Announcing 2024 Veer Music Awards Nominees
As you can see below, 2023 was a sensational year for bands and musicians in the 757 region. Voting will begin this week. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for announcement. Note: Most of the categories required potential nominees to have released a single, EP, album,...
Music Video of the Year Nominees
Below are the 2024 Veer Music Awards nominees for Music Video of the Year Celeste Kellogg, “Save a Dance For Me This Christmas” tyler donavan, “Crescendo” Magg Dylan, “GTFO” Sunny Moonshine, “2Tone” featuring Lex Lucent Jarrett Beeler,...
A Pair of Beach Kids Are Taking Beverage Development and Packing to the Next Level
(Josh Canada and Megan Riggs) By Joel Rubin Driving through a heavily industrial area of Chesapeake, you would never guess what happens daily inside a massive warehouse just off Bainbridge Boulevard. On the spacious floor are four sophisticated processing “lines,”...
Posed Photography Nominees: Veer Music Awards
Will Clarke: “Turncoat Syndicate” (Pictured above) Pete Federico: “Anthony Rosano and The Conqueroos” (below) Robert Peck: “WOAH” Michael Spencer: “Eight Inner Gates” Wendy Woodell: “Barry Manilow’s Wardrobe” Summer Lee: “Eight...
Photography Live Nominees
The following are the nominees in the Live Photography category of the 2024 Veer Music Awards. Robert Peck: “Curtis Cowles and Brad Garrett from Buckshot performing at New Realm in Virginia Beach”(Pictured above) Jaybird: “The Lazy Dangers at Chicho’s Backstage” Pete...
A Jazz Non-Profit Is Born
(Jae Sinnett suits-up to build a jazz legacy for Hampton Roads. Photo courtesy of Jae Sinnett. By Jeff Maisey While the Hampton Roads region — known as Tidewater back in the day — gave birth to the great vocalist Ella Fitzgerald and saxophonist/arranger Tommy Newsom,...
ESSAY: The Flame of Faith
By Tom Robotham Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ On these two commandments hang all...
Big Ugly Wins 2023 Golden Tap Award
Big Ugly Brewing won the 2023 Golden Tap Award in a region-wide competition where the tally was picked by readers and our committee of judges — including Diane Catanzaro, Chris Jones, Brian Koski, and Jen McDonald — provided expert analysis. The 757 region craft...
Iceland: An Ultimate Roadtrip
(A horse riding tour stops for a photo-op at Skogafoss in southern Iceland) By Jeff Maisey PBS travel guru Rick Steves was motoring around Iceland the past July. Steves posted daily blogs from the road, proclaiming the country’s scenic highway to be the “ultimate...
ESSAY: The Killing Fields
By Tom Robotham Last month, after Hamas fighters bulldozed their way into Israel and slaughtered some 1,400 people—including children and the elderly—I struggled to come to terms with the horrific news. Over the next few weeks, I watched CNN coverage for hours on end...
Brandy Clark Brings Grammy Tune to Norfolk
By Jim Morrison Brandy Clark's first Grammy win this year began with a Grammy loss two years ago. She was nominated -- for the 9th and 10th times -- for Song of the Year for "A Beautiful Noise" sung by Brandi Carlile and Alicia Keys and for Best American Roots...
Dance Theatre of Harlem: It’s About People
(Dance Theatre of Harlem Company in Sounds of Hazel. Photo by Jeff Cravotta) By Jerome Langston “He taught me that it’s bigger than the art. It’s about people,” says Robert Garland, the new artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), referring to the legendary...
Virginia Chorale Concludes 40th Season with World Premiere
(Composer Gregory Spears) By Jeff Maisey Virginia Chorale will conclude its 40th season with the world premiere of “The Neighboring Village,” a vocal composition it commissioned from Virginia Beach native Gregory Spears. The new song is the highlight on a program...
STAGE: A Love Letter to the Harlem Renaissance
(Director Jerrell L. Henderson) By Jerome Langston There is much to see inside the large MacArthur Center rehearsal space, for Virginia Stage Company’s latest production, the Pearl Cleage drama, Blues for an Alabama Sky. The magic of theater is blossoming, in a space...
Energetically, Serenely Glimmering Music from the Virginia Symphony
(Conductor Thomas Wilkins) By Montague Gammon III Take your seat, for a concert of joyousness. The Virginia Symphony’s Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto concert in late April showers the Ferguson Center, Chrysler Hall and the Sandler Center with “Pure joy,” to quote an...
Les Violons du Roy: Timeless Music, Treasure Trove of Jewels
(Classical guitarist Miloš Karadaglić will join Les Violons du Roy on stage.) By Montague Gammon III Hampton Roads snagged first dibs on a new, century spanning program of truly golden oldies, thanks to the Virginia Arts Festival. The celebrated French Canadian...
Marlin Mural Festival at VWUm
By Betsy DiJulio If you are an educator—or even if you’re not—and find yourself envious of this capstone assignment for art students at Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU), the brainchild of Professor John Rudel, you would be forgiven that deadly sin. How he managed to...
The Poem Wants to be Heard
(Poet Tim Seibles and jazz bassist/composer Chris Brydge. Photo by Jennifer Fish.) By Tom Robotham Most of us, I suspect, were introduced to poetry through the written word, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. And yet, when we read poems in silence—in the...
Lessons From The O’Jays
(Eddie Levert of The O’Jays) By Jeff Maisey The O’Jays are one of America’s most beloved old school soul and R&B groups. You no doubt know the songs from radio play and television commercials: “Love Train,” “I Love Music,” “Use Ta Be My Girl,” and...
Justin Kauflin Headlines The Z
(Justin Kauflin performing at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. Photo by Andrea Palmucci.) By Jerome Langston The first time I heard acclaimed jazz pianist and composer, Justin Kauflin, actually play — was in support of legendary jazz vocalist, Sheila Jordan, whose...
Love Song Hits All the Right Plant-Based Notes
By Betsy DiJulio “I’m not gonna write you a love song ‘Cause you asked for it ‘Cause you need one…” Nope, like alternative pop artist, Sara Bareilles, lilts, “I’m not gonna write you a love song ‘cause its make or breaking this.” Why? Because Virginia...
Tea is Just One Jewel in Prince Tea House’s Crown
(Afternoon tea, anyone? Photo courtesy of Prince Tea House VB.) By Marisa Marsey When someone says tea house, what do you picture? A stiff upper-lipped British parlor, fine bone china, crustless watercress sandwiches and clotted cream? Perhaps your thoughts race to a...
BEER: Crossing the Thin Brew Line
(Beer-tender Cara and Thin Brew Line’s new brewer, Raf Corredor. Photo by Chris Jones.) By Diane Catanzaro & Chris Jones There you are in Virginia Beach, looking for a place to get a libation, a sip of suds, a beer. You’d like something fresh, delicious, and...
The Grey Goose Turns 40
(The Grey Goose now serves brunch six days a week. Photo by Grey Goose ) By Marisa Marsey “That was really tasty,” said Phillip Epstein as he and his wife Dana exited The Grey Goose Tea Room in Downtown Hampton. “But I don’t need to go back again.” The year was 2007....
Mexican-Inspired for Cinco de Mayo
By Jeff Maisey Mexican lagers have been a favorite amongst local beer lovers, especially on Hampton Roads’ notoriously humid, hot days of spring and summer. Beer brands from South of the Border like Modelo, Dos Equis, Tecate, Cerveza Pacifico Clara have...
REVIEW: Crudo Nudo is a Delight
(A vegan’s dream come true dish. Photo courtesy of Crudo Nudo.) By Betsy DiJulio Sadly, I was late to the Crudo Nudo party. Until recently, I was under the mistaken impression that the storefront restaurant, open for four years, was charcuterie-heavy with little to...
DINING: Comforts of Ireland
(Robert McGregor Wallace, the general manager at Grace O’Malley’s, displays the house-made fish and chips. The Scotland native said, “That’s the real thing.”) Local pubs serve fish and chips and other traditional dishes By Jim Roberts There may be a friendly rivalry...
Chef Jae in Your Kitchen
(Jae Sinnett prepares everything from scratch in your kitchen. Photo by Mark Robbins By Jeff Maisey Let’s say you enjoy the good things in life and within your social circle are likeminded friends who equally appreciate the sounds of jazz, savor a select bottle of...
Twin Restaurant Weeks
(Restaurant Week is a great way to explore creative culinary creations at Mermaid Winery on Shore Drive. Photo courtesy of Mermaid Winery.) By Jeff Maisey Restaurant Weeks serve as a promotion for dining establishments during what would otherwise be a slow period and...
Benchtop Brewing Wins 2021 Golden Tap Award
(Benchtop Brewing celebrates its 3rd Golden Tap Award) Staff Report Norfolk’s Benchtop Brewing Company took home 10 medals and earned the most cumulative points to make it Veer Magazine’s 2021 Golden Tap Awards overall winner. Gold, silver and bronze medals were...
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