VOTE! 2024 VEER MUSIC AWARDS!
As you can see below, 2023 was a sensational year for bands and musicians in the 757 region. Voting is now live through January 21. Note: Most of the categories required potential nominees to have released a single, EP, album, or music video in 2023. We also...
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...
New Generation Shines in Little Shop of Horrors
(The Urchins: Shaniya Reddy, Jalen Whitmore, Bella McKenzie, Tahtiana Crawford, Stephanie Tillman-Liggins, and Micah Lister) By Montague Gammon III It’s musical theater based on the extra low budget, black and white movie that helped set 23-year-old Jack Nicholson on...
Making Music Sound Seamless
By Jeff Maisey Talk about a big band with an enormous sound and array of talent, Seamless — based in Hampton Roads — was recently named the house band at Rivers Casino. As a full band, Seamless includes cover a variety of classic songs ranging from Stevie Wonder’s...
Assemblage Artists Assemble at Assembly
(“Mr. President” by Sam Hundley) By Betsy DiJulio For their summer show at Assembly, Asa and Kira Jackson of the Newport News CAN Foundation (Contemporary Art Network) assembled three Hampton Roads-based artists who have long made art from found and manipulated...
Kingfish Brings Blues to Jazz Fest
(Christone “Kingfish” Ingram) By Jerome Langston Thousands of fans of jazz and R&B are expected to flock to this year’s 54th annual Hampton Jazz & Music Festival, which will feature music stars like Boyz II Men, Kem, Coco Jones, Jon Batiste, and...
Several Debuts at Norfolk Theatre Festival
("The Brothers Size" runs June 19-22 at NSU Brown Hall MainStage Theater.) By Montague Gammon III Three new theater companies hit local stages for the first time as part of the Virginia Arts Festival’s 2024 Theater Festival; one is our newest fully professional...
Tower of Power Still Rocks to Different Beat
By Jim Morrison From the beginning, Tower of Power co-founder Emilio Castillo grooved to a different beat. Growing up in Oakland, Castillo formed his first band with his brother. They did covers, but obscure covers. Rather than James Brown’s “I Feel Good," they did...
Sublime Headlines Point Break Fest
By Jim Morrison Sublime's lead singer, Bradley Nowell, died of a heroin overdose in the spring of 1996. His son, Jakob, was 11 months old. Two months later, the Long Beach band released their third album of their groundbreaking punk, rock, ska, and reggae stew. It...
Friends Join Forces for a Folksy Festival
By Montague Gammon III A Grammy winning singer-songwriter from New England, a finger pickin’ multi-instrument virtuoso from Northern Virginia, and a sibling-led bluegrass band from the tiny musical hotbed of Floyd, in Appalachian Virginia, walk into the Virginia Arts...
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...
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...
TRAVEL & DRINK: Sixteen Days in Belgium
(Wife and husband beer writers Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones at Cafe Den Obelix in Hall, Belgium. Photo by Kate Keese.) By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones When you’re sitting there in your silk upholstered chair and thinking about your next beer-focused “Vayca,”...
Get a Taste of Smithfield at Red Point Taphouse
A welcoming sign in Smithfield: (L-R) Nick Hess, Julie Hess and Tim Ryan. Photo by Diane Catanzaro By Chris Jones and Diane Catanzaro Farm-to-table dining AND craft beer brewed on premises in a small-town historic building? Yes, please! If this sounds good to...
Prepare for 757 Battle of the Beers
The Garage Brewery won the last Battle of the Beers event. Photo by Eye of the Storm Photography courtesy of Beach Ambassadors. By Jeremy Bender More than 30 regional breweries will vie for this year’s 757 Battle of the Beers crown. The event is held on the grounds...
Suffolk Surprises with Superb Suds at Nansemond Brewing Station
(Sample a variety of beer styles in scenic downtown Suffolk at Nansemond Brewing Station. Photo courtesy of the brewery.) By Diane Catanzaro and Chris Jones Locals may know the Nansemond River, that the Nansemond Native American tribe lived along the river, or that...
Still Tasty After All These Years
TASTE OF SUCCESS: (L-R) Peter and Jon Pruden have enhanced and expanded the specialty gourmet food brand known for its delicious sandwiches, prepared food items, and spot-on wine selection By Marisa Marsey As nightmarish as the past year and a half was, Hampton Roads...
RESTAURANT NEWS: 1608 Crafthouse Rebounds
(1608 Crafthouse’s Bacon Cheeseburger is a popular menu item.) By Jeff Maisey Kevin Sharkey was prepping for the fifth anniversary of his 1608 Crafthouse on Pleasure House Road in Virginia Beach when the pandemic struck in March 2020. He’s been battling ever since...
Fountain Flows into 757
By Jeff Maisey There’s a new hard seltzer in town — Fountain. Made in New York City, this new, upstart brand is fun — from the well-carbonated bubbles, zesty citrus and berry flavors to the eye-catching packaging — screams fun. After enjoying a few cans over a recent...
ADVERTISEMENTS