Music - dailypress.com

U.S. Army TRADOC Band's live series at Fort Eustis begins June 6

By Sam McDonald — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:56:00 GMT

Federal budget bickering didn't defeat Music Under the Stars . The 81st season of the U.S. Army's free concert series begins June 6 and will continue most Thursday evenings through Aug. 29.

Lonestar reunion show headed to Fort Monroe, according to Whisper Concerts

By Sam McDonald — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:02:00 GMT

For next Sunday's Daily Press, I compiled a list of outdoor music events coming this summer. As usual, the work of hammering together that kind of a piece clued me in on a few interesting events. One is Lonestar at Fort Monroe.

Carl Hunt plans to relaunch Slapwater this year

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:38:00 GMT

Carl Hunt, an original member of the party band Slapwater , was fired from the popular, Peninsula-based group in an acrimonious dispute that surfaced last year.

Review: Last Bison's chamber-folk sound showed growth at the Norfolk Botanical Garden

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

The Last Bison's chamber-folk style is built on homespun, organic elements: The plink of a banjo, the thud of a single drum, soaring harmonies from violin and cello.

Mill Point Music Festival a new endeavor for team of young businessmen

By Sam McDonald , smcdonald@dailypress.com | 757-247-4732 — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

HAMPTON — The idea of launching an all-day music festival would intimidate some people, but not Casey Haas.

Bay Days music lineup will include Mike Aiken, Bria Kelly and Snuff reunion

By Sam McDonald — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

An official announcement is still a few days away, but Bay Days organizers say they are looking at a musical lineup filled with a variety of accomplished local and regional players, from Norfolk's Mike Aiken Band to Smithfield's Bria Kelly .

Enjoy chamber music at Williamsburg Winery May 23

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

When the Virginia Arts Festival performs at the Williamsburg Winery on Thursday, May 23, the menu will pair chamber music with fine food and wines. "Classics at the Vineyards" will spotlight pianist Andre-Michel Schub and violist Beverly Kane Baker in two works by Brahms, the Second Piano Quartet and the Second String Quintet. Throughout the evening enjoy wines, dinner at intermission, and a dessert reception with the musicians. The event begins at 6 p.m., and the winery is located at 5800 Wessex Hundred. Tickets are $100, available by calling 757-282-2822 or online at http://www.vafest.com.

The Last Bison, acoustic rock act from Chesapeake, thunders home after roaming the continent

By Sam McDonald , smcdonald@dailypress.com | 757-247-4732 — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Last Bison, an all-acoustic folk-rock band from Chesapeake, recently returned from a two-month national tour that found the young band singing and strumming for big crowds in Chicago, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Logan Layman and her UnXpected bandmates prepare for busy summer

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:54:00 GMT

When the photo above was taken back in March, 12-year-old Williamsburg resident Logan Layman already knew she was heading to north to play the Chicago Blues Festival on June 6 as part of a youth all-star band.

Nellie McKay, quirky songstress, to perform in Hampton with string quartet

By Sam McDonald — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:57:00 GMT

A Sunday story from my colleague David Nicholson included a nugget of exciting information. Nellie McKay , a piano-playing songwriter known for witty, irreverent tunes, will play The American Theatre in Hampton Nov. 1.

Backstreet Boys to play Virginia Beach in August

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:39:00 GMT

What the world needs now is ... The Backstreet Boys ? Someone seems to think so. The group's "In a World Like This Tour" will touch down in Virginia Beach Aug. 17, promoters announced on Monday.

Slapwater band avoids legal fight, renames itself Slapnation

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:13:00 GMT

Slapwater , the Peninsula's premier party band, has renamed itself in hopes of leaving behind a bitter fight over rights to its name. The group led by drummer George "Dody" Hunt III is now called Slapnation , according to its website.

Hampton reggae fest at Buckroe aims to be a family affair

By Sam McDonald , smcdonald@dailypress.com | 757-247-4732 — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Buckroe Beach Reggae Fest brings together fans of Jamaican-flavored music and culture for a day of fresh air, good grooves and laid-back fellowship.

Virginia Opera presents 'Carousel' in Norfolk

By David Nicholson , dbnicholson@dailypress.com | 757-247-4794 — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Matthew Worth has tackled some demanding roles in his operatic career, including the philandering "Don Giovanni" at Virginia Opera and Father Flynn in Minnesota Opera's world premiere of "Doubt."

Audra McDonald performs at the Virginia Arts Festival

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Audra McDonald's five Tony Awards include best performer roles in musicals like "Ragtime" and "Porgy and Bess." She found wider acclaim appearing in four seasons of the hit ABC series "Private Practice." Now the Broadway legend is back onstage with a concert at the intimate Attucks Theatre. Sponsored by the Virginia Arts Festival, the 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16, event will include show tune favorites, classic songs from the movies, and original pieces written especially for her. The theater is located at 1010 Church St., Norfolk. Tickets are $50 available by calling 282-2822 or online at http://www.vafest.org.

Glenn Miller Orchestra strikes up the swing in Newport News

By Sam McDonald , smcdonald@dailypress.com | 757-247-4732 — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Relive the glory days of the age of swing when the 17-piece Glenn Miller Orchestra lands at the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News on Sunday, May 12. Miller died in 1944, very much in the prime of his life. Just a few years before his demise, his big, brassy band was dominating popular music with dozens of hits including "In the Mood," "Tuxedo Junction" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The orchestra playing Newport News, led by Nick Hilscher, promises to conjure up Miller's moods and tones faithfully. Also on the bill is the vocal harmony group The Diamonds. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $27-$42 and are available from fergusoncenter.org or by calling (855)FERG-TIX. For information, call 594-8752.

Beach music series at Yorktown waterfront launches in June

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:19:00 GMT

Once again, a beach music series will give dancers a chance to shag at the historic and picturesque Yorktown waterfront. The Shagging on the Riverwalk Beach Music Concert Series will return June 6 with Band of Oz .

Kiss to strut at Portsmouth amphitheater in August

By Sam McDonald — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:49:00 GMT

What's summer without a 1970s-style rock spectacle complete with greasepaint, flash pots and fist-pumping choruses? Kiss wants to make sure you don't find out.

Hampton Roads songwriters sue Justin Bieber, Usher over rights to "Somebody to Love"

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:55:00 GMT

Two local songwriters filed a $10 million lawsuit last week accusing Justin Bieber and Usher of stealing their tune "Somebody to Love" to create the hit single of the same name that reached No. 15 on Billboard's pop chart in 2010.

Mother's Day gifts? Concert tickets for Tim McGraw, Lil Wayne and Bob Dylan go on sale

By Sam McDonald — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:32:00 GMT

For those hard-to-buy-for mothers, consider picking up tickets to one of the big concerts going on sale this weekend. Virginia Beach shows by Lil Wayne, Tim McGraw or Bob Dylan and Wilco could solve your Mother's Day problem.

Rush, a band that took a slow ride to rock glory, plays Virginia Beach on Sunday

By Sam McDonald , smcdonald@dailypress.com | 757-247-4732 — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Tom Sawyer — not the Mark Twain character, but the Neil Peart one — has grown up and joined the country club better known as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Rush fan Marian Clayton of Newport News wins free tickets to Sunday's show

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:17:00 GMT

"I'm literally shaking right now," said Marian Clayton, a Newport News resident who works at NASA. "I'm such a big fan. You have no idea." That was Clayton's response when she learned that she'd won the Daily Press Rush trivia contest.

Seth Stainback and Roosterfoot hung with the big boys at Scope on Tuesday

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:23:00 GMT

Playing opening slot for Bob Seger was memorable for Virginia Beach singer

Seth Stainback , a 29-year-old rock singer from Virginia Beach, stood in front of a crowd of thousands Tuesday night, opening for Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band.

Rush trivia contest finale: Question No. 3

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:31:00 GMT

A winner will be announced after 4 p.m. today

We've reached the finale of our Rush trivia contest. If you answer the following question correctly -- and you also got the right answer on the two previous questions -- your name will be entered into a drawing.

Jackie Scott, recovering from surgery, reschedules her Hampton Block Party gig

By Sam McDonald — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:58:00 GMT

Full Block Party music schedule announced

Organizers of the Hampton Block Party have made a change to the entertainment for Saturday's season launch. Blues singer Jackie Scott has been replaced by Blues Empacts, Mojo Collins and Herbie D and the Dangermen .