The opening track to Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ Give the People What They Want is the burning and brassy “Retreat!” Nominally, it’s a song about the fury of a woman scorned, and Jones sings it masterfully, filling her vocal barbs with impassioned invective. But for Sharon Jones, the song has a deeper, unintended meaning. […]
The opening track to Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ Give the People What They Want is the burning and brassy “Retreat!” Nominally, it’s a song about the fury of a woman scorned, and Jones sings it masterfully, filling her vocal barbs with impassioned invective. But for Sharon Jones, the song has a deeper, unintended meaning. […]
A recreational choir, started by amateur singers around a coffee shop piano, shouldn’t last 30 years. The demands of everyday life and the challenges of finding new members simply shouldn’t allow it. But don’t tell that to the ladies of the Charlottesville Women’s Choir. “It has evolved,” said Estelle Phillips, who’s been with the group […]
With a world tour, televised concert, and Guinness World Record title (as The World’s Youngest Solo Musician to Headline His Own Tour), you’d think Ethan Bortnick had decades of musical experience under his belt. At only 13 years old, the singer, composer, pianist, and entertainer is a precocious talent. Guaranteed to wow audiences, Bortnick’s show […]
If you’re longing for the high energy of swank New Orleans, then spend an evening with the Chickenhead Blues Band. The five-man ensemble delivers classic blues with a funky twist and is sure to get the boogie-woogie going. Vibrant bass chords play jauntily with blissful notes of the sax, creating a musical experience hopping full […]
Like Playskool figures come to life, The Village People emerged on the disco scene in 1977, and by the following year the entire country was singing and mimicking the vocal group’s famous “Y.M.C.A.” moves. An act derived from the gay culture of Greenwich Village, the group formed when Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo spotted a […]
In the third performance of the five-part Bach’s Lunch series, Angela Kelly and Johanna Beaver unite for a meditative midday respite. Melding the flute’s soft, subtle tones with the viola’s deep, mellow sounds, Kelly and Beaver combine their talents, offering some passion-filled lunchtime downtime to break up your busy day. Bring your lunch or buy […]
Sometimes there’s nothing more enjoyable than listening to a cool cat pound out the mellow beats of classic jazz, and nobody does it better than Charles Owens. Fully embracing the blues traditions of the 1930s, the exceptional saxophonist teams up with drummer Devone Harris and bassist Andrew Randazzo to perform smooth riffs of dreamy jazz […]
Providence, Rhode Island’s Deer Tick has become the darling of the alternative-rock world, and while the press may have difficulty labeling the band (a certification of indie cred), Rolling Stone, USA Today, and even The Wall Street Journal have showered the group with accolades. Led by singer and guitarist John McCauley, the septet channels Nashville […]
Willie Watson, formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show, is turning to the South to help build some momentum for his new solo act. “We wanted to hit certain markets right off the bat,” Watson told C-VILLE Weekly in a recent phoner. “The South is sort of the hotbed of my fan base.” Watson will likely […]
Charlottesville’s young art forces cut loose for the third installment of Revel, a festive fundraiser that pulls out all the stops and reaches across philanthropic boundaries. With proceeds benefiting The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, the bill boasts “experiences” along with cocktails, an experimental auction, and a performance by We Are Star Children. Bid to win […]