When Ivar Aass moved to Charlottesville six years ago, he had one purpose in mind: distill high quality spirits. And at Spirit Lab Distilling, the distillery he runs with his wife, he does just that. From a bare bones warehouse facility on 6th St. SE, Aass distills tiny batches of spirits that already have a […]
Psychedelic soul and rugged vocals hearten The Marcus King Band as it spreads folksy feels everywhere from small-town gigs to big-city venues. Frontman King grew up playing the blues alongside his father in Greenville, South Carolina, and has grown to love music as an outlet to process his feelings. He explains that each song he […]
Ten years have flown by for the Futurebirds. And from the group’s formation in 2008 in Athens, Georgia, to its current headlining tour, the band’s psychedelic rock flair lands it in a unique space. The group announced a list of anniversary gigs with a nod to fans: “Because of you beautiful angel-faced saint babies, we’ve […]
To understand the music of composer David Dominique, shuffle a playlist that features Charles Mingus, Sun Ra Arkestra, and Igor Stravinsky, then add in a few tracks from Sonic Youth. Known for his rhythmically complex and emotionally provocative avant-garde compositions, the Richmond-based William & Mary professor is so versatile that his work ranges from writing […]
The Latin Ballet of Virginia’s NuYoRican is a visual love letter to Hispanic culture. The contemporary production tells the story of Puerto Rican immigrants arriving in New York City in the 1940s, and the challenges they faced as well as the bonds they created while establishing roots in a new country. Under the artistic direction […]
With an open palm, Teri Greeves gestures to a handful of small, intricately beaded Kiowa Indian cradleboards lined up inside a glass display case. Kiowa Indians are known for their abstract beadwork motifs, she tells the small crowd that’s gathered to hear her speak at The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia. […]
It’s unfortunate that movies about exceptional people usually end up being so conventional. Queen was a band that defied expectations and broke down barriers, redefining what a rock band could be, and Freddie Mercury is not only one of history’s greatest frontmen but an icon for the alienated, particularly for LGBTQ fans. Bohemian Rhapsody, meanwhile, […]
Attention, folks: Sam Reider had little more than an accordion, a dream, and his senior year thesis as he drifted from gig to gig, doing research and transforming the American folk genre as he went. Reider settled down to make his first album, Too Hot to Sleep, with collaborative project The Human Hands, a group […]
Fan fare: Twenty-five years after Guster formed on the Tufts University campus, the band continues to evolve musically. From the acoustic melodies of 1995’s Parachute to the vibrating bass and hazy vocals of 2018’s “Hard Times,” the group has grown up while retaining its knack for stage humor and infectious melodies. The band announced a new, […]
Art stop and shop: Charlottesville’s creative community has much to show off year-round, but no one can see it all. ARTCHO makes an effort to cram lots of talent into one big festival, featuring 44 creators of all mediums, from the nautical fashion of Maxime Connor to Lori Jakubow’s brightly colored prints. Everything’s for sale, and […]