ARTS Pick: Hall and Oates

A group as legendary as Hall and Oates really needs no introduction. For nearly four decades, the Philadelphia duo has been belting out smooth melodies coupled with quick-riffed guitars, and their unwavering commitment to style and inspiration has produced countless hits including “Kiss On My List,” “Rich Girl,” and “Maneater.” Their soul-soaked groove has influenced generations […]

ARTS Pick: Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival

If pop songs are the texts of the music world, then surely chamber music works are its literary masterpieces, and you can appreciate them fully at the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival. Hosted by the Virginia Chamber Music Foundation, the seven-day celebration provides incredible renditions of classical pieces performed by a variety of local expert musicians. […]

ARTS Pick: Jon Pardi

Nashville may be the capital of country, but the music of Jon Pardi proves that country and western are still a potent mix. Staying true to a classic Southern twang, the California-born musician delights with traditional riffs on acoustic guitars, banjos, and fiddles. His narratives are rich with the trials of human experience, and coupled […]

Yonder Mountain String Band looks ahead to new record

Yonder Mountain String Band hasn’t produced a full-length record since 2009. It’s the longest stretch that the band’s gone without an LP since it formed in 1998. If that news isn’t bad enough for fans, now this: Founding member, mandolin player and vocalist Jeff Austin split with YMSB in April. When Yonder plays the Jefferson […]

ARTS Pick: Cheap Whiskey

The words Cheap Whiskey don’t usually go well together, but if they’re referring to Nelson Johnson and his band of Southern rockers, then it’s a welcome combination. The group embraces a medley of styles, dabbling in rock, country, and blues to deliver performances high energy performances. And despite the name, the hard drivin’ tunes go […]

ARTS Pick: Sensations’ Fix

For more than three decades, the obscure Italian band Sensations’ Fix has been pleasing audiences with its energetic brand of progressive electronic rock. Success lies in the group’s original mix of genres, blending shrill electric chords with a psychedelic rhythm in a unique sound entirely its own. Not only does SF stand the test of […]

ARTS Pick: Justin Moore

It’s no surprise that the die-hard fans of classic country crave the music of Justin Moore. He gives them exactly what they want—a heavy dose of guitar twangin’, buckle shinin’, boot hitchin’ good ol’ boy culture. By refusing to water down his sound, Moore holds steadfast to tradition, focusing his lyrics on the themes and […]

ARTS Pick: Karen Jonas

Though Oklahoma Lottery is Karen Jonas’ debut recording, the album has been touted by critics as refined, polished, and sophisticated—a rare combination for an artist’s freshman effort. Jones is a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, but her tone and approach are straight out of Nashville, Tennessee with stylistic nods to country greats like Willie Nelson and […]

ARTS Pick: Tina and Her Pony

The wonderful tunes of Tina and Her Pony prove that not everything needs to be modernized in the 21st century. The Ohio duo sticks to the basics, producing amazing folk music from simple guitars, banjos, and cellos. Each song tells the story of a true experience and explores the themes and emotions found in the […]