It’s the first of August and the summertime heat is in full swing.  Enjoy the cool 90 degree weather today and tomorrow because by mid-week next week it’s promising to be hotter than Hades around here.  I believe I heard the weatherman say heat indexes between 100 and 110 by Tuesday or Wednesday.  I so love not having air-conditioning.

But if you like it hot, then let me direct you towards the Charlottesville Pavilion for Fridays After Five for a performance by one of the most blistering flat-pick guitarists around.  Larry Keel is a two-national flatpick champion.  His style of bluegrass combines tradition and space into a mix that was once described by reknown banjoist and slide guitar player Tony Furtado as:  “Wild-kinetic-spasmodic-down in the earth Bluegrass”. 

Larry Keel performs with his band Natural Bridge (which features his wife Jenny on bass) this evening at the Pavilion.  The talented local duo Birdlips open.  Gates at 5:30pm.  No admission charge.

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For the rest of your weekend happenings…

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Friday, August 1

• Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart at Gravity Lounge.  7:30pm.  $10.  Stacey is Steve Earle’s sister.  Mark Stuart is her husband.  They’ve been performing and recording together for almost ten years now.  With a sound that falls somewhere between Iris Dement and Nanci Griffith, if those names ring a bell then you should probably check her out.  The album Simple Gearle is a great jumping off point for the intrigued.  With special guest Tom and Emily and the Honey Dewdrops.

• John D’Earth (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Kirk Nurock (piano) perform as part of the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival Friday at 7:30pm.  The duo will present America’s Jazz Legends –Ellington, Monk, and More.  Wintergreen Resort.  $25 adults / $10 ages 10 - 17 / under 10 free.

• The Downbeat Project performs at Maya Friday at 10pm.  No cover.

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Saturday, August 2

• The Reading Rocks Music Festival.  Saturday from 2 - 9pm at Cardinal Point Winery.  Benefit for the Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle.  Not to be missed!  Performances by Jim Waive and the Young Divorcees, Andy Waldeck, 6 Day Bender, Junior Moment & the Fun Thieves, and Darrell Rose and the International Councilors.  Family pass $45 / Adults $22 / Under 17 $11

• Eli Cook and Electric Holy Firewater bring the blues to Durty Nelly’s Saturday at 9:30pm.  $5.

• Local singer/songwriter John Pringle with special guest Joia Wood perform at Gravity Lounge Saturday at 8pm.  $10.

• The John D’Earth Jazz Quartet performs Saturday at 10pm at Fellini’s. $5.

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Sunday, August 3

• Booze, beer, and Barling and Collins.  The guitar and cello duo better known as B.C. continue their Sunday residency at Miller’s on the Downtown Mall.  11pm.  No cover.

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Random Notes

• The Albemarle County Fair continues this weekend.  Friday 4pm-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm, and Sunday 1-6pm.  Go ride the Scrambler, grab a bag of cotton candy, and do whatever it is you do when you’re stopped at the top of the ferris wheel.

• For more music listings check out our Charlottesville Events at the right hand side of this page.

• And as always, for more weekend events check out the Weekend Preview from our partners in crime over at cVillain.  Over and out!

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