A student’s time in Charlottesville can impact their life in a myriad of ways — becoming a bagel connoisseur, an expert on a UNESCO World Heritage site, an owner of a closet full of orange and blue or a deep lover of the local music scene. While not everyone arrives to Grounds a music buff, some may end up walking the Lawn at Final Exercises with their newfound concertgoing companions.
Charlottesville is nationally recognized for a spirited live music scene that is cherished by many University students. With advertisements for concerts plastered across Grounds, a multitude of local venues across the city and echoes of student band shows omnipresent on weekends, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
Whether someone is a composer, a dedicated listener or looking to grow their music knowledge, here are some ways to find new harmonies throughout a student's years on Grounds.
Join a club
No matter how niche a student’s favorite music genre may be, the University’s vast club scene will surely offer opportunities to meet those with similar interests. Although a cappella groups have a prominent reputation in the University's music scene, they are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to music lovers.
For musicians, ensemble clubs can be a great match. Cavalier Symphony Orchestra is student-run and open to all majors who love all things classical. For those looking to immerse themselves in the heart of Appalachian melodies, Hoograss offers an enticing group of bluegrass stringers. Ensemble and composition clubs vary across the spectrum of classical to techno with an invite to all types of musicians.
If someone finds themselves intrigued more by music culture or production, they might pique their interest by tuning in to WXTJ 100.1 FM radio, an ear-catching lineup of songs chosen by student DJs. University Records is a web for those in the music scene, connecting artists around the behind-the-scenes production of a show.
The breadth of clubs at the University empowers students looking for new jam session partners or people to nerd out with on their favorite music topic. For more information on the more than 40 music clubs that the University has to offer, the Hoos Involved website enables students to find one that strikes a chord.
Attend live shows at local venues
Charlottesville offers an array of different venues — both small and large — each of which is structured with unique acoustics that complement the artists on stage. For bigger names, the Jefferson Theater, John Paul Jones Arena and Ting Pavillion are major destinations in the city. Some notable headliners coming this fall to these locations include the Southern rock band Whiskey Myers and indie jam band Goose.
The Jefferson Theater is known for its incredible sonic design on the Downtown Mall. For an amphitheater's concert energy, John Paul Jones Arena is the place, hosting not only iconic winter sporting events, but also world renowned musicians. And, for those who love to lie in the grass while they listen to an artist, Ting Pavilion offers an outdoor concert experience from mid-April to mid-October.
Bars and restaurants in Charlottesville can be great places to catch a set for a smaller and more intimate vibe. The Whiskey Jar, Miller’s Downtown and The Southern Café and Music Hall on the Downtown Mall are great places to check out Charlottesville’s food scene and enjoy dinner with a show.
For audiences packed with undergraduate University students, the Corner offers an array of venues. Elliewood Avenue’s bars include Ellie’s Country Club, Coupe DeVille’s and Crozet Pizza at Buddhist Biker Bar, all of which frequently host weekend gigs for student and local bands. And for the lovers of both music and books, the student-run Ginkgo Bookshop offers frequent jazz and bluegrass sets. University Records and Indieheads are consistently open to those seeking engagement with more obscure or eclectic musical styles through their house shows.
Get involved in the Charlottesville music community
There are many opportunities throughout the city and within local institutions for students to march to the beat of their own drum. Charlottesville has an incredible collection of record stores centered around the Downtown Mall. Hello Goodbye Records, Melody Supreme and Plan 9 Music are all walking distance from the Corner. With vinyl offerings for old collectors waiting to be dusted off and recent releases still wrapped in their plastic, these records are eager for a spin.
Music venues around Charlottesville also offer employment opportunities for University students who are passionate about engaging with the professional side of the local music scene. Instead of just becoming a regular attendee at shows, students can be a part of producing the experience that they cherish, including aiding in the preparation of Charlottesville’s plethora of live events.
Local non-profits create similar roles to more deeply ingrain oneself in the art and artistry of Charlottesville. The Front Porch is a local music school open to all ages, which serves as a great starting point to pick up a long-desired instrument with the organization’s private lessons, group classes and workshops. The school also hosts live concerts throughout the city with volunteers encouraged to join in show setups, box offices and concessions.
The University’s connection to and celebration of the musical world is extensive and storied. From the start of its music technology innovation over 100 years ago with the formation of the University music department in 1920, to the historic Easters music festival of the 1970s that flocked national audiences to Mad Bowl, to Luke Combs headlining Scott Stadium April 4, the University’s music scene has created lasting memories and impressive legacies for generations of graduates.
Although students’ time at the University is strictly temporal, Charlottesville's music scene offers a way to make their fleeting time on Grounds count. Starting a band, discovering a new favorite local spot and finding a new friend in the audience at a concert are a few of the many opportunities offered to make these years memorable.
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