compelling blend of rock, folk, and psychedelia with vivid storytelling floods the stage when Susto Stringband brings its 2026 winter tour to town. From an early age in the rural community of Puddin’ Swamp, South Carolina, frontman Justin Osborne was inspired by gospel, bluegrass, and folk. In addition to leading the stringband, Osborne has […]

Schuyler Jackson at UVA’s Old Cabell Hall on 1/30

 I don’t know about you, but when I think of chamber music, the bassoon is not the first—nor the second or third—instrument that comes to mind. A standard string quartet, or some seven-piece collaboration among instrumentalists seated around a piano, captures what I imagine most of us would anticipate for a highbrow Friday evening. Maybe […]

Skatin’ like it’s 1986

Picture it: 1980s upstate New York, a roller rink awash in the purple-blue glow of blacklights, my ocean-wave of bangs—hairsprayed as though my life depended on their height—to protect my head if I fell as we skated to hair metal, synth pop, and Madonna—oh, the Madonna! After hours of skating alone in my basement, the […]

Imani Perry examines blue to grapple with Black history

Those of us who come from people whose past has been deemed unworthy have often found ourselves fighting for preservation in order to be counted,” writes Imani Perry in Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People. She continues, “Our preservation commitments insist upon fuller and often more accurate stories than […]

Willa Barnhardt in the HotSeat

The staff and volunteer physicians at the Charlottesville Free Clinic helped more than 3,000 patients in 2025—more than 1,600 of them new to the clinic—obtain medical and dental care. Roughly 40 percent of those patients earned less than the federal poverty line of $15,650 for individuals or $32,150 for a family of four. More than […]

Josh Ritter at The Jefferson Theater on 1/27

Renowned singer-songwriter, musician, artist, and bestselling author Josh Ritter brings The Book of Gold Thrown Open tour to town, showcasing more than 20 years and 12 albums of Americana sounds. One of the most thoughtful and prolific voices in American roots music today, Ritter’s empathy, indignation, and penchant for storytelling shine through in songs that […]

Robert Jospé Quartet at the V. Earl Dickinson Building on 1/31

The Robert Jospé Quartet performs its distinctive modern jazz in celebration of its new studio album, The Night Sky. Played with the passion and precision the group is known for, the evening’s set features new tunes and old favorites that traverse jazz, blues, funk, Latin, and African rhythms, led by Jospé on drums, Daniel Clarke […]