Inside the sound: Duo Grand Banks takes its improv to the masses

You can’t cover a Grand Banks song. Don’t even think about it. It’s not a question of chops or instrumental know-how. It’s about the unique relationship between the two musicians in the band, the growth of their friendship over the years and their approach to making sound together. “If somebody asks me what Grand Banks […]

ARTS Pick: All Them Witches

While Nashville is known for its storied history of country music, that doesn’t stop All Them Witches from blowing up jazz-funk jams on the local stages. With an attitude that defies its geography, the band absorbs the vibe of places traveled and channels it into longplay epics like “El Centro” on the new album, made […]

ARTS Pick: DJ Sir RJ’s Thanksgiving Afterparty

When the last slice of pie is in crumbles, and the final quarter winds down on the game, skip the La-Z-Boy kickback and get movin’ with DJ Sir RJ’s Thanksgiving Afterparty. Hip-hop grooves hosted by Blacko & Sunshine are the gravy on a night of boogie from the ’ville with a second helping of music […]

Tune up: A new generation of concert bookers finds its niche

“A valence bond is when atoms are held together by the electrons they share. It seemed really fitting for how music events can bring community members together through the things they share,” says Katie Wood, describing her new endeavor, Valence Shows. Under this moniker, Wood is one of the newest live music bookers in town. Wood’s […]

ARTS Pick: Sarah Burton

After exploring forms ranging from acoustic folk to electric bluesy rock, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Sarah Burton revisited her original muse, the piano, on her latest indie-pop album. Burton’s fourth release, Make Your Own Bed, features clever wordplay and powerful, balanced instrumentals while reflecting her inimitable style—equal parts soulful and sassy. Saturday 11/21. Free, 9pm. Tin Whistle Irish […]

ARTS Pick: Dave Rawlings Machine

Rousing Americana-folk duo Dave Rawlings Machine fuses elements of traditional bluegrass with modern R&B, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll flavor. Rawlings and his longtime musical partner, Gillian Welch (who performed on and helped to produce the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou?), compel audiences with simple arrangements combined with innovative and hypnotic […]

Party of three: The stirring transformation of David Wax Museum

On Sunday, November 22, smack dab in the middle of a grueling East Coast stint on a national tour, David Wax Museum will return home to play the Southern. Fronted by husband and wife duo David Wax (guitar/vocals) and Suz Slezak (violin/vocals), the band will play songs from its new album, Guest House. As a […]

Guiding the conflict: Shakey Graves chooses his battles

For many musicians, entering the music industry is like going to war. It’s a do or die field that’s filled with unpredictable circumstances and survival rates. Creativity requires constant combat and prosperity that comes through popularity, with legions of fans dictating the victories. It’s not far-fetched to say that Austin, Texas-based Shakey Graves is triumphing […]

ARTS Pick: Stevie Wonder

Few musicians have been as profound in touching the lives of multiple generations and cultures in the way that Stevie Wonder has. Signed to Motown at age 11, Wonder has been prolific in penning masterful tunes by way of the piano for more than 50 years, and holds multiple credits for harmonica playing on his […]

ARTS Pick: Bach Comes to America: Virginia’s Baroque Heritage

The namesake of a colonial route that once spanned much of Central Virginia, Three Notch’d Road: The Charlottesville Baroque Ensemble was founded in 2011 by local period instrumentalists. The group performs Bach Comes to America: Virginia’s Baroque Heritage featuring guest artists Jessica Petrus (soprano) and Peter Walker (bagpiper and bassist) as part of the Music […]