Music Stories

FunStuff: Charlottesville events May 31 and beyond

lisa — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:40:21 +0000

Final First Friday at the Gallery
The accounting firm of Hampton and Everett has doubled as a gallery and opened its sweet office space at 107 5th Street SE for the past seven years, showing artists' works and selling them sans commission. But now they're moving, so this is the last chance to check out a First Friday reception at the Gallery. On display: bold colors by Anne Holland ("Crab Pickers" pictured) and Jenny Budd.
–>June 1, the Gallery at 5th and Water, 5:30 to 8pm, free

Ar-t-shirts
Artifacts owner Todd Hill started painting with friend Rollin Taylor. They added to each other's works and were so pleased with the results that they came up with an artistic entity called RTH using their combined initials. And RTH is launching a line of t-shirts with original designs that uses dye sublimated printing, which permeates the whole fabric, not just the surface. Their sale at the 111 4th Street NE shop kicks off with a First Fridays launch party, but Hill says it's an artistic rather than commercial endeavor.
–>June 1, Artifacts, 6 to 8pm, free

Indie folk?
When we hear a band described with the f-word, we sure don't expect to hear the rocking tunes of The Drowning Men, or titles like their album, Beheading of the Songbird. Yet the San Diego Reader describes their music as a blend of "folk and roots Americana with sing-along sea shanties and pirate chants, with side forays into Eastern European ethnic folk delivered with the rhythmic complexity of a Brecht-Weill opera." And they've toured with Flogging Molly. The Drowning Men have a new album, All of the Unknown, coming out in July, and they're playing with River City Extension.
–>June 1, The Southern, 8pm, $10 advance

Free fishin'
In case you haven't gotten your fishing license, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is offering a freebie for the weekend: go fish anywhere in the Commonwealth, except for those trout-stocked waters that require a special license. Sounds like fish for dinner.
–>June 1-3, your favorite fishing hole, free

United Nations of Comedy
Charlottesville must like Funnyman Skiba, because this is the second time the Washingtonian has been here in six months. He's host of the United Nations of Comedy series, which is based on the nutty idea that laughter can promote diversity and understanding. Skiba is a three-time all-star on BET's Comic View and cohosts the Raheem DeVaughn radio show.
–>June 2, Play On! Theater at Ix, 8pm and 9:30pm, $18

The British are coming
Charlottesville turns 250 years old this year, and the Virginia Festival of History is one part of the 50 celebratory activities planned throughout the year. The Festival of History, which began May 25, runs through June 3 and has 25 scholars lined up to talk about Charlottesville's wars, civil rights battles, architecture, religion, and culture, with an emphasis on living history. On Sunday, Court Square and Lee Park will be the scene of a reenactment of the British invasion of 1781. Music by the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Choir.
–>June 3, Lee Park, 10am-4pm, free

Best in show
Unlike the Westminster dog show, at Eastminster, you don't have to have a champion thoroughbred pooch. Prizes are awarded for best costume, best trick, best rescue, and best owner or celebrity look-a-like. Or maybe musical chairs is your canine's forte. This is the 25th Eastminster and donations go to the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA. Owners and observers can wear costumes, too. Registration begins at 4pm.
–>June 3, Keswick Hunt Club, 5pm, donations

Look3
It's a festival time of year, and the Festival of the Photograph kicks off June 6 with a chat with National Geographic underwater photographer David Doubilet, whose work already adorns the Downtown Mall trees. Free exhibits of photographers like Stanley Green are all over town (Green is at 306 E. Main Street). And Friday and Saturday nights at the nTelos Pavilion, the photographs of professionals and up-and-comers will be projected starting at 9pm.
–>June 6, David Doubilet at the Paramount, 7:30pm, $15

Woman sing
Since 1984, the Charlottesville Women's Choir has been singing songs of peace, social justice, and the environment– a cappella. Holly Near, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Annie Lennox are among the musicians they'll cover, along with a few traditional tunes. Proceeds from this Sunday afternoon concert at downtown's day-shelter go to Urban Agricultural Cooperative of Charlottesville, which helps subsidized housing residents with their gardening skills.
–>June 3, The Haven, 4:30pm, $5-15 suggested donation

Last transit of Venus
From Earth it will appear to be a tiny dot making its way across the surface of the sun. The transit of Venus is extraordinarily rare– a pair of them occur eight years apart, and then it's another hundred years before it happens again. (That means you and I won't be around to see the next one in December 2117.) JMU's John C. Wells Planetarium is making the most of the occasion, bringing out the telescopes and sun-safe glasses, and encouraging picnicking while Venus watching. Clouds don't cancel– the event moves inside for a webcast from Hawaii.
–>June 5, Astronomy Park in Harrisonburg, 6pm, free

Smooth things over
With this jazz ensemble, smooth is the name of the game, as jaunty keyboards and soft strings predominate, and we couldn't find any tracks that include vocals. Remember the opening theme of the classic television sitcom Taxi? That's what we thought of when hearing "Tailgating," one of the original compositions by the Larri Branch Agenda. Maybe you'll put them on your Saturday night agenda, when they'll play jazz standards and songs from their Labragenda release.
–>June 9, Fellini's #9, 10pm, $5

This week's "FunStuff" was compiled by Lisa Provence, and next week's "FunStuff" will be compiled by another newsroom staffer. To get your event considered, send a press release to event@readthehook.com.

Image-unconcious: tUnE-yArDs moves past the body

Justin Cober-Lake — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:04:53 +0000

In 2011, tUnE-yArDs received the album of the year award for w h o k i l l in the Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop poll, which compiles the votes of about 700 music writers. Primary figure Merrill Garbus combined folk, Afrobeat, hip-hop, soul, and rock into something strange and assertive.

After her lo-fi debut BiRd-BrAiNs, she moved to Oakland (a city “ripe for artistic fodder” according to Garbus), added a bassist, and got into a studio. While tackling political concerns, body image issues, and systemic cultural problems, she managed to take all this commotion to the stage, drawing on her background in theater and puppetry, with the intersection of songwriting and performance as an important part of her art.

In a recent telephone interview, Garbus explains that performing live, including the improvisational elements, influenced the recording of w h o k i l l. She's invested in the idea that “a show is specific only to one moment,” as she puts it.

“It's been important to keep that in-the-moment-ness when recording," she says. "Those are the recordings that are the most long-lasting, the ones where you feel like you're really capturing one moment in time, and being in the raw reality of things.”

That raw reality frequently deals with sex, violence, and dysphoria, and Garbus has to deliver that challenging content to her audience in an intimate setting. In “Powa” she sings about “your power inside” before using more suggestive descriptions and tying sex to the violence of bombs and personal degradation. In bringing such material to the stage, Garbus says, “I have this mask of the performer. It's not my heart bared; it's my performance art. It's not my diary. I am a professional in that way– like I'm a dentist, except I happen to be on stage.”

For someone who's dealt with eating disorders, there's a challenge to present not only her feelings, but her body to a crowd looking at her. Garbus has gained some comfort.

“I realized I'm way more uncomfortable in my body in my normal life than I am on stage,” she says. “If I think too much about what a woman performer is supposed to be in our culture, I can go on a large head-trip about the whole thing. More and more I've just gotten so much love and support from my family and friends, and also the world, that there's nothing wrong with me.”

She also realizes that she can't let these issues keep her from her vision.

“I have work to do in the world,” Garbus explains, “and obsessing about what's imperfect about me is time taken away from work I can be doing in the world.”

This work of translating these heady, intense ideas into her art poses a challenge, and while Garbus seems like a natural performer at this point, that wasn't always the case. Doing theater and puppeteering provided her with a place to develop the skills she would need for her current mission.

“From high school, when I started being in plays, from that moment onwards, I changed from a very shy person who could hardly speak in public without turning bright red and feeling a lot of shame to someone who talks about her body-image issues with a stranger on the phone,” she says. “A huge part of my life has been transformed by being comfortable with being in front of people.”

With tUnE-yArDs, Garbus continues to discuss power structures and explore all her musical influences, from Africa to Oakland. It's a matter of converting both the personal and the political into a sound that's surprising and exciting, even if, as Garbus says, “There are no puppets in our show– yet.”
~
tUnE-yArDs performs Tuesday, June 5 at the Jefferson Theater. Doors open at 8pm with the show opening at 9pm with Mariachi El Bronx as the opener. Tickets are $17.

Indie artist: Musical Oldham finally tackles film acting

Dave McNair — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:25:53 +0000

Local musician Ned Oldham's artistic journey has been a quirky and interesting one–- punk rocker, psychedelic groove maker, college and middle school teacher, writing center director, folk singer and songwriter, freelance journalist, restaurant reviewer, and now: film actor.

Last year, Oldham, 44, disappeared to shoot a film in Baltimore called I Used to Be Darker, in which he plays a musician whose marriage is unraveling. His music is also featured in the film, directed by Matt Porterfield, an independent film maker who has been garnering the praise of film critics since his 2006 debut film Hamilton. Indeed, the New Yorker's Richard Brody called Hamilton "one of the most original, moving, and accomplished American independent films in recent years." Brody was equally as enthusiastic about Porterfield's 2010 film Putty Hill, saying it was shot with "breathtaking formal ingenuity and a rapturous eye."

"The cinematography is beautiful," says Oldham, who admits that he had never acted in a film before. " I think it's a great screenplay, and Matt really knows how to make a large crew and cast work as an organic unit."

The story revolves around a Northern Irish runaway named Taryn, who ends up with her aunt (played by musician Kim Taylor) and uncle (Oldham) in Ocean City, Maryland. Meanwhile, their marriage is on the rocks, and their daughter is home after her first year in college. Family drama ensues.

Oldham met Porterfield when he and his wife were living in Baltimore, and his band at the time, The Anomoanon, played a gig to raise money for Hamilton. When Porterfield needed actors to play musicians who were themselves musicians in a complex and subtle family drama, he thought of Oldham.

As for Oldham, Porterfield's plain, realistic approach to film making appealed to him.

"My costumes were my clothes but with a couple of things they added, like a plain blue t-shirt or something," says Oldham. "But, at the same time, it felt like a professional set, with its own technical language. I felt like I was seeing a real example of the art of filmmaking."

Acting runs in the family, as Oldham's brother, Will, better known as the musician Bonnie "Prince" Billy, made his acting debut as a teen preacher in John Sayles' 1987 Matewan, about an Appalachian mining town. Will went on to perform in other films before finally settling on a music career, but has still turned up in various indie films over the years. Ned, however, appears content not to settle on anything quite yet.

As a youth in Louisville, Kentucky, Oldham was into the art-punk scene with a band called Lanquid and Flacid, and later experimented with psychedelic music while an undergraduate at the University of Virginia in the late 1980s. In the mid-1990s, he would form the The Anomoanon with his friend Jack Carneal while they were both grad students at UVA (where Oldham labored over a novel about musicians called "The Teeth"), cranking out a kind of a psychedelic county folk with literary ambitions. Indeed, the group's first album borrowed from Mother Goose fairy tales, and the next got its inspiration from 15th century poet Francois Villon. Oldham also spent time touring with his brother, Will, often performing together as the Palace Brothers.

After grad school, Oldham taught writing at several colleges, continued to write, and published art features in the Oxford American and Virginia Living, for which he wrote a story about how the giant tulip popular cut down at Monticello was being used to make instruments. For a time, he was even the Hook's restaurant reviewer. After a stint teaching English at the nearby Field School, Oldham quit to focus on writing and forming his new band Old Calf with local musician Matty Metcalfe.

As for his foray into movie acting, Oldham says it wasn't all that glamorous.

"We had twelve-hour days," he says, "Pretty hard work. And a good deal of waiting around."

In the end, however, it was the artistic camaraderie that he enjoyed.

"We would have lunch for 35 people on set every day," says Oldham. "There were a lot of talented people working together on a project everyone was excited about."

Watch the trailer for I Used to Be Darker below:

FunStuff: Charlottesville events May 17 and beyond

Dave McNair — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:59:21 +0000

Folks crowd the Batesville Store during 'Batesville Day' 2011.Batesville Day
Now that Batesville got its country store back, or "café-market" as the owners of the recently opened Plank Road Exchange are calling it, there will again be some tasty food at this year's Batesville Day, the area's iconic small town extravaganza with music, a parade, a 10K road race, and even an Ugly Truck raffle. The 10K starts at 8am, the parade starts at 11am, and the food, tunes, and fun go on until 2pm.
–>May 19, Batesville, 8am-2pm, Free

Rapper Maino Maino at the Paramount
In between a line-up of opera, classic films, and Municipal Band of Charlottesville performances, the Paramount Theater has slipped in something edgy: Brooklyn-based rapper Maino. While reviewers say his new stuff isn't as hard-core, this ain't no string quartet either. Promoting his new album, The Day After Tomorrow, the 35-year-old hip-hop artist has been around the block, from shopping his mixed tapes on the streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant, to forming his own label. Will he be crazy, hard, and brash with the crowd at the Paramount, like he does on "Gotta Luv Me," or will he go a little more soft and reflective? Guess you'll have to go to find out.
–>May 19, Paramount Theater, 10pm, $20/$50

The Stony Point School circa 1940 History Day
Did you know that Stony Point, the small community up Route 20 North, got its name because most of the subterranean bedrock has been pushed to the surface by the earth's force, making it the highest point between Charlottesville and Barboursville? Or that Jefferson and Madison are said to have attended services at the over 200-year old Preddy Creek Baptist Church? Well, you can find out more during Stony Point History Day, where speakers will share stories and documents about the community's early days. Local history buffs won't want to miss this one. It takes place at 2835 Watts Passage Road, just of Route 20 North. Oh, the photo is the Stony Point School circa 1940.
–>May 19, Stony Point Ruritan Club, 1-4pm, Free

Donna the Buffalo Follow the Herd
Known for their light-jamming, soulful sound with a conscience, Donna the Buffalo borrows from country, rock, reggae, folk, and even zydeco to create a sound that has kept them on the festival circuit for over 20 years. The western New York-based band, led by guitarist Jeb Puryear and violinist/guitarist Tara Nevins, who share vocals and song writing credits, has often garnered those "hardest-working" band type kudos. She's known to grab an accordion and a scrubboard too, and their sets often go on for over two hours– to the delight of the fans who are called "the Herd," so get ready groove out.
–>May 19, Jefferson Theater, 8pm, $15/$17

The Virginia Discovery Museum’s Annual Discovery Dash Running with, not from, parents
Now in its 22nd year, the Virginia Discovery Museum’s Annual Discovery Dash features kids and their parents competing in a dozen different running races to raise money for the museum's educational programs. The event features quarter-mile, half-mile, and mile races, and even a series of parent/child relay races. In addition to awards, prizes will also be handed out in a raffle, including a Razor Scooter and and I-Pod Nano. According to the folks at the Discovery Museum, its the oldest kids track race in Virginia. While that might not seem like most impressive distinction, the fun and camaraderie the event has provided for young kids and their parents over the last two decades have been much appreciated.
–>May 19, Monticello High School, 7:45am-10am, $13/$25

Ash Lawn-Highland, the home of President James Monroe18th Annual
Another long-time event, the 18th annual Virginia WineFest is also coming around. Held each year at Ash Lawn-Highland, the home of President James Monroe, the festival features wines from Virginia's most notable wineries, tastings, food offerings, crafts, house tours, and live music. It's also rain or shine, as the whole thing will move under tents and at the Hilltop Pavilion should the skies open up.
–>May 19, Ash Lawn-Highland, 11am-5pm, $15/$7/$20

Chris Cillizza on the CNN show State of the Union The Presidential election
For a more sobering experience, why not head over to the Miller Center to find out how the Washington Post will be covering the upcoming Presidential election. It's bound to be an exciting election, as both sides are passionate about defeating the other. As recently reported, the Greene County Republican Party called for "armed revolution" should the President be reelected. Whoa! At the Miller Center, Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli, and political blogger for the Post, Chris Cillizza (pictured), a familiar face on the national news program circuit, will provide their take on how things could unfold. So fasten your seat belts.
–>May 18, Miller Center, 11am, Free

Gary Lt. Dan at the Paramount
Life may be a box of chocolates, but on May 25 we know what we're going to get: actor and musician Gary "Lt. Dan" Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band at the Paramount Theater. Sinise, best known for the character he played in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, has since used that name recognition to form a band that has performed for service men and woman around the world. Apparently, the band serves up something for just about everyone: Hendrix and Stevie Wonder classics, big band tunes from the 1940s, and even stuff from American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. The Charlottesville performance will support ParadeRest. And attention big spenders: $500 gets you dinner at Fleurie, VIP seating, and a meet-and-greet with Sinise.
–>May 25, Paramount Theater, 8pm, $65/$200/$500

Ashley Pillar helps two youngsters cross the James. Ride the James
Head down Scottsville way and ride the last existing poled ferry still operating in America. Things like timber and farm produce were carried across the James by the Hatton Ferry over 100 years ago, then loaded on to freight trains. At a nearby store, people picked up mail and items shipped into Hatton, and the ferry was an important transportation link between Buckingham and Albemarle counties. In 2009, the ferry was nearly shut down by the state highway department, but a nonprofit was formed in 2010 that saved it. Today, it's a living bit of American history, and a lovely way to experience the waters of the James River. It operates on Saturday from 9am to 5pm, and on Sunday from noon to 5pm between April and October.
–>May-October weekends, Hatton Ferry, times above, $2 per person and $5 per vehicle.

Belmont UnAbridged, the winning design from a team of UVA Architecture School students and faculty, calls for the removal of the Belmont Bridge. Charlottesville future world
Paper City is the May exhibit at the Chroma Gallery on the Downtown Mall that explores unbound ideas for the future development of our fair city. Will there be an aerial gondola that travels through the air above the buildings? Should the controversial "no bridge" scheme (depicted here) for the Belmont Bridge replacement project be built? Charlottesville Tomorrow will be hosting a private party at the gallery to re-visit the exhibit and discuss as part of its monthly News n' Brews gathering. Event-goers will enjoy refreshments and stimulating conversation about design dreams and reality in shaping our city's future.
–>May 24, Chroma Gallery, 5:30-7pm, free

This week's "FunStuff" was compiled by Dave McNair, and next week's "FunStuff" will be compiled by another newsroom staffer. To get your event considered, send a press release to event@readthehook.com.

They boogied... before midnight

hawes — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:26:08 +0000

Skip Castro entertained a massive crowd at Fridays After Five on May 4, and the crowd seemed to know the words to the songs to which they were dancing. The band, which got its start in Charlottesville during the era portrayed in a 2006 rockumentary, retains a strong following and returns to town for such things (besides Fridays) as UVA reunions.

Café-market: Batesville gets its store back

lisa — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:57:33 +0000

The historic structure that previously housed the beloved Batesville Store has reopened, and its new incarnation is Plank Road Exchange, which its foodie proprietors describe as a "café-market."

Jessica and Aris Cuadra, who met in a restaurant and have 35 years experience between them, ran a restaurant in Luray last year called the Victorian Inn. But nights-and-weekend childcare for their son, three-and-a-half-year-old Rocco, was difficult, says Jessica Cuadra, and when they became aware the Batesville space was available, they took it. Now Rocco gets to hang out with his parents.

"It's much more relaxed," says his mom.

Not that running a café-market is necessarily relaxing. The couple makes a lot of prepared foods for "grab-and-go dinners," says Cuadra. "The broccoli peanut salad has been a really big hit."

They also make their own baked goods, like the salivation-inducing blueberry brown-butter tart, chocolate chip cookies, macaroons, and bittersweet chocolate brownies. "Those we can't keep on the counter," she says of the brownies.

"The sandwich I had was fantastic," says realtor/blogger Jim Duncan, enthusing over the "MC-50," a Cuadra creation of Boar's Head roast beef, green chili mayonnaise, and onion marmalade, the two latter ingredients made in-house, served on an Albemarle Baking Company baguette.

"All our sandwiches are our own creation," says Cuadra, "and we make the condiments."

The market side of the café includes olive oil, local cheeses, dried pasta, and fresh produce– enough to whip up your own dinner if so inclined.

More good news for Batesvillians: Plank Road Exchange should have its ABC license in another week or so, and they're planning live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

And the Cuadras also are planning chef's table dinners on Wednesday nights. Four or five courses will be offered by reservation only for the 15 seats that the café-eatery is licensed to have. (Exceeding that limit was a pitfall for the previous owners.)

While the couple cooked "creative American cuisine" at their previous restaurant, Jessica Cuadra refuses to be pegged into even so loose a genre. "We just like making good food," she says, emphasizing a "less is more" approach. "We're very passionate about what we do."

Early reports since the low-key April 21 opening indicate that Batesville residents are excited to have a place to gather and buy good eats. The grand opening will be on Batesville Day– May 19.

"We want to have a hangout spot," says Cuadra. "It's been almost overwhelming the welcome we've received."

FunStuff: Charlottesville events May 3 and beyond

lisa — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:01:34 +0000

First stop for First Fridays
With its artist studios and monthly receptions, McGuffey Art Center is the headquarters for the local art scene, the place you're going to find some art that you like. Photographers Margo Hamilton and Ron Evans take the main gallery with their archival ink-printed photos (like Hamilton's Swan shown here). Scott Supraner's ceramic reliefs and Blake Hurt's "Lines on Faces" ink-on-canvas, paper, acrylic, and glass works line the lower hall. Upstairs, Jefferson School African-American Cultural Center's Andrea Douglas curated "From Backyard Clotheslines to Museum Walls," with the work of Frank Walker and the late Gerry Mitchell.
–>May 4, McGuffey Art Center, 5:30-7:30pm, free

Skip Castro at FA5
How far people will drive to see a show tells you a lot about a band, and we've got friends who will drive up from North Carolina to rock out with theSkip Castro Band. Born in late 1977, the band played up and down the East Coast for a decade, and its members– Danny Beirne (piano), Bo Randall (guitar), Corky Schoonover (drums), and Charlie Pastorfield (bass), are local music legends. Skip Castro only reunites a few times a year, so Friday at nTelos Pavilion could be your best bet to kick off a boogie-woogie weekend.
–>May 4, Fridays After Five, 5:30pm, free

Futuristic city
Chroma Projects calls itself an art laboratory, which may explain why it has some of the more nontraditional art exhibits around. This month, sponsors Circa, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Preservation Piedmont show the results of their call for conceptual designs from area architects, artists, and activists for ideas of Charlottesville of the future. The show, Paper City, presents visualizations of the Charlottesville Farmers Market, McIntire Botanical Gardens, and the intriguing "Main Street Aerial Gondola Line" by those who have already put their stamp on the area, like former mayor Maurice Cox and prolific downtown renovator Gabe Silverman, and those who undoubtedly will.
–>May 4, Chroma Projects, 6-8pm, free

Heirloom plant sale
Let's say you're looking for Moon and Stars watermelon or Long Island Cheese pumpkin or even, Virginia Sweet tomatoes. Where ya gonna go? How about the Local Food Hub's annualTaste of the Farm plant sale and open house down at Dave Matthews' Maple Hill Farm just this side of Scottsville, where the organic/heirloom plants run from $3 to $7. While you're down there (you'll see the sign on the left2.5 miles past Green Mountain Country Store), make it a day. There's a farmers market, food from Feast, and enough going on that the kids won't be bored: Blue Ridge Music Together, art projects with City Schoolyard Garden, and a fun photo booth hosted by Lucy O Photography. Picnicking is encouraged.
–>May 5, Maple Hill Farm, 10am-3pm, free until you buy something

Auténtico Cinco de Mayo
The 2012 ¿Qué Pasa? Cinco de Mayo Fest in Richmond at the historic Canal Walk promises to be well worth the drive. Cruise for free in boats decorated to resemble the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco. Salsa to live Latin bands. Check out the Miss Hispanidad Talent & Fashion Show. Stuff your face with churros, mofongo, and paella. Wash it down with cerveza con limón. And celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mexico's glorious 1862 victory at the 10th annual ¿Qué Pasa? Festival, organized by the Virgina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
–>May 5, Canal Walk in Richmond, 11am to 7pm, free

Derby Day
Do you keep up with the Daily Racing Form, or do you pick your Kentucky Derby winner by the odds, by the name, or by the cut of the three-year-old's jib as it prances to the starting gate? Don your big-brim hats or seersucker suits to watch the 138th Run for the Roses on really big screen high-def at the Paramount. Mint juleps are mandatory, and one is included in the admission. And remember, race time is approximately 6:35pm Saturday, so don't be late.
–>May 5, Paramount, 4pm, $15

Jolly good cello
Charlottesville native Raphael Bell now lives in Belgium, where he's principal cellist for the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra. He co-founded the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, of which he's co-artistic director. Bell is performing with pianist Mimi Solomon and together they're two-thirds of the Trio La Loingtaine, a Paris-centered group that's played all over the world. They'll be playing Beethoven, Schumann, and Cesar Franck, and the proceeds from the concert at 500 Park Street will go to the scholarship fund of the Wednesday Music Club, an organization nearly 90 years old.
–>May 5, First Presbyterian Church, 4pm, $25-$10

Not your usual musical
When Elmer Rice wrote Adding Machine in 1923, it was called a "gimlet-eyed Expressionist classic about the soul rot of conventionality." Heck, even its lead character is called Mr. Zero. The 21st-century version– the musical– is "raw, gritty, and rich," according to Live Arts director Bree Luck, who also says it's the most challenging play she's ever worked on. The New York Times raved about Adding Machine's lack of sunshine and rousing choruses, calling it "impossibly bleak, improbably brilliant." Says Luck, "When you're going to the depths of hell, you need to be able to laugh."
–>Through May 12, Live Arts, time varies, $19.50

Get your Gaelic on
Téada means "strings" in Irish, and the traditional Irish music band of the same name will be here playing those tunes that have been played for a thousand years and been passed through the generations. The music of this internationally known group is described as timeless, expressive, lushly orchestrated– words that don't usually pop to mind when thinking reels and jigs. Locally, Irish music has a well-established beachhead with the Blue Ridge Irish Music School, which is presenting Téada.
–>May 9, Cville Coffee, 7pm, $18

Floating world
Who knew the UVA Art Museum had such an extensive collection of Japanese color woodblock prints that they had to be divided into two different shows? The show that just opened is called "Legends," and the 19th-century melodramatic prints were used to advertise Kabuki theater in the Entertainment District of Edo, now known as Tokyo. This was art for the common folk, depicting lofty legend for commercial purpose. Curated by Stephen Margulies.
–>Through August 5, UVA Art Museum, 12-5pm, free

Big lessons: Candid Doughty offers sa-sa-something

Justin Cober-Lake — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:02:55 +0000

The man who sings about his reticence in "Na Na Nothing" turns out to have plenty to say– or at least write about. If fans haven't always been privy to intimate stories from Mike Doughty, they've had their chance since the January release of his tell-everything memoir, The Book of Drugs, which examines not only his adventurous lifestyle and experience with addiction, but also the gut-wrenching days of his time in Soul Coughing, the quirky and experimental band noted for Doughty's poetic lyrics.

“People have always felt really close to me because I'm an over-sharer,” Doughty says in a telephone interview in advance of his upcoming solo performance in Charlottesville. “I was on AOL messageboards when I was 23 putting out my first album.”

Now 41, Doughty finds himself in the middle of a tour that emphasizes that openness, mixing readings from the book with songs from his solo career and time for Q&A from the audience.

Doughty says many fans think that "Q&A is code for 'I will tell you gnarly things about Soul Coughing.'" He says he won't speak about his old band, but he will take on strange hypotheticals like the one from a fan who asked if he'd "rather play Twister with Dick Cheney or punch a kitten in the face."

Such questions can be heard on his new live album The Question Jar Show, and much of the book looks at the problems in the band, a revelation which Doughty thought was common knowledge.

“I was deluded into thinking that people were psychic and understood just how messed up Soul Coughing was," he says. "I thought it was radiating off my skin."

And how was his time in the band? "It was," he answers, "emotionally abusive and emotionally violent.”

Doughty says he's putting that behind him now, as The Book of Drugs allows him to be defined by the present– not denying his history, but without getting stuck in it. So why write a memoir now?

“I had been talking about writing a book, and one day a publisher called and said, 'Here's some money,' and my bluff was effectively called. I don't think I'd have pursued it if they hadn't called me first.”

Writing a book, he found, was “a whole other sort of experience" compared to his work as songwriter and essayist.

"I fooled myself into getting it done by doing it story by story, and then at the end I just stacked them all together in relative chronological order.”

The process proved an effective means to cover a large amount of material in a strikingly intimate manner, and the book's most important material comes not from Doughty's struggles with addiction, which could have been a cliché if told less skillfully or less directly, but from his analysis of anti-drug propaganda.

“I wish I had been told when I was a teenager; 'Look, this sh*t feels amazing, and you might really like it.' But here is the nature of the choice you have to make, and here is the risk that you're taking.'

"When we first got high, we thought, 'You lied to us.' If you're an addict, you're going to find those drugs, or you're going to find something. It amazes me that [anti-drug campaigns] would come at it that simply.”

As for Doughty himself, he's making some of the best music of his career, including last year's Yes and Also Yes, which includes "Na Na Nothing," a track that gets a lot of indie- and college-radio airplay.

He says he's been sober for a long time now, and he seems to be as open as ever– even without the AOL messageboards.
~
Mike Doughty provides a concert, reading, and Q&A at the Southern on Thursday, May 10. Doors open at 8pm, with tickets $15 in advance and $18 day of show.

Mr. Tom Tom: Beyer sees bands and innovation together

stephanie — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:56:24 +0000

As far as music festivals go, certain regions of the country have it covered: Chicago has Lollapalooza, Tennessee has Bonnaroo, and Austin has South-by-Southwest. What more do we need?

According to local businessman and former City Council candidate Paul Beyer, there's plenty of room for more music meccas in the US– and Charlottesville is just the place for a large-scale, multifaceted festival to call home. Enter the Tom Tom Founders Festival, a month-long soiree that seems to emulate the feel of SXSW by combining live music, art shows, local food showcases, and business/innovation workshops to bring community possibility to the forefront of everyone's mind.

"Tom Tom's themes are about music, art, and innovation– those are all conversations that take place in Charlottesville to begin with," he says. "There's a sense of artistic possibility within the community as well as a political and business landscape."

Tom Tom looks to educate and inform festival-goers while striking just the right balance of celebration and revelry– which is where the music comes in. Music is obviously a draw for Cvillians, who boast a handful of large, big name arenas and concert halls as well as a bevy of intimate, unique hole-in-the-wall venues. With a music scene that has ebbed and flowed throughout the years– from rockers and jam bands in the '70s to songwriters, bluegrass/rockabilly, and indie-pop-rock groups dominating the circuit today– finding artists who would attract the crowd throughout the month was a priority for Beyer.

"The theme of the music is buzz bands, the next big thing– the idea that that's what innovation is, that it's about new things or things you haven't seen or heard before was the focus for this year," says Beyer.

In that same vein, Beyer and the Tom Tom crew looked to unexpected places to host their concerts. Spaces include the Main Street Arena, Random Row Bookstore (already a popular, albeit slightly underground music venue), and the Haven all playing host to regional and local acts scattered throughout the Festival. With a successful block party at the McGuffey Art Center having kicked off the festivities on April 13 and a jam-packed final concert bookending the festival on May 13, Beyer is confident that Tom Tom will continue to lure audiences and participants throughout its course.

"This festival is about innovation, art, and the future of the community," says Beyer. "We want to get the community engaged with big ideas."

Mayer Hawthorne breaks hearts at the Jefferson

hawes — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:40:45 +0000

Mayer Hawthorne, a crooning white guy in a dinner jacket whose music echoes the Stylistics and other soulful sounds of the 1960s, performed for an appreciative Monday night crowd at the Jefferson Theater. In addition to a Hall & Oates cover, Hawthorne kept them entertained April 23 with his own hits including "The Walk," which sounds like The Rascals' 1968 hit "It's a Beautiful Morning" with an f-bomb tossed in. And he also played his mega-hit (mega in the indie world at least) "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out" which has 3.2 million views on YouTube.

FunStuff: Charlottesville events April 19 and beyond

Dave McNair — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:20:18 +0000

From windows to wisteria
If you're a do-it-yourselfer, have a green thumb, or just get excited about home renovation projects, this three-day event is probably the most fun you can have without a hammer or spade in hand. For three years now, the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association's annual Home and Garden Festival, now in its 39th year, has been held on the floor of the jumbo-sized John Paul Jones Arena, with room for over 100 builders, suppliers, landscapers, and renovators. There will be workshops on energy-efficiency, activities in a special kid zone, and even wine tastings from local vineyards. And all for only five bucks.
–>April 20-22, John Paul Jones Arena, 10am Sat and 1pm Fri/Sun, $5

Music and brews
Now in its 25th year, Fridays After Five kicks off the 2012 season with Love Canon, a group of conservatory-trained musicians who mix bluegrass with hit songs of the 1980s. These free concerts on the east end of the Downtown Mall, now sponsored by the nTelos Wireless Pavilion, have been as eagerly anticipated as the arrival of spring. Indeed, over 65,000 people attend each year. In the following weeks, Skip Castro, Baaba Seth, Indecision, and the Chickenhead Blues Band are just a few of the local favorites who will be taking the stage on Fridays.
–>April 20, Downtown Pavilion, 5:30pm, free

Kings for a night
Head over to the Southern for a multi-band mini-festival featuring the Kings of Belmont, who've been touring up and down the East Coast with a just-released album. Joining will be a long slate of bands including funk/hip hop/rock act Iville Crew (fronted by Quentin "Q Black" Walker and Marquis "Tha Beast" Monroe), rockers Farm Vegas, electronic DJ/guitar duo Guerrilla Tactics, local guitar whiz Tucker Rogers, and funk/jam act the Eames Coleman Trio. Should be a wild night, as two stages will be set up, the main one and another opposite, and the acts will just bounce back and forth from stage to stage. A certified high-energy event.
–>April 20, The Southern Café and Music Hall, 8pm, $10

New wine festival
A new wine festival gets launched this month at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion, the first ever Taste of Monticello Wine Trail. For one day, over 90 wines from over 20 area wineries will be available for sampling under one roof– or one tent, as the case may be. Special VIP packs get you early entry, parking, and catered food from the C&O Restaurant. There will also be 30-minute class sessions (taught by Rich Leahy, depicted at left) throughout the event on everything from reading a label to pairing wine with food. And it's not just wine. Purveyors of fine cheeses, baked goods, and produce will be on hand as well. So bring a blanket and a lawn chair and enjoy. Oh, there's music too from Wes Swing and the duo of Morwenna Lasko & Jay Pun. Tickets available online at monticellowinetrailfestival.com or at the door.
–>April 21, Downtown Pavilion, 1pm-6pm, $29-$75

The barn opens
The Ivy Creek Natural Area has always been a favorite for history buffs and nature lovers, and for almost two years renovation on the Ivy Creek Barn has been on-going. Now, organizers are ready to unveil the restored barn. Rising from slavery, the Carr family established the farm that the Natural Area now occupies, and the barn is the only one on the African American Heritage Trail built by a free African American in Virginia, and likely the East Coast. The Natural Area has seven miles of wooded footpaths, where visitors can enjoy the preserved wildlife habitat and some well-deserved peace and quiet. (If you read this in time, there's also a volunteer day on April 19 starting at 9am where you can help maintain the trails.)
–>April 21, Ivy Creek Natural Area, 2pm, free

Kid bike rodeo
Ride downtown for a fun Sunday of riding at the annual Children's Bicycle Rodeo. It's a free, participatory extravaganza to promote bike safety sponsored by Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation, Community Bikes, and the Charlottesville Police Department. There'll be free bike helmets, a raffle, t-shirts, and even fruit smoothies created with bike power. It happens on top of the low-rise parking deck located beside LexisNexis law publishers at the east end of the Downtown Mall.
–>April 22, LexisNexis parking deck, 1-3pm, free

Big trees at Montpelier
Ever wanted to see a virgin forest? They're pretty rare– particularly on the East Coast, which is actually a much woodsier place today than it was during the Colonial era when farmers and fuelers ripped behemoth trees from the hills. But the Constitution's top author James Madison left a 200-acre stand, now designated a National Natural Landmark, with some specimens estimated to be 300 years old, at his estate in Orange County. On a coming Sunday, you can take the Big Woods Walk with no chance of getting lost or paying extra beyond regular estate admission. The 90-minute tour by the estate's horticulturalist includes the sweet smells of blossoming plants, none of which are non-natives because staff remove those from the Big Woods.
–>April 22, Montpelier Visitor Center, 2pm, $18 ($7 for kids 6-14)

Find fun in physics
In celebration of National Physics Day, UVA physics professors Bob Hirosky, Nilanga Liyanage, Stefan Baessler, and Bellave Shivaram will delight the crowd with strange and mystifying phenomena, like "lightning" shooting through a dielectric quartz crystal (as shown here). For 18 years, this UVA physics demonstration show has been a fun family event for discovering some peculiar properties of sound waves, learning about how electricity powers our homes, and much more. But, as the release warns, "be sure to keep an eye out for falling objects!"
–>April 25, UVA Physics Building, Room 203, 7pm, free

Get jazzed for free
April, according to the Smithsonian Institute, is Jazz Appreciation Month, and the Charlottesville Jazz Society has taken note. The group will hold a free Thursday evening jazz concert on the steps of Charlottesville's central library on East Market Street. That's followed by an in-library screening of Jazz Dancing, a 60-minute film by Bill Warrell, an icon of the D.C. avant-garde art and music scene who will introduce his picture. Chicago pianist Lisa McQueen and her quartet will also perform. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved inside.
–>April 26, JMRL Central Library, 5:30pm, free

A dive-in movie
If you haven't visited the Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center, Charlottesville's new 27,000 square-foot indoor swimming facility makes just going for a swim fun stuff enough because it offers water slides, a lazy river, and in-water play structures, as well as the latest fitness equipment to keep the whole family busy. But how about swimming and watching a movie? On Friday, they'll be showing the animated film Shark Tale on the big screen while you frolic in the water. But don't worry, we hear the new Aquatic Center is shark-free.
–>April 27, Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center, 7pm, $2

Explore bestsellers
See this remarkable collection of popular American fiction at the University of Virginia's Harrison Institute. The exhibition stems from the collecting efforts of Lillian Gary Taylor. During her lifetime, Mrs. Taylor assembled over 1,900 literary bestsellers. Her handwritten notebooks provide an engaging portrait of a collector who loved to read and who understood that, though the best lasts longest, literary merit is not the only measure of a book's importance. The exhibit explores American reading habits from the early 18th century to today's bestsellers. You'll also get to see a rare collection of first editions for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter (1850), F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925), and Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms (1929), among others.
–>Through August 31, UVA Harrison Institute, Mon-Sat, free

Tom Tom beat: McGuffey block party kicks off month-long fest

lisa — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:13:57 +0000

Paul Beyer's ambitious vision for Charlottesville's own South by Southwest– the Tom Tom Founders Festival– debuts April 13, a kick-off to 30 days of music, art, and innovation on Thomas Jefferson's birthday, a date celebrated by both the University of Virginia and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation as "Founder's Day."

The street in front of McGuffey Art Center will be blocked off for the Friday-night block party, and 13 bands are lined up, including Chihamba, Beleza Brasil, and Invisible Hand.

With traditional street-food vendors, beer, and wine, the gala is outside from 5 to 8pm, and then it moves inside into three different McGuffey studios.

"All these different genres– punk, jazz, rock, funk, spoken word– will be playing at the same time," says Beyer, noting that the music is free.

"We wanted to kick off at McGuffey because it's a central art space," says Beyer. "One of the themes of Tom Tom is overlooked and under-appreciated assets. Here's a chance to see music where you don't normally see it. McGuffey hasn't been used that way fully."

Tom Tom's Music Festival weekend will come a month later, May 11-13, and also will utilize spaces not typically seen as music venues: Main Street Arena, the Haven, and Christ Episcopal Church's gothic-styled Meade Hall. In fact, there's nary an iNtelos Pavilion, Jefferson Theater, or Paramount on the bill.

On the big weekend, Josh Ritter, the Walkmen, and Mimosa headline, and a $50 wristband gets music-lovers into the dozens of performances.

Innovation is the other leg of the festival, and Beyer lists events like the Crowd Funded Pitch Night May 3, in which creative artists and entrepreneurs are asked, what would you create in Charlottesville with $1,000? The crowd decides, and the best pitch wins.

A Locavore Expo May 12 extends City Market and closes down streets again to explore the question of how Charlottesville innovation applies to local food, with chef demonstrations– and tastes.

And then there's the Latte Art Competition April 21. "Baristas from all over the commonwealth are coming in for a design competition," says Beyer. And judging from the Tom Tom logo reproduced in latte, these guys are really good.

Beyer has pulled in sponsorships: New Belgium Brewing, which makes Fat Tire, is the primary music sponsor, and the Charlottesville & Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau put up $15,000 for the month-long event, says Beyer, who thinks it will all be easier next year.

"It's a pretty enormous festival," he says. "People have to see it to know what it's about."

Super 'Tramp': Van Etten laughs a lot more than you'd think

Hilary Langford — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:30:34 +0000

"I’m not trying to fancy things up too much," says Sharon Van Etten with a laugh. “I’m just a girl in a sweater and jeans playing songs with my friends."

It’s a humble understatement for a woman who recently deflected attention away from the mighty return of Fiona Apple and the dexterous Andrew Bird at a recent SXSW NPR showcase. Since her bare bones debut Because I Was In Love surfaced in 2009, listeners have cheered on the nice girl who in spite of being told she wasn’t good enough by an ex, soldiered on and made beautiful, broken songs.

Sans a label-generated aesthetic, the Brooklyn artist has relied on little more than authenticity to gain an audience. Her songs are carefully constructed with close attention paid to melody and honest emotion that trumps songwriters who spew hyperbolic words. Van Etten admits to being “a total goofball,” but the critical consensus is that her third album Tramp showcases a mature and confident front woman

The Hook: You write intimate songs in first-person. Have you ever considered channeling those same feelings through characters to protect yourself?
Sharon Van Etten: It’s definitely something that I need to work on. I actually do writing exercises now to get out of the habit of saying “I” and “you.” I’m also listening to a lot more storytellers, like Nick Cave. He is really good at creating that distance. I have a lot of work to do to get out of this confessional habit of mine. (laughter) I try to at least generalize enough so that people don’t feel alienated by how personal they can be. It’s nice to connect with people on that emotional level and provide a reminder that they’re not alone.

Hook: You mentioned the word “confessional.” That seems to be a word that critics often apply to female singer-songwriters in particular. Does that generalization bother you?
Van Etten: It’s an odd word in general when you’re talking about songwriting because to me, it sounds like you are doing something wrong. Like you are trying to get something terrible off your chest or religious connotations. I guess if it helps people understand your music a little more at least it’s ok.

Hook: Your songs and voice evoke a lot of sadness. Do you have good days?
Van Etten: I’m having a great day today actually. (laughter) I actually feel like with the new songs, I got out of sad a little bit to explore a range of emotions on this record. Don’t you think?

Hook: It’s still pretty somber, honestly.
Van Etten: I tried. (laughter)

Hook: Tramp is sonically more fleshed out than your previous albums. Was that producer Aaron Dessner’s doing?
Van Etten: I brought the songs fully-written to the studio, but Aaron and I collaborated on all them for the record. He encouraged me to try things that I wouldn’t normally try and acted as a translator between me to the more professionally trained musicians on the album. He genuinely just wanted to make what I did better and was the spark for most of the instrumentation ideas.

Hook: What do you think is the most important aspect of a song?
Van Etten: The melody. That’s what really builds and develops. It’s the spine of the song. I’m proud of the melodies on this record because they’re the most complicated I’ve ever written.

Hook: You’ve been very open about your struggle with social anxiety. Does your stomach sink a little bit when you see a singer like Lana Del Rey get publicly skewered because of what was possibly paralyzing stage fright on SNL?
Van Etten: I don’t like negativity in the press in general. That kind of thing bums me out. I don’t really know her, but I don’t think that amount of negativity was worth while or fair.

Hook: Speaking of negativity, do you ever hear from that lousy ex that said you couldn’t play?
Van Etten: No, I do not; and I don’t even know what he’s doing now. There’s a lot of angry friends of mine on guard if he ever comes back around. (laughter)
~
Van Etten plays the Jefferson Theater on Friday, April 20. Flock of Dimes and The Cinnamon Band open. Doors at 8pm and show at 9pm. $12-14.

Fridays kicks off: Free concert series features lots o' locals

courteney — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:43:33 +0000

It's been warm so long it might look like summer to you, but in fact, spring is just now sprung, and there's no surer sign than the kick-off of Fridays After Five. The free concert series that brings throngs to the east end of the Downtown Mall at the start of every weekend kicks off April 20 with '80s cover band Love Canon, and from there, the good times keep rolling with local favorites and a few newcomers to the series, too.

"This is the 25th anniversary season, so we've tried to pull some of the older, more popular bands that have done great for us over the years but still mixing in some of the up and comers," says Pavilion honcho Kirby Hutto.

Hutto himself has particular reason to look forward to catching the shows. A diagnosis of tongue cancer back in January forced the Pavilion boss to undergo treatments, but he has good news.

"Doctors think they've kicked it," he says, noting that after one final surgery in May, he expects to be considered cancer free– and ready to rock.

There'll be plenty of Friday shows to choose from, including Skip Castro on May 4, Baaba Seth and Indecision on June 8 and 15, respectively, and Terri Allard on June 29. Plus Richmond-based The English Channel will make you feel like you've crossed the pond on June 22 with covers of songs by the Clash, the Beatles, the Cure, and all your English faves. The Fridays After Five season lasts until the second Friday of September, and Hutto says the remainder of the line-up is still being finalized.

"We've got a couple of good surprises," he promises.

FunStuff: Charlottesville events April 12 and beyond

courteney — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:55:48 +0000

TJ's b-day

Happy birthday to youuuuuu. Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuuuuu! Happy Birthday, dear TJ... It's Thomas Jefferson's 269th birthday! Even if America's third president can't be here in person to celebrate, there's a par-tay at his house this day, and the featured speaker is Jessica Tuchman Mathews, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and recipient of the 2012 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership. TJ sends his sincere regrets, we're sure...
–>April 13, Monticello, 10-11am, free

Ooohs, ahhhs, and yum!

Whether you prefer candy for your eyes or your mouth, you'll find something satisfying at the PVCC Annual Student Show and Seventh Annual Chocolate Chow Down. Works by students in various mediums are accompanied by what is described by organizers as "decadent" amounts of chocolate– and that can only be a good thing! If you care more about the art and less about the candy, the show hangs through August.
–>April 13, PVCC North and South Galleries, 5-7pm

Baroque and roll
You think Elvis and the Beatles made classic music that'll last? They've got a long way to go before they prove they've got the staying power of the Baroque masters. UVA's Baroque Orchestra performs some of the most inspiring and accessible Baroque pieces by Vivaldi (pictured here) and some lesser knowns including Giovanni Gabrielli and Tomasso Albinoni. Rounding out the common practice period, the Palladian Chamber Orchestra program covers Haydn and Brahms.
–>April 13, Old Cabell Hall, 8pm, free

Boy's eye view
Grammy-winning folk rockers Bon Iver love Anais Mitchell's music so much they covered her songwhen they played on an Australian radio station, and listening to her crystal clear voice and lyricscould win you over quickly, too. On her latest album, Young Man in America, Mitchell sings from a male's point of view, charming one criticfor American Songwriter website into calling the album "gorgeous and striving" and claiming she's "put a permanent stamp of approval on her already sparkling reputation."
–>April 13, Mockingbird Cafe, Staunton, 8:30pm, $14 advance/$16 door

High as a kite
Judging by the hype and the full slate of events scheduled over the next month, the Tom Tom Founders Festival is a big deal as festival founder Paul Beyer seeks to celebrate "underused and undercelebrated assets" and to bring the community together through music, art, and other events. This day's event: Charlottesville Kite Day in McIntire Park. Grab your kids, your friends, and a kite or two, pack a picnic, and head down to enjoy live music and a (hopefully) lively breeze. The Festival kicks off with a massive multi-band block party also featuring food, art, and kids' activities on Friday, April 13 at McGuffey Art Center.
–>Kite Day, April 14, McIntire Park, 11am, free

Full Nelson
Nelson County folk group Chamomile and Whiskey have been around a while, building a following around their Nelson County home and beyond. "With a subtle strength, their music is at times relaxing and melodic, and other times has a celt-punk kick that will make you want to dance like a maniac under the influence of musical intoxication," writes Adam Gripp for Magazine 33, a Virginia music publication. The group's founders, lead singer Koda Kerl and fiddler Marie Borgman, are now joined by talented players on upright bass, drums, and banjo.
–>April 14, The Southern, 8pm, $10

Wine and woofs
With so many wineries around, it can be hard to decide which one to try for tasting. But there's only one that not only permits but encourages your four-legged best friend to join in the fun. Every Sunday from now til October, Keswick Vineyards hosts a "Yappy Hour," when you can taste the fruits of their labor while your pup sips water and relaxes (on leash). Dogs are even welcomed to the tasting room! A portion of the proceeds from the sale of bottles go to various area animal shelters, who'll have reps on site with undoubtedly adorable, adoptable furry friends. Just don't drink too much and take a litter home!
–>April 15, Keswick Vineyards, 9am-5pm, $5 tasting fee

T-times
Are you a Jeopardy contestant wannabe? A repository of useless information? Do you love local music? Then Tuesdays at Fellini's are your nights, with a one-two punch of trivia at 8pm and local singer songwriter Travis Elliott at 10pm. In a review of his latest CD, Swan Dive, Hook writer Stephanie Marie Garcia says Elliott's "harmony-laden pop-rock base mixed with a healthy dose of piano and strings... leaves the listener at once strangely aroused and goosebumpy."
–>April 17, Fellini's, 8pm trivia; 10pm Travis Elliott, free

Start Truckin'
"No one’s been writing better songs in this decade than the band’s co-founders, singer-guitarists Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley," gushes Geoffrey Himes on Pastemagazine.com. Indeed, the Drive-By Truckers, signed to Dave Matthews and Coran Capshaw's ATO Records, have racked up a slew of honors and a loyal fan base that includes critics. "Their catalog is unique in American music, an almost literary endeavor with none of the pretensions such a description might entail," Stephen Deusmer writes on Pitchfork. "They give voice to the losers, tragic heroes, and everymen beaten down by hard circumstances, allowing each character his or her dignity."
–>April 17, Jefferson Theater, 9pm, doors at 8pm, $25

Peaceful teaching
Charlottesville students and local school administrators have known for years that former Venable and current Agnor Hurt Elementary School teacher John Hunter was something special, and now the rest of the world's caught on. Hunter, creator of the World Peace Game and the star of local filmmaker Chris Farina's 2009 film World Peace and other 4th Grade Achievements has been on a surreal ride ever since the film premiered at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival. From speaking at the prestigious TED conference (and being named the most influential presenter by Huffington Post) to presentations at the Pentagon and the United Nations, as well as at education conferences around the world, Hunter's concept– that children are the future, and that they hold the inherent ability to solve global conflicts that stump world leaders– has caught on like wildfire. Now, Charlottesville audiences have another chance to see the film and hear Hunter speak before he's off again, spreading his positive message to educators the world over.
–>April 22, The Paramount Theater, 4pm, $6-8

This week's "FunStuff" was compiled by Courteney Stuart, and next week's "FunStuff" will be compiled by another newsroom staffer. To get your event considered, send a press release to event@readthehook.com.

FunStuff: Charlottesville events March 29 and beyond

hawes — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:42:46 +0000

The scent of a neighborhood
One of Charlottesville's oldest neighborhoods, Belmont is known as one of its most colorful places as well. Now comes photographer Peter Krebs, a recent transplant from Brooklyn who spent two years capturing that color by shooting people and places along Monticello Road from Spudnuts to Moore's Creek. With on-the street portraits and impromptu photo booths set up inside businesses (such as Spudnuts, of course), Krebs created "Monticello Road," an exhibition of about three dozen prints (including Bobby and Buck, shown here at Moore's Creek Family Restaurant). The exhibition's Friday night launch party will be just one event in a month of Krebs-convened Belmont celebrations, most taking place at The Bridge, an Avon Street-facing arts center at 209 Monticello Road. Other events include a morning-after screening of the documentary film Still Life with Donuts and, in conjunction with the upcoming "Architecture Week," an April 17 panel on savvy planning.
–>April 6, The Bridge, 6-8pm, free

Grill a lawmaker
The green-clad State Police officers were ready with tear gas and automatic weapons. Every spring, there's a report from local members of the Virginia House of Delegates for a group of not-necessarily-young people (though the event is open to everyone) called the Senior Statesmen of Virginia. Delegates Rob Bell, Matt Fariss, Steve Landes, and David Toscano have each been invited. With such roiling recent issues as the nationally-lampooned pre-abortion ultrasounds, the riot cops who went after those protesting the law, the undoing of one-handgun-a-month, the tepid reform against Biscuit Run-style deals, and Rob Bell's controversial decision to create a mandatory life sentence for every child rapist, this Wednesday afternoon event may be as good a chance as any to personally grill your local lawmaker. Miss this one, and you get another chance in May when State Senators Creigh Deeds and Bryce Reeves are the invited guests.
–>April 11, The Senior Center, 1:30pm, free

Music TJ mighta heard
We may not know exactly how the music performed for the Sage of Monticello would have sounded, but a visiting act called Harmonious Blacksmith may help us find out. Playing period instruments, they will attempt to recreate an evening of domestic musicmaking at Monticello. They'll perform with members of the venerable Baltimore Consort and with UVA professor David Sariti who plays the violin– the same instrument that Thomas Jefferson played. Organizers have chosen works from Jefferson's own music collection from back in the days when Renaissance and Baroque were contemporary music. Thanks to donors to the McIntire Department of Music at UVA, there's no charge to attend this Friday night spectacular.
–>March 30, Old Cabell Hall, 8pm, free.

Get buzzed, not beared
You may think you'll feel a little out of your hive at a meeting of Central Virginia Beekeepers, but this one coming up on a Thursday features David Koch, the district biologist from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. He's been invited to enlighten club members and the public about bears, bear habitat, bear behavior, and what beekeepers can do to keep their beehives off-limits to would-be Winnie-the-Poohs. And if you get bored by ursine information, you can lumber off into the woods of the Ivy Creek Natural Area, that little wilderness just half a mile past the Rock Store on Earlysville Road.
–>April 5, Ivy Creek Natural Area, 7pm, free

Heathen sent
It's not his fault that the frontman looks and sounds just a bit like 1970s icon Michael McDonald, but Band of Heathens is no cheesy retro act. Still, you might be forgiven– as you notice the vocal harmonies and super-clear instrumentation– for thinking of Three Dog Night when you listen to this Austin-based ensemble of relentlessly-touring rock-and-rollers. Veterans of Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and South By Southwest, they're out now in support of a big (two CDs and two DVDs) set of live music called The Double Down: Live in Denver, Vol 1 & 2. See 'em on a Wednesday night.
–>April 4, The Southern, 9pm (doors at 8), $10

Like a Hopper painting
"This show," warns the press release, "contains explicit language, adult situations, and partial nudity." Another cutting-edge drama at LiveArts, right? Wrong, it's Four County Players, that Barboursville-based bastion of all that would please Norman Rockwell. Only this time the heartland has been ditched for The Food Chain, a witty look at loneliness in the crowd by New York-based playwright Nicky Silver. It's not all gloom and heartbreak, as the New York Times reviewer noted that "priceless" jokes and one-liners come hurtling toward the audience "like tennis balls from an automatic server." This production in "The Cellar" at 5256 Governor Barbour Street is directed by Joncey Boggs and stars Miller Murray Susen along with the two shown here, Marty Moore as "Bea" and Allen Van Houzen as "Otto." (Date listed is opening night. Full run: April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21.)
–>April 6, Barboursville Community Center, 8pm, $10

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc.
Walt Disney's top characters will roll into town for two shows on one day only, as Disney Live! presents three action-packed fairytales for youthful audiences on stage at the giant arena on Emmet Street. With the classic storylines, the songs that made movie magic, and costumes that might have made Walt himself proud, this trio of tales may enthrall your younguns. And don't forget the "glittering special effects" sure to enliven these productions of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
–>March 31, John Paul Jones Arena, 3pm and 6pm, $22-32

Making a racquet
With sunny skies and temperatures predicted to hit the springy mid-60s, this Friday looks like a superb day to stroll over to the tennis center located behind UVA's two main libraries at the corner of Emmet Street and University Avenue. There, you'll find the #3-ranked Cavaliers, who include #7 in America Jarmere Jenkins and numero uno Mitchell Frank (shown here) trying to keep their team's undefeated record in the ACC as they take on Wake Forest in an afternoon match-up. (If you're one of those people who actually has to work on a weekday, you get a second chance on Sunday when the Cavs play N.C. State at 1pm.)
–>March 30, Snyder Tennis Courts, 3pm, free

UVA's jazzy guys
You're always talking about seeing the big-time jazz players on the faculty of UVA but other than catching one or another playing solo at Miller's never doing much about it. Now's your chance to hear them together in the University's premiere concert hall, as the McIntire Department of Music presents the Free Bridge Quintet in concert for a Saturday-night show that's low-priced by local standards and can even be heard for free by students who reserve in advance. It features Jeff Decker on saxophones, Robert Jospé on drums, Wells Hanley on piano, Pete Spaar on bass, and the silver-maned John D'earth on trumpet and flugelhorn.
–>March 31, Old Cabell Hall, 8pm, $15 ($0-8 students)

The Krewe at the Jeff
There's a strong chance that the scent of patchouli oil may waft through the rafters of the Jefferson Theater on Thursday night as Toubab Krewe brings its African dance grooves to Charlottesville. The name means "crew of foreigners," an homage both to Creole and Malinese vocabularies– each of which plays a role in this instruments-only Asheville-based band. But what instruments! They include a 21-stringed cowskin-covered gourd called the kora and a single-stringed fiddle called the soku– and there'll be at least two percussionists. Low-key Wurlitzer master Marco Benevento opens.
–>March 29, Jefferson Theater, 8pm (doors at 7), $16-18

This week's "FunStuff" was compiled by Hawes Spencer, and next week's "FunStuff" will be compiled by another newsroom staffer. To get your event considered, send a press release to event@readthehook.com.

Note: A listing for a walk at Montpelier was removed from this posting shortly after it went online after the spokesperson for that presidential palace revealed that the event has been postponed.

FunStuff: Charlottesville events March 22 and beyond

Dave McNair — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:36:42 +0000

Deanna Raybourn Book fete
The Virginia Festival of the Book gets underway March 21, but there's still time to catch some bookish talks and readings, especially those off the beaten path. For instance, how has social media affected the literary world? Catch that discussion at Central Library on March 23 at 2pm. Or what about that guilty pleasure you have: reading romance novels. Head over to Barnes & Noble on March 24 at 12pm and 2pm to meet some of the best authors in the biz, including Virginia's own Deanna Raybourn (pictured here). Ever wonder how to pen a thriller? Find out how to keep readers hooked at the Albemarle County Office Building on March 23 at 8pm.
–>March 21-25, full schedule at vabook.org

The cast of the AMC TV series Mad Men
Yes, you could stay home and watch it on TV. But if you really want an evening filled with debauchery, adultery, jealousy, and corporate intrigue along with great food, prizes too, and, of course, retro style and if you're mad about Mad Men, the hit AMC TV series that chronicles the lives of high-powered ad execs in the 1960s, you won't want to miss this event at the Paramount Theater. First, there'll be a party and screening of last season's finale, followed by the live showing of the season premiere. The Whiskey Jar restaurant will serve up vintage cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and the best-dressed Mad Men-style guy and gal will get $100 gift certificates, respectively to Beecroft & Bull and Derriere de Soie.
–>March 25, Paramount Theater, 7pm doors, 9pm premiere, $15/$25vip

Last year's Bike Festival Bike festival
Hey, wanna go ride bikes? Head on over to the second annual Spring Mountain Bike Festival at McIntire Park. Sponsored by the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club, the event will include free guided trail rides in McIntire Park, exhibits by area bike store owners, and free on-site tune-ups. This Saturday event is for the whole family, and there will even be bike skill clinics for kids ages 6 to 16. You'll also get a chance to get your hands dirty, as everyone can volunteer to do some trail repairs in the park.
–>March 24, McIntire Park, 8am to 5pm, free

Katie Couric in Film screening
Does mainstream media underrepresent women in positions of power and influence in America? Find out at this free screening of Miss Representation, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The 90-minute film explores the way women and girls are portrayed in popular culture, and how there's still a long way to go before there is true equality, especially in positions of power and influence. You'll see interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists, and academics including Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric (shown here), Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson, and Gloria Steinem.
–>March 30, Main Stage Theatre in the V. Earl Dickinson Building at PVCC, 12:30pm, free

Miracles of Modern Science Smart rockers
Miracles of Modern Science, a bunch of former Princeton University students who crank out pop rock with a mandolin, violin, cello, standup bass, and drums, will play a benefit show for The Haven, our downtown way-station for the homeless inside a former church sanctuary. Miracles of Modern Science built a cult following on the Princeton campus and later graduated to New York City, where their live shows and dorm-grown EP got nods from Spin, Wired, and NPR's Morning Edition, which has aired several of their performances.
–>March 24, The Haven, 8pm, $10/$5 for students

President Obama at the Pavilion in 2008Inside Obama's White House
Talk about a cool gig? Former White House videographer Arun Chaudhary, the first person to ever hold that job— and the young man the New York Times dubbed the "ultimate fly on the wall" in the Obama White House— will lead an interactive discussion about his time following the President (whose photograph at left was snapped here in Charlottesville). “When people in 20 years see the work that I do, I hope they’ll have a greater understanding of what the president is like personally and what the presidency is like as an institution,” the 35-year-old Chaudhary told the Times. “I’m hoping these moments I’ve saved and put out will even have a richer and more historical flavor.”
–>March 28, UVA Rotunda Dome Room, 6pm, Free

West Main
Our link between the University and downtown is West Main Street. How should it be developed? How do we respect its history (recognize Mel's in the photo?) while preparing for future development? Head on down to Zinc Restaurant for a public discussion and cool slide show from Trumble Photography, all sponsored by Charlottesville Tomorrow. There will be hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and plenty of information on past/current/future developments in the area.
–>March 29, Zinc Restaurant, 5:30-7pm, free

Laura Galgano from the Blue Moon DinerCLAW night
If you haven't been to a CLAW match, now's your chance. For some time now, the Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers, a kind of absurd vaudevillian theater of the feminine, where wives, mothers, and professionals unleash their inner badasses, has been entertaining crowds and raising money for local women-initiated projects. And it happens at West Main's hip Blue Moon Diner (whose owner, Laura Galgano, is shown here.) As one wrestler puts it, "Women, who are always the responsible ones, the anchors for the dreamers, the nest-guardians, get a night to scream!" Music from Pantherburn, TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb, and DJ Western Front.
–>March 24, Blue Moon Diner, 7pm, $5

The Hookworms: Hawes Spencer, Courteney Stuart, and Stephanie GarciaField a Wordplay team
Wordplay is Charlottesville’s own live game show/fundraiser for folks who love words, vocabulary, pop culture, history, literature, testing how smart they are, and supporting Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle. And watch out— the crew from the Hook newsroom (see photo) were two-time winners until suffering an ignominious defeat last year. If you and your colleagues or friends are into trivia, crossword puzzles, or other memory and knowledge testing games, this event is for you. And food this year will be provided by Eppies. The event takes place April 11 at the Paramount Theater at 6pm, but the deadline to register your three-person team is March 26. Contact Sarah Gould-Stotts at s.gouldstotts@gmail.com to register or visit literacyforall.org.
–>March 26, Wordplay team entry deadline, minimum $500 per team.

Sons of Bill celebrates the release of a new album with a free show.Sons of Bill
One of six free shows in Virginia the band Sons of Bill plans to do in celebration of the release of their third album, Sirens (previewed in this issue of the Hook). The album comes courtesy of a Kickstarter campaign the band launched, and if you donated the band wants to make sure there's a seat for you. Simply email kickstarter@sonsofbill.com with the subject “Kickstarter/Paramount Theater” and include your name and Kickstarter information. "When we asked for your help in making this record, you all were overwhelmingly generous to us," said the band in a statement. "This is our chance to give back." But, of course, everyone who buys a $10 disc is welcome to show up. Later, there's a free after-party at the Jefferson Theater.
–>March 22, Paramount Theater, doors 7:30/show 9:15pm, free

Alt approach: Sons throw a change-up in Sirens

Justin Cober-Lake — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:17:47 +0000

For a band rooted in tradition, Charlottesville-based alt-country act Sons of Bill have taken an unusual path to their new album and upcoming set of shows. Not only did they change their approach to writing and recording, they also found a new way to work outside the usual music label system.

The Charlottesville-based alt-country act— which features brothers James, Sam, and Abe Wilson— used the Kickstarter crowd-funding website to fund Sirens, due out March 27. It's an approach that avoids the typical business model, and band members say they were encouraged to see fans responding quickly and generously. The grassroots contributions allowed them to take their time recording the album, their first since 2009.

In a more surprising move, the group will play six free concerts in the commonwealth for its Virginia Calling tour. Seats for the Charlottesville show can be reserved with an advance purchase of the CD. The plan is somewhat reversed from the sort most acts would employ, given that ticket sales can frequently generate more revenue than album sales.

“We wanted to keep the tour free,” says vocalist/guitarist James Wilson, calling the shows “a genuine thank-you and a celebration for the home state.”

He says the band saw the arrangement less as a marketing tool and more as a way to make sure that fans could get tickets and make plans, especially with people coming from Russia and the United Kingdom to see the show. After this run of concerts, the band will head out on a “long overdue” headlining tour, using more traditional ticket methods.

If the album funding and concert giveaways mark a change in business approach, the band took a different artistic route to Sirens too. Wilson explains that the band felt a growing confidence that something special was developing.

“With that," he says, "went a letting go of what kind of band we were going to be.”

The result is a sound that continues to shift from the country leanings of their debut toward a more rock-focused aesthetic.

“It's not conscious," says Wilson. "It's just kind of where we're at.”

On Sirens, the band took its production cues from rock recorded in the late 1980s and early 1990s and brought in David Lowery— who they met at a Hold Steady in-studio show at Richmond's Sound of Music studios— to do the production work.

“He just brought a really similar mentality about how to make a rock 'n' roll record," says Wilson of the producer whose pedigree includes founding both Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. "He knew instinctively what we were going for.”

Another new direction is the songwriting. Typically, James Wilson has been the primary author, but on this one all three brothers share equal songwriting credits. Although it sounds like a unified voice, Wilson reveals that the process is less about collaboration and more about individual creativity: "We all go back and work and write and bring them to the band.”

With the new direction and persistent energy, the band has created its strongest album. It contains hard rockers, a few countryish ballads, and travels as far as Santa Ana, but it circles back to its Southern roots. The closing number “Virginia Calling” suggests the pull its home base has for the group.

Aside from a special Christmas concert, the band hasn't performed in the area in over a year, so it seems appropriate that they're coming back to the usual place in an unusual way.
~
Sons of Bill play the Paramount Theater on Thursday, March 22 at 8pm with tickets available at Plan 9 Music and Sidetracks Music. ($10 pays for the album and includes a pass to enter the concert.)

American picker: Renaissance man Martin to play Pavilion

hawes — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:57:12 +0000

Local news outlets seem to have ignored Monday's press release about an impending Charlottesville concert by a musical act called Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers. It's may not always be big news when there's a guy named Steve Martin fronting a bluegrass band.

But this happens to be the Steve Martin. Yeah, the wild-and-crazy comedian, the screenwriter, the New Yorker humorist, the actor, the novelist and memoirist.

It should come as no surprise since his virtuoso banjo skills were part of that very first comedy album, Let's Get Small, from 1977. Flash forward 35 years, and Martin's still honing his musical skills. He's partnering with a North Carolina-based quintet, renowned in its own right.

The combo has announced they'll be playing June 2 the nTelos Wireless Pavilion in support of their album, Rare Bird Alert, a #1-selling bluegrass disc and Grammy nominee. The downtown event is billed as "an evening of bluegrass and comedy" with seats ranging from $35 to $69. Tickets go on sale March 16.

FunStuff: Charlottesville events March 15 and beyond

courteney — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:03:49 +0000

Funny stuff
Times may be tough, and gas prices may be high, but that's no reason to stop laughing. This week, Bent Theatre Improv comedy troupe gives you plenty of opportunity to do just that with two performances. On Wednesday, they'll be yucking it up family-friendly-style (they rate it PG-13); on Friday, they'll do it again, but leave the kiddies home for this one cuz with a self-imposed R-rating, things could get bawdy.
–>March 14, Para Coffee, 7pm, free; March 16, The Bridge, 8pm, pay what you will

Flippin' out
Cirque du Soleil may be the best known acrobatic act around, but it doesn't have the lock on eye-popping feats of balance and flexibility. The Golden Dragon Acrobats have won praise from high places, including the New York Times, which wrote, "It’s not often you can see a man— the remarkable Liu Yongpu— balancing upside down on one hand atop a half-dozen stacked chairs placed frighteningly close to the front of the stage, or watch Yang Yingying contort her body into leg-splitting poses while holding candelabras on the soles of her feet and in the palms of her hands." All we can say is, kids: don't try this at home.
–>March 17, 7pm, Paramount Theater, $24.50-39.50

Irish fun
Spend the afternoon scouring fields for four-leaf clovers and finding pots of gold at the end of rainbows, but once you're done with all that, head over to C'ville Coffee for an evening of Irish music and dance from the Blue Ridge Irish Music School. And with all the shiny gold nuggets you've pocketed earlier in the day, surely you'll be able to bid in the BRIMS silent auction held the same night to benefit the school. Just watch out for leprechauns!
–>March 17, C'Ville Coffee, $5-10, under 8 free

More St. Patty's fun
The green good times get started early on St. Patrick's Day at McGrady's with brunch starting at 8am (Guinness pancakes, anyone?) followed by face painting at 1pm and live music starting at 4pm with Billy Caldwell, Albemarle Pipe and Drum, Brian Chandler, and a 10pm performance by hard-rocking cover band Full Plate.
–>March 17, all day, McGrady's Irish Pub, no cover

Flavorful evening
He may be best known as the head judge on the Bravo network show Top Chef, and now's your chance to marinate in the culinary brilliance of Tom Colicchio in person. The author of three cookbooks, owner of multiple restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Dallas, and recipient of a lengthy list of awards, including the 2010 James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Chef" award, Colicchio speaks at the Paramount and then ends the evening at the Commonwealth Restaurant and Skybar, partying and signing books with whomever has shelled out for a VIP pass.
–>March 18, the Paramount, 8pm, $44.50-99.50 VIP

Jonathan Haidt Civility engineer?
When Rush Limbaugh opens his mouth, it might seem unlikely that anything civil will emerge, but UVA professor, author, and happiness expert Jonathan Haidt suggests it's possible that political discourse doesn't need to be ugly. Whether you agree with him or not, it's safe to assume he won't be calling you or anyone else a "slut" during this Miller Center Forum event titled, appropriately, "Civility in American Politics: How to Get (Some of) it Back." And if you don't call him any nasty names, he might even sign a copy of his book for ya!
–>March 19, 5:30pm, Miller Center, free

Kimya Dawson Beyond Juno
Fans of The Moldy Peaches have known of Kimya Dawson for years, but the hit movie Juno brought her childlike voice and simple-but-deep lyrics to the masses, as she provided most of the songs for the Grammy-winning soundtrack. Her sometimes-almost-off-key voice may not be everyone's cup of tea, but she's not short of avid fans. "With Dawson, there's no cool posing," says a review on NPR. "She is the anti-rock star, with her heart on her sleeve, and her daughter on her hip."
–>March 20, Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, 9pm, $10-12

Rufus WainwrightRockin' Rufus
Elton John has famously called Rufus Wainwright the "greatest singer-songwriter on the planet," and you can judge for yourself. Son of folk-singer-songwriters Loudon Wainwright III and the late Kate McGarrigal, Wainwright has a genre all his own— "popera" some have called it— and his over-the-top theatrics, versatile voice, and moving lyrics ensure an entertaining performance.
–>March 21, 8pm, The Jefferson Theater, $45-49

Inuit art Chillin' lecture
The forbidding cold of the Earth's two poles (never mind the lack of Starbucks or Target) may deter most people from visiting, but this week you can see what you've missed when renowned arctic anthropologist Stephen Loring of the Smithsonian Instititution speaks at UVA. In his lecture, Loring will explore how man-made and natural objects collected by explorers to the Arctic, including Charles Darwin and members of Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated Antarctica expedition "reflect as much on notions of humanity as they do on scientific discourse." Reception and Q&A to follow.
–>March 22, 4pm, UVA's Brooks Hall, free

Kathryn ErskineKiddie authors
Whether your kids are bookworms or they'd prefer hours on the Xbox to snuggling up with a novel, the chance to meet the authors of some of the best modern children's literature is not to be missed. This meet-n-greet-n-eat dessert reception is your chance to find out what inspires authors including National Book Award winner Kathryn Erskine (Mockingbird) and Cybils Award winner Tom Angleberger (The Strange Case of Origami Yoda) and to come away with an autographed copy or two.
–>March 23, 6:30pm, Charlottesville Catholic School, $5 per person suggested donation

~
This week's "FunStuff" was compiled by Courteney Stuart, and next week's "FunStuff" will be compiled by another newsroom staffer. To get your event considered, send a press release to event@readthehook.com.

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