The Scene

MusicDetour.com’s commentary on music, performances, and the DC metro area music scene

True Sound returns to Blacksburg, Virginia during Virginia Tech’s homecoming weekend. The band will be playing at Awful Arthur’s in Blacksburg for the first time since their 2009 New Year’s Eve party. Band members are sure to bring their original blend of Hip-Hop, Soul, Rock, R&B and Reggae with extended jams to town that night. The show is Saturday, October 10th at 10pm with special guest DJ Sprigs spinning before the show and between sets. If you are in Blacksburg for Homecoming, be sure to catch this show. Tickets are $5 at the door, admission is 21+.

On Friday, July 17th, John Legend will bring his band to the Merriweather Post Pavillion at 7:30pm. Legend has been touring to sell his 2008 release Revolver. While John Legend’s voice is enough of a reason to get anyone into the crowd, also know that his summer tour is part of a “green” promotion. The “Greening” tour means that the band is performing “Carbon-Neutral concerts – offsetting CO2 emissions from venue energy use, buses and trucks, flights and hotel accommodations by supporting renewable energy projects.” One of the new songs that he has recently recorded has been leaked to the public; check-out “When it Rains” here. It’s my understanding that he’s also been playing “When it Rains” along with other new songs at his live shows.

One of the big events each year in Tidewater Virginia is the Hampton Jazz Festival at the Hampton Coliseum. However the big irony about the Hampton Jazz Fest is that it has very little jazz today. I went several years ago and saw The Average White Band, Chaka Khan and George Benson. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of all of three of those acts, but George Benson is the only act that you could remotely call Jazz. This year is no different . . . each night the major acts playing are not jazz. It looks like it’s going to be a great festival, I just think that they need to change the name to the Hampton R&B Festival or the Hampton Soul Festival or something. Anyway, this year’s festival is June 26-28. Click here for tickets. Check out after the jump for the full line-up. (more…)

This Thursday, March 19th, if you’re in the Richmond area (or want to travel to see some great live music) don’t miss Jah-I-Witness‘ Album Release Party at Fantasy Island Cafe and Grille. While you may have already checked out the album review of “The Struggle, The Love, The Glory” and purchased it online, nothing is like catching Jah-I live. Not only is this an album release party its also celebrating the opening of Fantasy Island Cafe and Grille in Richmond. The show starts at 8:30pm.

Wolf Trap has a great season of shows going on this summer and a handful of mini festivals. Sunday, June 14th is The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show at 8pm in the File center at Wolf Trap. Tickets are $22 in the Lawn and $40 in-house. (more…)

Self-publishing an album can be one of the most difficult and most rewarding processes that an independent artist can experience. Jah-I-Witness has successfully completed his second self-published album with “The Struggle, The Love, the Glory” (The S.L.G.) and this is one you definitely gotta check-out. This album is a big departure from his first album, “Stranger”, which was a cutting edge eclectic/artistic mix of sounds that focused on rockin’. From the first cut of the album, The S.L.G.’s strength is in its lyrics and its dope production. Jah-I’s always been known as a nice MC, but with this album he demonstrated that he’s also a hot producer. (more…)

The Second of the American Inaugural Ball’s two balls is the Urban Ball. This one is geared towards a younger audience than its older sibling (Legends Ball). Ludacris will host this event and will be geared primarily to Rap/Hip-Hop and R&B artists. The attire is going to be slightly more relaxed than the Legends Ball. “If you’re attending the Urban Ball, then dress to impress; but no jeans, no hoodies, no sneakers or ball caps will be allowed.” Once again this Ball has Cocktails at 6:30pm and doors open at 8:00pm. The show should last until Midnight. For the line-up see after the jump. (more…)

Its been over a year and a half since James Brown passed away and his music is sorely missed. This Saturday, August 23rd, Fred Wesley, Brown’s former trombonist, will play with the tribute to James Brown known as Still Black, Still Proud. James Brown was hugely popular in Africa and a cast of African musicians join musicians from Brown’s band to put on a concert in the name of a man and a movement. By choosing to name the group after one of Brown’s most politically poignant songs, the band attests that both the movement and the music are still here to continue on in the wake of the Godfather of Soul’s death. Get down and Get up at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC this Saturday at 8:00pm.

After seeing Erykah Badu with The Roots in Richmond, I can only imagine how great of a show is in store this Saturday, August 2nd. The Roots will share the stage with not only Jill Scott, but also Chuck Brown at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. This will be a very high energy show. No one sings with as much body and soul in her voice as Jill Scott. I don’t think that we’ll be lucky enough to have everyone on the stage at the same time, but I have no doubt that this show will rock. This show will be locking down Hip-Hop, Go-Go, R&B and Soul. Also performing is Estelle. (more…)

Its only the middle of July and so far Wolf Trap has been keeping the lock down on performances by classic R&B artists. Tonight, Tuesday, July 15th, soul legend Al Green will be performing at Wolf Trap to keep the summer line-up hot. Known as one of the most successful crossover artists, Green has topped the charts with both soul albums and gospel albums. Now he’s touring to promote his newest album, Lay it Down. The show starts at 8pm.

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