Get Out! events, shows, things to do

"Wheels" roll into town

“Imagine a blend of the passion of the Avett Brothers, the instrumentals of Old Crow Medicine Show, and then sprinkle in the backwoods feel of The Legendary Shack Shakers. In truth, attempting to compare The Steel Wheels to anyone is an injustice, since after one listen you can hear that they stand very well on their own perch.”—John Walker, Americana Roots
 
Get ready for a dose of good ol' mountain music courtesy of The Steel Wheels, a four-piece band out of Harrisonburg that's re-writing the songbook for mountain folk. Trent Wagler's soaring tenor (with four-part harmonies inspired by the group's Mennonite heritage ), Eric Brubaker on a frisky fiddle, Brian Dickel dancing with the upright bass, and Jay Lapp's distinctive mandolin style make this show at the Southern an Americana scene you don't want to miss.  Joining The Steel Wheels is Saskatchewan-born, Brooklyn-based folk singer Ana Egge, who has made a name for herself as a kind of Gillian Welch figure with a rocker attitude, which once prompted Lucinda Williams to call her "the Nina Simone of folk." Finally, Afton's Blue Mountain Brewery's line-up of craft beers will be available during the evening, along with their special "Steel Wheels E.S.B," actually made by the folks at Blue Mountain in honor of the band. Note: if you purchase a VIP ticket to the show, you can get in at 6:30pm for a beer tasting and a special acoustic performance by The Steel Wheels.
May 25, The Southern, 8pm, $15-$25 VIP

OPENING ACTS

Funkalicious, baby

You'll find such genuine joy and exuberance in the music of Beleza, the local duo of Humberto Oliveira Sales and Madeline Holly Sales, who brought their Brazilian-inspired samba, blues, and funk to Charlottesville in the mid 2000s, that you'll find it hard not to smile and move at their Fridays After Five show at the Pavilion. We're sure of it.  Around 2011, you could say they "found" themselves a bit, at least according to Hook music writer Stephanie Marie Garcia. "What we have now is not really a Brazilian thing anymore," said Madeline at the time. "What comes out of me is this bluesy, funky soul stuff, and he has this funky Brazilian influence– so we've come up with the new tagline 'Funkalicious Samba Soul' and dropped 'Brazil' from the name." They'll be getting some help from Dave Berzonsky on bass, Matt Wyatt on drums, and Eric Gertner on sax and percussion.
May 24, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, 5:30pm, free

George Melvin birthday celebration

Just 63 at the time of his death, local keyboard wizard George Melvin was taken from us far too soon back in 2010. Known for his six-night-a-week gigs at Keswick Hall, not to mention additional appearances around town, like at Fellini's #9, and a Hammond B3 organ he nicknamed "Miss Lucy," Melvin was a local music presence his entire life. About five months before his death, local musicians organized a "Jazz-In for George" to help with his medical bills for the Type II diabetes and kidney problems he struggled with, and folks like Dave Matthews Band sax player LeRoi Moore and late drummer Johnny Gilmore joined in. On May 25, Fellini's #9 will remember Melvin by celebrating his birthday. His prized organ Miss Lucy will be there along with Matty Metcalf, Sammy Horn, Skip Haga and the Bees 3 (featuring Steve Riggs and Jim Ralston), Betty Jo Dominick and friends (featuring members of the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church), plus Art Wheeler, Robert Jospé, and Butch Taylor. Fellini's will also be selling commemorative Melvin pint glasses.
May 25, Fellini's #9, 5pm, $5

Today Virginia, tomorrow the world!

Earlier this year, Wintergreen Performing Arts (WPA) announced the Festival of Wines at Wintergreen Resort, which they themed, “Today Virginia, Tomorrow the World!” Well, some international winemakers took that as a challenge, and WPA accepted. The battle lines have been drawn, and some of your favorite local vineyards are going head-to-head against vineyards from several other countries. Round one on Saturday will feature DuCard, Horton and Lazy Days versus Italy, Australia, Chile, Germany, and the rest of the United States. Round two on Sunday will showcase Barboursville and Veritas versus France, New Zealand, Argentina, Austria, Spain, and South Africa. Celebrate Memorial Day weekend at Wintergreen Resort and sample some of the finest wines, not only from Virginia, but from all over the world. Proceeds from this event support the performance and educational activities of Wintergreen Performing Arts. A discounted two-day ticket is also available, and the purchase of a ticket gets you a souvenir glass. Food will also be available at the festival for purchase.
May 25-26, 39 Wintergreen Drive, 12pm, $20

THE LIST

5/23

Charity: 13th Annual Songwriter’s Reunion Benefit for Camp Albemarle. Plank Road Exchange. 6:30pm. Free.
Concert: Three Notch'd Road Baroque Ensemble presents Bach’s Lunch. Christ Episcopal Church. 12pm. Free.
History: Charlottesville Historic Walking Tours. 200 2nd Street NE. 5:30pm. Free

Reading: Virginia Pye Book Reading. WriterHouse. 7pm. Free

5/24
Art: 7th Annual Chocolate Chowdown. PVCC Gallery. 5pm. Free
Art: Taking Time by Ashley Florence. Blenheim Vineyards. 9am. Free.
Art: Watercolors and Phototransfers by Kathy Kuhlmann. BozArt Gallery. 12pm. Free.

5/25
Sports: UEFA Champions League Final. The Paramount. 2pm. Free
Wine: 2013 Festival of Wines. Wintergreen Resort. 12pm. $20
Art: Decoration/Destruction features the work of Olga Antonova, Laurent Crasté, and Cheryl Pope. Second Street Gallery. 11am. Free.

5/26
Film: Paraderest presents Buster Keaton’s The General. The Paramount. 4pm. Free.
Sports: Cliffhanger Mountain Bike Challenge. Wintergreen Resort. 10am. $40
Charity: Pancakes for Parkinson Disease. Morningside of Charlottesville. 12pm. $5

5/27
Community: Charlottesville SOUP. Charlottesville Day School. 6:30pm. $10
Comedy: Improv Mondays with Hamner Improv Troupe. The Hamner Theater. 6pm. Free.
Art: Miniature Books Exhibition. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. 2pm. Free.

5/28
Reading: New York Times Bestselling author, Donald McCaig. Rockbridge Regional Library. 7pm. Free.
Food: Mystery Dinner Theater. Devil Backbone. 6:30pm. Reservation required.
Reading: Spring Reading and Open House. WriterHouse. 7pm. Free.

5/29
Comedy: Improv Comedy for Beginners. Play On Theater. 7pm. Free.
Art: Corot to Cezanne Exhibition. Fralin Museum of Art. 12pm. Free
Art: Traces of the Hand: Master Drawings from the Collection of Frederick and Lucy H. Herman. Fralin Museum of Art. 12pm. Free.

 

SOUND HOUND

5/23
Adrian Duke at Devils Backbone
Ronnie Johnson at Wild Wolf
Mariana Bell and Friends, Guerilla Tactics, Emily Herndon at The Southern. $8
Jimmy Stelling and Friends at Fellini’s #9
Loose Change at Blue Moon Diner
Beleza Duo at Keswick Hall Fossett’s Bar
Acorn Sisters at Whiskey Jar

5/24
Arana y Compas at Devils Backbone
Jon Spear Band at Wild Wolf
The Bad Old Hats at Fellini’s #9. $5
Beleza, Morro Azul Samba School at Fridays After Five.
Chamomile and Whiskey, The Last Bison, Sally Rose Band at The Jefferson. $12-$14
The Seedz at Joe’s Sports Bar and Pool Hall
Oona Love at Blue Moon Diner
Carol Covell at Escafe
Eli Cook at Durty Nelly’s. $5
Grits n’ Gravy at Rapture
Crow Jane at Whiskey Jar
Hunter Wolf and ARE, Friends of Cesar Romero, Johnny Law, The Goons at Main Street Annex.

5/25
Tony Bruno at Devils Backbone
Travis Elliot and Tucker Rogers at Wild Wolf
Justin Storer and the Working Effective at Plank Road Exchange
The Steel Wheels, Ana Egge, Blue Mountain Brewery at The Southern. $12-$25
The Robert Jospé Experience at Fellini’s #9. $5
Carl Anderson Band, Liam Rowland, Halyana at Jefferson Vineyards
Nikki Talley at Mudhouse Crozet
Eli Cook at Afton Vineyards
The Porch Cats at Whiskey Jar

5/26
Chase’s Lament at Devils Backbone
Chris and Goose at Wild Wolf
The Hogwaller Ramblers at Fellini’s #9
Eli Cook at Wintergreen Resort

5/27
Eli Cook at Wild Wolf
The Men, Nurse Beach, Left and Right at Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar $12

5/28
Travis Elliott at Fellini’s #9
Bill Adams at Blue Moon Diner
The Sabor Trio at Escafe

5/29
Justin Trawick, Shanna Hoar, Michael Clem, Evan Hansen, David Tewksbury, Willie DE, Stone Aielli, Genna Matthew and Carl Anderson at The Southern $10
Danny Barrale at Fellini’s #9
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at The Paramount. $59.50-$125
Jim Waive at Blue Moon Diner
Nikki Talley at Baine’s Books in Appomattox