Break loose: Local singer-songwriter Silas Frayser formed a sound that rests between acoustic beach rock and folk rock. His 2021 EP, The Silas Frayser Band, features emotive vocals, catchy picking, and lyrics that deserve a second listen. The guitarist’s duo provides the smooth tunes needed for a stress-free night following Pandemonium Day—a day for letting […]
Break loose: Local singer-songwriter Silas Frayser formed a sound that rests between acoustic beach rock and folk rock. His 2021 EP, The Silas Frayser Band, features emotive vocals, catchy picking, and lyrics that deserve a second listen. The guitarist’s duo provides the smooth tunes needed for a stress-free night following Pandemonium Day—a day for letting […]
David Sickmen and The Hackensaw Boys have been a lot of things to a lot of people over their two-decade run. But they’ve never forgotten where they’re from. “When we go out in the world, I still say the band is from Charlottesville,” Sickmen says. “Charlottesville was a magical place in the mid-’90s and into […]
Pop-noir: New Jersey-bred singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins captured the romance and danger of the Jersey Shore’s sprawling boardwalk with psych-rock grooves, girl-group melodrama, and a bit of honky-tonk on her 2020 release Italian Ice. Not ready to let the sounds of summer go, a year later Atkins released Memphis Ice—a stripped-down, cabaret-style reimagining of the songs […]
Do-Re-Mi: The hills are alive with The Sound of Music. The Charlottesville Opera, directed by Cara Consilvio, brings to life the beloved true story of Maria and the von Trapp family with grand vocals and compelling emotion. Accompanied by a live orchestra directed by Michael Slon, the production stars Branch Fields as Captain von Trapp, […]
A wild calling: In quintessential Virginia fashion, Wild Common came together as a band in a country farmhouse. The crew of friends wanted to make music that let everyone “bring in our own traditions, our own styles, musical genres, and then see what came out of it,” says guitarist Brennan Gilmore. They came to rest […]
Mapping the journey: The road wasn’t easy for Jeremy Joyce, but it was formative. The musician grew up on indie rock and alt-country in his hometown of Philadelphia, before the death of his brother drove him to New York and jazz. He found psychedelic folk and rockabilly after a stint in St. Louis, until he […]
Gut-buster: We all get bent out of shape sometimes, so give yourself a chance to work it out through a few belly laughs at Bent Theatre Comedy’s improv night. The comedy crew has kept central Virginia laughing with uproarious improv shows and workshops since 2004. The troupe’s improv nights typically feature a series of short […]
By Samantha Federico darzo Single Cell (self-released) Adar Seligman-McComas is darzo. Over the past two years, the band had a name change and Seligman-McComas went solo, yet darzo held on to release its debut record. The eight-track, 30-minute Single Cell packs a powerful punch in a swell of horns and drums that complement Seligman-McComas’ vocals. […]
Fare thee well: Hear ye, hear ye, ‘tis time for merriment and revelry galore, as the Fae Festival is nigh upon us. Meander through a medieval market, where vendors display their wares, and witness demos and workshops from Raptor Hill Falconry, The Amethyst Cauldron Witch Crafts, and more. Feast on a fine selection of food […]
Stay positive: Andy Grammer’s head-bobbing pop anthems go hard on the radio, and even harder on stage. The multi-platinum artist is currently on The Art of Joy Tour, where he performs earworms like “Honey, I’m Good,” “Fine By Me,” and “Keep Your Head Up ‘’ with contagious energy. On Naïve, an encouraging, spiritual pop record, […]