Nathaniel Star

With enough soul-beat samples to make any crate-digger swoon, Nathaniel Star brings heady lyricism with heart to every track he touches. The C’ville local alternates gravel-voiced verses with honey-sweet hooks, moving seamlessly between driving hip-hop and smooth R&B. Writing with verve and witticism, Star celebrates Blackness and sonic expression through rich storytelling and riveting concept […]

A reintroduction to Ace Biscuit & Barbecue

By BJ Poss Barbecue is nestled as deep in Charlottesville’s roots as any homemade brine. You’d be hard-pressed to find a self-respecting plate of pork barbecue in Virginia that didn’t start out submerged in coarse salt dissolved in water full of sugar, spices, and citrus zest, a chef’s emulsion that absorbs into the meat and, […]

Artist Nym Pedersen’s small-scale works leave a big impact

In the years leading up to the pandemic, artist Nym Pedersen could often be found on the Downtown Mall, peddling his small paintings, drawings, and collages, which he dubbed “art snacks.” Much like Steve Keene, Nym felt that art should be within everyone’s reach and priced his work accordingly. Nym died on March 9 at […]

Tried it in C’ville: Poppypointe open stitch night

To borrow phrasing from “The Golden Girls’” Sophia Petrillo, picture it: Warwick, New York. Late ’80s. Middle schooler me with my aggressively hair-sprayed ocean wave of bangs, oversized cable-knit sweater, and loud plaid Skidz pants (tucked into white scrunched-down socks, of course). Where was this obviously popular youngster headed to after school, you ask? Cross […]

Starry Nights

It’s an all-day-into-night affair to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Veritas Vineyards and Winery. Starry Nights returns with live music, fun food, and plenty of wine. Tunes start with AbbeyRoad covering classics from The Beatles before Marie and Koda of Chamomile and Whiskey take the stage, then ’80s enthusiasts The Legwarmers close the show. Bring […]

Chloë Ester

Sometimes you’re in the mood for that mysterious alchemy of nostalgia and masochism that drives you to read your high school journal entries, love letters from exes, or hometown obituaries—searching for a good kind of sadness, a pain that reminds you of how precious and fleeting this life can be. And along comes Chloë Ester. […]

Bit Brigade

Old-school button-mashers and new-gen emulator kids alike can get behind Bit Brigade, musical purveyors of driving NES game soundtrack covers. They’ve powered up 8-bit classics into rockin’ renditions for more than 10 years, and they’re marching into town to boost your HP with full versions of “The Legend of Zelda” and “Castlevania.” The concert doubles […]

Mentor and student unite in artistic dialogue at Les Yeux du Monde

Artists Isabelle Abbot and Barbara Campbell Thomas met when Abbot was a student in the MFA program at UNC Greensboro where Thomas was a professor. Thomas became an important mentor to Abbot, helping her achieve a looser, freer painting style and chairing her thesis committee. “Influence + Conversation” at Les Yeux du Monde reunites the […]

Robert Earl Keen in the HotSeat

Hailing from the Lone Star State, Robert Earl Keen has honed his craft as one of Texas’ most accomplished singer-songwriters over the past three decades. With 21 records and thousands of concerts on his resume, REK’s poetic musings delivered through Americana melodies have impacted audiences far and wide. We put the country-western crooner in the […]

“Beauty and the Beast JR.”

DMR Adventures, a performing arts center for kids, has been making magic since 2009. This summer’s production of Beauty and the Beast JR. features 80 children performing in a downsized adaptation of the fan favorite Disney Princess movie. Join the French soirée to sing “Be Our Guest” along with lively Lumiere and timely Cogsworth, and […]