Chris Smither has maintained a steady presence as an underground folk icon for the past five decades. His unassuming delivery offers rustic comfort, as he sings in a relaxed, weathered tenor that’s accompanied by front porch foot-tapping and blues-rooted finger-picking. Smither grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana but he left home in 1965 to join […]
Chris Smither has maintained a steady presence as an underground folk icon for the past five decades. His unassuming delivery offers rustic comfort, as he sings in a relaxed, weathered tenor that’s accompanied by front porch foot-tapping and blues-rooted finger-picking. Smither grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana but he left home in 1965 to join […]
Eugene Hütz is a poet in any language. Speaking in his heavily accented English, his words pop. They have weight. They hit you like distorted riffs. Ask Hütz if his band Gogol Bordello’s exhaustive touring schedule takes its toll, for example, and he finds the perfect analogy. “Listen, this is like asking people that are […]
Don’t ask her for a love song. Grammy-nominated piano pop superstar Sara Bareilles’ upbeat confessionals have sold out shows nationwide for over a decade. Born and raised in California, she now adds 2013’s The Blessed Unrest, recorded with an all-new backup band, to an edgy pop-rock repertoire brimming with jazz and soul influences. Saturday, 7/12. $35-65, […]
Every once in a while there’s reason to get out of town and enjoy the surrounding beauty. This week’s prime option is the Red Wing Roots Music Festival, a three-day gathering loaded with jazz, country, rock, bluegrass, or hip-hop all pieced together by the Steel Wheels who host the annual family-friendly fest in the gorgeous […]
Five years ago, Bombadil was a band with a bright future. The band was mentored by Dolph Ramseur, whose Ramseur Records is home to The Avett Brothers and The Carolina Chocolate Drops, two of the country’s biggest roots music acts. Its rigorous touring routine built the band a considerable nationwide fanbase. Big festivals like Bonnaroo […]
Philly’s punk-influenced rock outfit The Extraordinaires take their art seriously. From the quirky intelligent songwriting to the thoughtful limited edition packaging of albums wrapped in silkscreened artwork, accompanied by hand bound storybooks, the band lives a DIY aesthetic—and they get local cred because the new release Dress For Nasty Weather features print work from C’ville-based […]
Dance the night away to acoustic blues that swing from Elizabeth Wise and the Shoo Flies. Richmond native Wise updates old classics with funky folk overtones and her smooth vocals run the gamut from soothing to tearing down the bar. This is heat that you can’t escape, so kick your boots up to rollicking original […]
Accomplished local jazz musician John D’earth says people get too hung up on what is music and what isn’t music. Kids, for example, don’t need to play an instrument properly to be making music. They just need to be making noise. If you’re too square for that jive, Suzanne Thorpe and Bonnie Jones are ready […]
“The Struggle” by Grizfolk Smell the roses When five musicians from different parts of the globe meet in a Southern California beach town, the serendipity results in Grizfolk, a band whose music embraces the essence of discovery. Lyrically reflecting on the spirit of travel, the band takes audiences on a journey through hardship and joy […]
Summer would be incomplete without a high-energy, foot stomping country concert, and The Whiskey Gentry is up to the task. In 2009, husband and wife duo Lauren Staley and Jason Morrow teamed up to form an innovative bluegrass band. Soulful vocals, punk-inspired beats, and lively performances define the group of talented musicians as pioneers in […]