music | ALXnow

Jack Kilby bringing three musical acts to his back yard in Del Ray this Saturday night

Published May 31, 2022 at 1:00PM | Updated May 31, 2022 at 4:12PM

Del Ray's Jack Kilby in his home studio, Crab Shack Music. (Photo via Jack Kilby/Facebook)

Jack Kilby is nearly out of fliers. There’s been a stack of them sitting on a barstool in front of his home recording studio in Del Ray for the last couple weeks promoting an upcoming outdoor concert in his back yard this Saturday night.

On Saturday, June 4, Crab Shack Live at 211 E Oxford Avenue is offering dinner, drinks and live music from 6 to 10 p.m. There will be three 45 minute sets featuring Sam C. Jones and the Sinners, Eliza Harrison Smith and Micah Robinson. There’s a $20 cover for music lovers ages 21 and over, and it’s $15 for everyone else.

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April in Alexandria: Easter egg hunts, musical performances and soul food

By James Cullum

Published April 4, 2022 at 11:05AM

The George Washington National Masonic Memorial in the springtime. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Spring gets into full swing in Alexandria this month, and there are dozens of events around the city to get you out of the house.

Visit Alexandria has compiled a list of events this month around town, including Easter egg hunts, book signings, a film screening and musical performances.

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Old Town concert venue plans programs honoring Afghanistan and Ukraine

By Vernon Miles

Published March 8, 2022 at 10:45AM

Performance at Classical Movement, image via Classical Movements

Fresh off an approval to expand their music venue, the concert series at Classical Movements (711 Princess Street) is planning to highlight the music of two countries in crisis.

One of the two concerts will feature music from Afghanistan, featuring a performance from a recently arrived refugee. The other will feature musicians from the National Symphony and the Washington National Opera/Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in a fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders’ work in Ukraine, according to a release from Classical Movements.

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Gordon Lightfoot, Kevin Bacon and more coming to Birchmere

By Vernon Miles

Published March 7, 2022 at 2:45PM | Updated March 7, 2022 at 3:55PM

Image via The Bacon Brothers/Facebook

ALXnow has good news and bad news.

The good news — not to step on The Zebra’s beat — is Gordon Lightfoot is coming to The Birchmere (3701 Mt Vernon Avenue). The more on-brand bad news: the show is already sold out.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published February 17, 2022 at 5:00AM

A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria. (staff photo by James Cullum)

George Washington birthday parade returning on Monday — “Celebrate Presidents’ Day and the first president’s 290th birthday at the George Washington Birthday Parade on Monday.” [Alexandria Times]

Study: coastal flooding to increase as seas rise 1 foot by 2050 — “Several areas in and around Alexandria are vulnerable, according to an updated interactive tool.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

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Classical Movements gets approval to expand Old Town music venue

By Vernon Miles

Published February 15, 2022 at 2:45PM | Updated February 15, 2022 at 3:02PM

Garden portion of The Rectory set up as music venue during the pandemic in 2020. (via Classical Movements)

Despite complaints from neighbors, Alexandria’s City Council renewed Classical Movements’ permit to continue holding concerts in Old Town and even expand offerings.

Last year, international music tourism company Classical Movements (711 Princess Street) won approval from the city to transform the outdoor space behind their building into a venue for classical music performances. On Saturday, the City Council approved an earlier Planning Commission recommendation with a few amendments.

News

Classical movements tuning up for expansion in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2022 at 3:30PM

Garden portion of The Rectory set up as music venue during the pandemic in 2020. (via Classical Movements)

After nearly two years of hosting outdoor classical music concerts in Old Town, Classical Movements wants to expand their operation.

City Council, which approved Classical Movements’ request to operate last year, will review the application to expand hours and increase seating for the venue at The Rectory at 711 Princess Street at its meeting on Saturday, Feb. 12. Classical Movements wants to increase outdoor seating from 50 to 181, and expand hours from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2021 at 5:00AM

Singers wanted for older adults choir in Alexandria — “Encore Creativity for Older Adults (Encore), an arts education nonprofit, is hosting two 15-week choral programs for people 55 and over beginning the second week of January.” [Zebra]

Christmas in camp in Alexandria — “Fort Ward reenacts Civil War Christmas.” [Alexandria Gazette]

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2021 at 5:00AM

A runner makes their way down a trail near Cameron Run (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Baseball game raises $10,000 for SRO/International Academy soccer program — “Thank you to The Congressional Baseball Game for Charity for their continued support of our SROs Gary and Johnny’s soccer program at the International Academy at Alexandria City High School.” [Facebook]

Washington Post digs into Torpedo Factory fight — “As the Alexandria City Council is set to consider three sharply different visions on how to fund renovations and bring in more visitors, some of the artists at the Torpedo Factory fear they will be kicked out for good. And while the city contends that will not happen, several ideas on the table call for at least some studios to be converted to other uses.” [Washington Post]

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John Waters, Chris Isaak, and more coming to the Birchmere this holiday season

By Vernon Miles

Published November 23, 2021 at 10:40AM

Arlandria music venue The Birchmere has a jam-packed schedule for the holiday season, with a few notable big names and old favorites returning.

Coming up later this week is musician Chris Isaak, best known for his 1989 single Wicked Game.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published October 4, 2021 at 5:00AM

Contaminated Legacy: From slave plantation to industrial pollution, a hidden history of North Old Town — “The land where the power plant is now located was once a slave plantation owned by the first rector of Christ Church, Townshend Dade. In the 1920s, the area experienced rapid industrialization. The American Chlorophyll Company set up operation on the spot where the power plant would later locate the coal pile. And the Potomac River Clay Works had an operation on what is now the parking lot of the power plant. Neighbors in North Old Town say they want all that contaminated soil cleaned up rather than capped in place and left where it is, a common way to deal with these kinds of heavily polluted sites.” [Gazette]

Alexandria Symphony Orchestra opens fall season — “So thrilled the @Alex_Symphony is back, live and in-person at the Schlesinger Center! Live music is back, masked and vaccinated and better than ever!” [Twitter]