At age 84, Del McCoury is still in the business of bluegrass. An award-winning singer and guitarist, McCoury entered the music scene in the ‘60s, when he joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys before going on to found the Del McCoury Band. The ensemble, which includes McCoury’s sons Ronnie and Rob on mandolin and banjo, […]
At age 84, Del McCoury is still in the business of bluegrass. An award-winning singer and guitarist, McCoury entered the music scene in the ‘60s, when he joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys before going on to found the Del McCoury Band. The ensemble, which includes McCoury’s sons Ronnie and Rob on mandolin and banjo, […]
Formed in 2015 by songwriter Patrick Taylor, Trash Panda draws on elements of neo-psychedelia, soul, indie rock, and pop oncrowd-favorites “Aging Out of the 20th Century,” “Off,” and “Check Please.” Best friends Jade Long and Jessica Thompson of co-headliner Hotel Fiction blend dynamic vocals and piano with guitar and soft harmonies on Soft Focus, its […]
Get ready for a night of head-banging with indie rockers Work Wear. The three-piece makes ’80s-inflected garage rock, and is known for enmeshing poetry readings, piercing guitar solos, and psych influences on songs like “Refrigerator Eyes” and “One Day Away.” Work Wear co-headlines with acts from New York—folk-rock power trio The Big Net, and “achy […]
Following her show-stopping success last summer as Nina Simone in No Fear and Blues Long Gone, Yolanda Rabun returns to the Virginia Theatre Festival for a special evening of stories and song. Backed by her band, Rabun takes audience members on a musical journey through jazz, blues, folk, pop, gospel, and more. The powerhouse vocalist, […]
Jam out with fellow local rockers at a record release party for Ark Of Mark, the latest project of Charlottesville native Mark Coffman. The full-length record, Still Defined By You, fuses alternative rock, folk, and jazz, resulting in a unique sound that combines classical composure with improvised instrumental intermezzos. The songs, which were recorded inside […]
A love of klezmer, blues, and bluegrass brought the San Francisco Yiddish Combo together. Led by cellist Rebecca Roudman, the quintet incorporates elements of jazz, folk, klezmer, and hip-hop into its lively performances of Jewish, and non-Jewish, musical traditions. The show begins with an informal dance lesson, and audience members can enjoy light hors d’oeuvres […]
Seattle-based sextet The Head and the Heart conveys a spectrum of emotion on its fifth studio album, Every Shade of Blue. The record’s 16 songs showcase the band’s sonic evolution, infusing catchy pop into its signature indie-folk sound, from the highs of “Tiebreaker” to the anthemic swell of “Virginia (Wind in the Night).” The record’s […]
Enjoy moonlight tunes and sunset views at Starry Nights, Veritas’ outdoor concert series. Set up your tents and blankets, stock up on local wine, and head to the stage, where the Wil Gravatt Band performs high-energy country and Western honky-tonk. Pack your own picnic, or grab tickets for a seated three-course plated dinner, or choose […]
American bluegrass band Nickel Creek first performed together as children at a pizza parlor in San Diego in 1989. The trio of mandolinist Chris Thile, violinist Sara Watkins, and guitarist Sean Watkins has since released seven albums, won a Grammy, and been credited with helping revolutionize folk and roots music. The Celebrants is the band’s […]
Under the mononym L’Rain, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Taja Cheek performs music rooted in R&B, jazz, noise, and pop. Her sophomore album, Fatigue, blends hauntingly delicate vocals with an array of keyboard and synth, and incorporates manipulated samples and voice memos in the production. The record “is an exploration of the simultaneity of human emotions … […]