ARTS Pick: Festival of Cultures

The Charlottesville Festival of Cultures may be the simplest way to learn about the world. With more than 30 countries represented by local citizens and organizations, the event offers a glimpse into the art, food, music and languages in our diverse community. Saturday 5/14. Free, 10am. Lee Park, Market Street and Second Street NE. festivalofcultures.org.

Living Picks: To-do this week

Family     Family Art JAM Jacob Lawrence’s Struggle: From the History of the American People is the inspiration for kids ages 8-14 to collaborate with adults on art and discussion. Saturday, 5/14. Free, reservations required. Fralin Museum of Art at UVA, 155 Rugby Rd. 243-2050. Nonprofit Mister G benefit concert Latin Grammy Award-winner Mister G plays a […]

ARTS Pick: Midnight Snack

Asheville, North Carolina’s Midnight Snack rips open a set of melodious, psychedelic rock to support the Music Resource Center. The band will hang out late with those who can’t get enough of the Know Good Beer festival and take over the stage for an after-party benefit show. Saturday, 5/14. Free, 8pm. IX Art Park, 963 Second St. […]

Traditions continue at Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Showcase

“I see apprenticeships as a crucial part of keeping folk traditions alive,” says Jack Dunlap, a mandolin player who is part of the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Showcase. In the program’s most recent class, Dunlap worked with master musician Danny Knicely. Together, they composed and recorded a bluegrass album titled Chop Shred and Split: A Mandolin Player’s […]

ARTS Pick: Gina Sobel

Multifaceted singer and musician Gina Sobel brings a unique, vibrant energy to the stage. With her melodic voice and the twinge of funk, jazz and improv present in her music, she earns the warm accolades put forth by BolderBeat, “…listening to Gina Sobel [and her band] feels like a mid-summer celebration-—you can almost feel the […]

Dave Matthews Band celebrates 25 years with hometown fans

The Dave Matthews Band played its first gig at a private party held on the roof of a downtown Charlottesville warehouse in May of 1991. On Saturday, DMB will play a sold-out show at John Paul Jones Arena and kick off its 25th anniversary summer tour, which includes 48 dates in almost as many cities, […]

ARTS Pick: Allison Miller

Frenetic drummer and composer Allison Miller began playing the drums at age 10, before studying music performance and going on to collaborate and record with the likes of Norah Jones, Michael Feinstein and Mimi Fox. The New York-based percussionist is on a nationwide tour with her band, Boom Tic Boom, and spotlighting releases from the […]

ARTS Pick: M. Ward

Indie-rock poster boy M. Ward touts his new record, More Rain, as a doo-wop effort that offers collaboration with Neko Case, k.d. lang, Peter Buck, The Secret Sisters and NRBQ’s Joey Spampinato. The songwriter is frequently on the playlist through his work with others, be it his side project She & Him with Zooey Deschanel […]

ARTS Pick: The Travelin’ McCourys

McCoury talent runs deep. Brothers Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob (banjo) spearhead the modern bluegrass ensemble The Travelin’ McCourys, joined by Jason Carter on the fiddle and Alan Bartram slapping the bass. After a stop in Charlottesville, the foursome hits the road for DelFest, a Maryland-based festival named after Grammy Award-winning bluegrass musician Del McCoury, who […]

Sunny Ortiz of Widespread Panic on what’s next after 30 years

Widespread Panic is celebrating 30 years as one of America’s preeminent party bands. Holding the record for sold-out performances at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (48) and selling more than 3 million albums, the well-oiled machine comes to the nTelos Wireless Pavilion on April 28. Texas-born Sunny Ortiz has been WSP’s percussionist since the band’s genesis […]