Live Music in Charlottesville
September is a transitional month, with hot, humid spells alternating with cooler nights, as late summer gives way to fall.
This is when the concert calendar brings some big acts outdoors for end-of-season shows as the action begins to move indoors in anticipation of colder weather.
The Ting Pavilion’s September schedule is stacked for the first part of the month. On September 5, Texas cowboy troubadour Charley Crockett brings his Lone Star state of mind to the Downtown Mall.
Crockett, a prolific songwriter, has a honeyed croon, a smokin’ hot band, and an easygoing disposition, despite a recent dust-up with Jack White over Crockett’s decision to cancel an opening act he deemed inappropriate for his audience. It’s an eccentrically weird deal all around, but kinda fun at the same time.
Right on Crockett’s heels comes another artist who’s a little eccentric, a little country, a little psychedelic, and altogether unclassifiable—Sierra Ferrell.
She’s enjoyed a steady rise in popularity over the last few years by putting on theatrical yet musically grounded shows that tap into her ethereal voice and wispy stage persona. Her current Heavy Petal Tour stops in Cville on September 8.
Next up, on September 10, is Dark Star Orchestra. DSO is the OG Grateful Dead tribute band and they still have the goods after nearly 30-some-odd years on the road.
Their foundational innovation was to recreate old shows in full—only to reveal the specifics at the end of the night.
I recall a late ‘90s gig at Trax where the setlist seemed awfully familiar until I realized they were performing a Roanoke Civic Center show I’d attended in 1987. Pretty cool! They don’t do the whole show thing as much anymore, opting for stand-alone setlists, but DSO still has the ability to transport you back in time. Just close your eyes and you’re there—almost.
On September 20, Willie Nelson & Family make a late-season appearance with support from Particle Kid, aka son Micah Nelson.
Micah has played with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, among others, and joins sibling Lukas as a chip off the old block talent in his own right. As far as Willie himself goes, well, he’s still performing in the winter of life at 93. With the recent loss of Dolly Parton, I’ll repeat my mantra—go see the greats before they’re gone.
Meanwhile, at the Jefferson, some interesting shows are coming through.
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals (September 18) is followed by Cyril Neville on the 19th. Neville was a member of two legendary New Orleans bands, the Meters and the Neville Brothers, and is genuine Crescent City royalty.
This show is billed as “Cyril Neville Plays the Dead.” I know, I know, there are a lot of Grateful Dead-related projects out there right now, but the Neville Brothers share a special place in Deadhead hearts, having opened for the band on multiple occasions, while the Dead also covered the Neville Brothers songs “Hey Pocky Way” and “Iko Iko.” This one should be good.
Finally, on September 27, the California Honeydrops return to town, bringing their retro Oakland funk show to the Jefferson’s stage. This one’s on a Sunday night and you should heed the old axiom—Never Miss a Sunday Show!
