ARTS Pick: People’s Blues of Richmond

Founded during a time of grief, People’s Blues of Richmond is a band that oozes with emotion. Co-founders Tim Beavers and Matt Volkes were mourning the loss of a friend when they began playing and writing songs together, eventually resulting in 2013’s Good Time Suicide. Tracks such as “Cocaine” and “Black Cat” define the band’s […]

ARTS Pick: Cole Swindell

With the 2013 hit single “Chillin’ It,” Cole Swindell went from a tiny town celebrity to a growing star. He got his first break in Nashville by writing tracks for his Sigma Chi brother Luke Bryan and went on to pen tunes for Thomas Rhett and Scotty McCreery. When Swindell began to write and sing […]

ARTS Pick: Full Moon Saloon

Named after a bar in Florida that inspired Jimmy Buffet to write his songs, local cover band Full Moon Saloon is gaining notoriety and stacking up the gigs, including a recent Fridays After Five appearance. Since forming in 2000, FMS has had Parrotheads and reggae fans alike eating out of its musical hand as the […]

ARTS Pick: Ry Cooder

Decades after laying down licks for Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, Ry Cooder remains unobtrusively prolific as a slide guitarist and an album producer. His work with Buena Vista Social Club and Ali Farka Touré has added Grammy Awards to his shelf, while collaborations with The Rolling Stones, Lowell George, Van Morrison and Judy Collins […]

ARTS Pick: Drew Gibson

Alt-country singer-songwriter Drew Gibson proves that home is where his heart is on the new album, 1532. Drawing on family history, the finger-picking guitarist proves his talent as a storyteller though a mosaic of memorable events turned into song. The tracks convey the hardships in Gibson’s life from an uncle’s battle with leukemia to family […]

ARTS Pick: Tildon Krautz

Husband and wife team Gregg Weiss and Gabi Swiatkowska lead the French quartet Tildon Krautz. The former Brooklynites have formed what is essentially a string band, creating music that borders on roots and folk, dipping into some jazz and blues with an arsenal of vocal abilities from the childlike soprano of Swiatkowska to the deep […]

ARTS Pick: Math the Band

Math the Band launched in Providence, Rhode Island, but has amassed a large cult following beyond the small state. Known for live sets driven by energetic tunes from DIY electronic instruments and relatable lyrics with a classic punk aesthetic, the duo’s performances leave the crowd exhausted but high on passion. Tuesday 8/11. $8, 8:30pm. Twisted Branch […]

ARTS Pick: A Prairie Home Companion

For 41 years A Prairie Home Companion has delivered folksy humor, top musical talent and irreverent commentary led by Garrison Keillor. The radio show comes to life on stage with the America the Beautiful tour, and while Keillor has announced he will retire by 2017 you can still see him, along with Fred Newman, Sue […]

ARTS Pick: Jaguardini

Sampling rhythms and beats from video games, dub reggae, house and synth-pop, Jaguardini is set to roar. The Harrisonburg-based collective treats music like a science project, experimenting with a variety of so-called instruments including a 1988 Game Boy and a vocoder. The band has gained notoriety with song titles like “Electric Jesus” and “Pulchritude in […]