Rapunzel’s Further Ado Foundation presents:

~*~ Jacob Paul Allen ~*~

on Saturday, March 1st 2025
doors at 6pm/show starts at 7pm

Join us in Lovingston for a solo acoustic show from Nelson County's very own, Jacob Paul Allen! You'll get to hear all original songs and the stories behind them.

This is a kick off event before Jacob heads out across the country on his 'Tie One On' tour so come on down and help us wish him a bon voyage.

Visit https://jacobpaulallen.com to learn more about where he's going and be sure to like/subscribe/follow/and share to help a local artist out a lot!

TICKETS
- pre-sales -: $10 online

- raffle entry: $15 online/or at the door

- at the door: $10 cash, $12 card

Kids 14-and-under or 80-and-better get in free

Rapunzel’s Further Ado Foundation presents:
our monthly Jazz Night featuring:

~*~ Trevor Williams ~*~

with
Daniel Barrale, Bill Edmonds, and Tom Harbeck

• and opening set from The Quintessential Quartet •

on Saturday, January, 25th, 2025
Seating open at 7:30PM, and the show starts at 8PM

All ages are welcome and this is a free community event. Please join us and enjoy some of the best Jazz music ever right here in our little hole in the wall venue. Collected donations go entirely towards funding our Jazz Program to pay our guest musicians. Thank you for helping us to keep Jazz happening in Central Virginia!

Trevor Williams, a Charlottesville-based vibraphonist, plays a blend of classic jazz standards and 1960s-inspired jazz soul. Joining him for this performance are Bill Edmonds on guitar, Tom Harbeck on bass, and Daniel Barrale on drums.

Our house band, The Quintessential Quartet plays every month, for free, and hosts the evening. Featuring Anne Krieger on vocals, Carolyn Stone on bass and vocals, Harry Powell on lead guitar, and Bob Taylor on rhythm guitar - The QQ plays favorites from the Great American Songbook and you probably know every one of them.

MAKE UP OPEN MIC NIGHT DATE IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 24TH! YAY!

~*~ * ~*~ * ~*~

Join us for another one of our intergalactically famous open mic nights! Bring us your talent and start on the road to stardom!

Our open mic night is held NORMALLY on the second Friday of each month. THIS MONTH IS A RESCHEDULED OPEN MIC BECAUSE OF THE SNOWSTORM ON JANUARY 10TH!
This event is known for such a variety of performances that the phrase “You never know what you’re going to see at Rapunzel’s” quickly became its slogan. While it is often musicians that take the stage, The Rapunzel’s Open Mic welcomes and supports all the arts - poets, authors, dancers, comedians, and all y’all other creatives are welcome too.

Seating and signup at 7:30, and the show starts at 8 PM

free for performers and kids 14 and under • $3 donation at the door for audience members

*** Please note that the open mic night is an acoustic event…only bass guitars and keyboards may be amped. Please come early to set that up ***

Thank you!

All performers are invited to be ready at 8ish to join the Rapunzel’s Orchestra on stage to kick off the event with “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” emceed this month by our friend, Grayson Harlow.
There is also a goodnight song performed by the Rapunzel's Orchestra if you can stick around through the end of the evening.

~*~ * ~*~ * ~*~

We have been running this Open Mic event in Central Virginia for twenty-three years!!! Thank you to all of our volunteers, audience members, and performers that have joined us over the decades and to all the folks that help us keep it going still!

xxoo, Rapunzel's

“Justin Golden’s performance…was a revelation” ~ Style Weekly

"We should all be so lucky to have the blues like he does.” ~ NPR Music

This Saturday, January 18th we welcome back our friend Justin Golden for an intimate solo show in Lovingston, Virginia. Join us at at Rapunzel’s for a dialogue between artist and audience as Golden shares his music and about his most recent adventures, recording plans, and work with The Rhapsody Project in Richmond, Virginia.

“The Richmond-based fingerstyle guitarist has made a name for himself as a songwriter, performer and teacher, and as a champion of compositions written as far back as the early 20th century. Whether he’s picking a nearly forgotten melody at a gig or showing students how its played during a Rhapsody Project in-school workshop, few artists are doing more to honor the past.”

~ excerpt from “Striking Gold” article written by Davy Jones
published January 2nd, 2024
in Style Weekly

Rapunzel’s Futher Ado Foundation presents:
Justin Golden
for a solo acoustic show and fundraiser for Richmond based chapter of The Rhapsody Project

when: Saturday, January 18th 2025
Seating @6pm &
Show starts @7pm

where: Rapunzel’s Coffee and Books
924 Front Street, Lovingston VA 22949

how much: $10 donation suggested
$15 donation = raffle entry for Golden Country tee + “Hard Times and a Woman” cd
Kids 14 & under or 80 & better get in free
all ages are welcome

JUSTIN GOLDEN
Justin Golden is a genre blending artist who enjoys playing acoustic Blues and Folk music. In addition to his work as a professional recording and performing artist, Golden maintains a busy teaching schedule and is the director of the Richmond, Virginia chapter of The Rhapsody Project, a non-profit working to provide community enrichment through anti-racist cultural heritage programs.

First picking up the guitar at age 19, Golden did what came naturally and let the music flow through him. His origins are deeply vested in the Blues, with roots in the Mississippi Delta, Chicago, and the Piedmont of Virginia.

Golden has become a champion for traditional Blues music by mastering fingerpicking patterns and transcribing old songs that might otherwise be forgotten. Fascinatingly, the Piedmont Blues style first came to him in a dream, which he later shared with late harmonica player, the great Phil Wiggins. Wiggins told Golden that he’d been unconsciously playing this deeply rooted style all along, and in fact he had written several songs in the Piedmont style before he had ever heard of the style. While perhaps not as well-known as the Mississippi Delta style, the Piedmont Blues has a deep history in Virginia, and is home to some of its greatest practitioners, including John Jackson and John Cephas.

By far, the most distinctive feature of the Piedmont guitar style is its finger-picking method, in which the thumb lays down a rhythmic baseline against which one or two fingers pluck out the melody of the tune. Using this technique, the Piedmont guitarist makes a single instrument sound like several, setting up a complex dialogue of bass and treble parts. While always playing with this history in mind he also has an extremely diverse musical palette, and Golden aims to bring some new ideas to traditional Blues forms.

The Rhapsody Project is a multi-generational community that celebrates music and heritage through an anti-racist lens. Some of the ways The Rhapsody Project does this includes providing music instruction, cultural events, virtual classes, and cultural workforce development to establish racial and cultural equity. These programs teach people to root themselves in their layers of heritage, and tap the power of music and culture to confront injustice and enrich their communities.

To learn more about the Richmond Chapter of The Rhapsody Project visit https://therhapsodyproject.org/richmond/
or email
info@therhapsodyproject.org
with subject line: I want to learn more about TRP Richmond!

Additional donations to Richmond chapter of The Rhapsody Project may be sent here.

In 2024, Golden Country: Volume 1 and Golden Country: Volume 2 were released to rave reviews. If you give each album a play through you’ll hear where Country, Blues and Bluegrass converge. The Golden Country albums feature an original song written by Justin Golden as well as some traditional and maybe more obscure favorites reinterpreted. Partnered with Richmond based backing band, Devil’s Coattails, these recordings were done and produced quickly, and there are more on the way! The Devil’s Coattails group is Trey Burnart Hall (mandolin, tenor banjo, electric guitar), Chris Gatens (upright bass, clawhammer banjo) and Drew Barnocky (drums and washboard).

Though Golden’s influences range far and wide, the blues will never be far from his heart. That’s because he doesn’t see the tradition as limiting, but rather a musical form open to any emotion. “​The blues is not a box,” he says. “They try to make it seem like it’s just twelve bars or it’s gotta be sad or it’s gotta be this or that, but if you listen to so much old pre-war blues, there are so many feelings involved. There’s happy blues, sad blues, just got paid and spent all my money blues, gonna go see my girl late at night blues, there’s blues for anything. It doesn’t have to be a specific form or feeling, it can be whatever you want it to be, but you know it when you hear it.”

Learn more about Justin Golden by visiting his website and be sure to follow him on all your favorite social medias and music streamers to catch his latest releases.

P.s. - if you're available next Tuesday and you want to know more about the gourd banjo that Justin Golden plays - no better chance then this virtual speaker session with Dr. Dena Ross Jennings. She is a local Virginia luthier and community builder residing in Orange County. She also hosts regular music meet ups including the annual Affrolachian On-Time Music Gathering. Learn more from this speaker series hosted by Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

bit.ly/4gcfuv7

When: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 7 PM EST
Where: Virtually via Zoom
Cost: free and open to the public

Rapunzel's Poetry and Literature Open Mic Night is a quarterly feature here, focused on the written word. Our next one will be held on Friday, January 17th at *7pm.*

Come prepared to share and listen to local authors of all genres and ages. This is an eclectic evening of diverse work guaranteed to foster creativity in readers and audience alike. This is a safe space to debut your original work or share (with credit) something you love written by someone else.

For those who wish to read or recite: signing up with our marvelous host, Marian Pearce, begins at 6:30.

The show will begin at 7pm and this is a free community event. All ages are welcome to participate or join the audience.

Writers and other creatives are always welcome to share at our regular (mostly musical) Open Mic Nights - held on the second Friday of each month - but this quarterly Poetry and Literature Open Mic is specifically dedicated for celebrating our local authors. Thank you!

~*~ * ~*~ * ~*~

Rapunzel’s Further Ado Foundation presents: Open Mic Night

on Friday, December 13th, 2024

~*~ Seating open and sign ups at 7:30PM, and the show starts at 8PM ~*~
• free for performers, and kids 14 and under or 80 and better •
$3 donation at the door for audience members

Join us for another one of our intergalactically famous Open Mic Nights! Bring us your talent and start on the road to stardom!

We have been running our Open Mic Nights on the second Friday of each month for over twenty-two years!!! Thank you to all of our volunteers, audience members, and performers that have joined us over the decades and to all the folks that help us keep it going still! This event is known for such a variety of performances that the phrase “You never know what you’re going to see at Rapunzel’s” quickly became its slogan. While it is often musicians that take the stage, The Rapunzel’s Open Mic welcomes and supports all the arts - poets, authors, dancers, comedians, and all y’all other creatives are welcome too.

Seating and to signup with our host starts at 7:30, and the show takes off at 8 PM!
it's usually up to two songs shared or the equivalent for non-musical acts -- chat with our emcee and we'll figure it out together.

***** Please note that our Open Mic Night is an acoustic event…only bass guitars and keyboards may be amped. Please come early to set that up. Thank you! *****
* we do currently have a nice (weighted) keyboard set up a Rapunzel’s available to be used upon request, just let us know ahead of time so we can be sure it’s ready *

All performers are invited to be ready at 8ish to join the Rapunzel’s Orchestra on stage to kick off the event with “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” emceed this month by our friend, Beverly Yaeger.
There is also a goodnight song performed by the Rapunzel's Orchestra if you can stick around through the end of the evening.

The Further Ado Foundation presents: Jazz Night at Rapunzel's -
• The Quintessential Quartet •
on Saturday, November 30th, 2024
Seating open at 7:30PM, and the show starts at 8PM

All ages are welcome and this is a free community event, open for all to join us. Collected donations go entirely towards funding our jazz program to pay our guest musicians. Thank you for helping us to keep Jazz happening in central Virginia!

Our house band, The Quintessential Quartet plays every month, for free, and hosts the evening. Featuring Anne Krieger on vocals, Carolyn Stone on bass and vocals, Harry Powell on lead guitar, and Bob Taylor on rhythm guitar - the Quartet plays favorites from The Great American Songbook and you probably know every one of them.

Our first ever • Blue Ridge WYRD • oral storytelling open mic takes place on Friday November 15th at Rapunzel's Coffee and Books in Lovingston, Virginia. We kick things off at 7:30pm.

If you know somebody that's got a WILD story they love to tell, make sure they know about this! Keep your stories to about 8 minutes max please, and give us all the meandering details.

~*~

This event will be a $5 suggested donation (from adults) which will be going to a fellow local non-profit, The Free Book Bus. The Free Book Bus was founded in October 2018 to bring books to children who have barriers to accessing books, and to help families build quality home libraries.

Learn more about them and how to support their mission at https://freebookbus.com/

~*~

From the creator of this event and our host for the evening, Dirtgod Raven Mack -

"Join us for our very first • Blue Ridge WYRD • oral storytellin’ open mic! Only requirements are you’re telling it (not reading it) and you tell it well in about 8 minutes. Wyrd is an old word that “weird” is derived from, but the meaning was more about the flexible nature of what’s real. We’re using it as an acronym for Weaving Yarns, Realizing Destiny. I grew up in awe of country folks out telling each other stories around truck beds, picnic tables, or back porches. I act like I’m a writer or artist, but at my heart, I’m just a storyteller aka natural born shit talker, and that’s in my genetics since before people had wheels. If it’s in yours too, come share it!"

#blueridgewyrd #southerngothiccfuturism

To learn more about Raven check out his work at https://ravenmack.com/
or on instagram, https://www.instagram.com/dirtgod_raven_mack/

Who loves songwriters? WE DO!
Please join us on Saturday, November 9th for our last Songwriter Showcase of 2024 - featuring four local Central Virginia musicians.

doors 6:30 / seating 7 / show 8pm
$10 cover for the artists

Alex Norman

Alex Norman is a poet and folk singer-songwriter from Richmond, Virginia. Recently relocated to Charlottesville, Alex enjoys participating in the local music scene around town and collaborating with fellow artists.

Grayson Harlow

Grayson Cody Harlow of Nelson County, Virginia is a world exploring folk singer who also really admires birds. His day job involves doing bird scientist things but for fun (and artistic necessity) he writes songs on his guitar about love, nature, and trying to figure out the universe. Find out more at @spiritbox.folk

Erynn McLeod

Erynn Legna McLeod, a Charlottesville based singer-songwriter, writes at the cross road of folk and musical theater. As a native New Yorker, her roots are grounded in musical theater but she has branched out to create her own contemporary sound. After graduating from Stony Brook University with a B.A in Music and a concentration in Classical Voice in 2017, she trained in musical theater at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. In 2019, she graduated from Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain with a MM in Contemporary Performance. During her program, she won first place at the International Writers Camp in Haarlem, Netherlands and was blessed to have one of her original songs, Queen, produced by Patrice Rushen. When she's not performing you can find her teaching voice, guitar and songwriting at The Front Porch. She is currently recording her debut project locally and can’t wait to share it. Follow her work at @erynnmcleod

C. Burrows

C. Burrows is the stage name for Chris Andrews, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Scottsville, VA. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chris spent his childhood living between South America and the United States. In 2017 Chris walked the length of the United States, from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA. During his solo 3,200 mile journey he wrote and composed his debut album 'Angelfish' which was released in November 2017. Chris currently lives on a farm in Scottsville with his wife, goats, guitar and dog, June. He is recording a new album in Charlottesville and plans to release it in early 2025. Follow along at @cburrowsmusic11

Rapunzel’s Further Ado Foundation presents: Open Mic Night

on Friday, November 8th, 2024

~*~ Seating open and sign ups at 7:30PM, and the show starts at 8PM ~*~
• free for performers, and kids 14 and under or 80 and better •
$3 donation at the door for audience members

Join us for another one of our intergalactically famous Open Mic Nights! Bring us your talent and start on the road to stardom!

We have been running our Open Mic Nights on the second Friday of each month for over twenty-two years!!! Thank you to all of our volunteers, audience members, and performers that have joined us over the decades and to all the folks that help us keep it going still! This event is known for such a variety of performances that the phrase “You never know what you’re going to see at Rapunzel’s” quickly became its slogan. While it is often musicians that take the stage, The Rapunzel’s Open Mic welcomes and supports all the arts - poets, authors, dancers, comedians, and all y’all other creatives are welcome too.

Seating and to signup with our host starts at 7:30, and the show takes off at 8 PM!
it's usually up to two songs shared or the equivalent for non-musical acts -- chat with our emcee and we'll figure it out together.

***** Please note that our Open Mic Night is an acoustic event…only bass guitars and keyboards may be amped. Please come early to set that up. Thank you! *****
* we do currently have a nice (weighted) keyboard set up a Rapunzel’s available to be used upon request, just let us know ahead of time so we can be sure it’s ready *

All performers are invited to be ready at 8ish to join the Rapunzel’s Orchestra on stage to kick off the event with “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” emceed this month by our friend, Zach Bullock.
There is also a goodnight song performed by the Rapunzel's Orchestra if you can stick around through the end of the evening.

Come on out to Rapunzel's on Saturday night, November 16th and dance the night away with The Blazing Saddle Tramps!

The Blazing Saddle Tramps are dedicated to keeping Western Swing music alive. A bit of jazz and a dollop of country make this the best dance music ever. Join us for a foot stompin' good time.

Claim your spot on the dance floor after 7pm, show starts at 8pm

*no cover* but tips for the band would be mighty fine and appreciated!

Rapunzel’s Further Ado Foundation presents:

Jazz Night with
Stephanie Nakasian
Jeff Massanari
and Karl Kimmel
+ The Quintessential Quartet
on Saturday, October 26th, 2024

~*~ Seating open at 7:30PM, and the show starts at 8PM ~*~
• free community event •
donations gratefully accepted for our Jazz Program
all ages welcome

It’s the fourth Saturday of the month at Rapunzel’s and that means it’s time for Jazz!!
On Saturday, October 26th we welcome back a jaw-dropping trio - Stephanie Nakasian (keys, vocals), Jeff Massanari (guitar), and Karl Kimmel (bass). Our very own Quintessential Quartet will warm up the room with a few classic swing era tunes.

The Quintessential Quartet - our house jazz band - features Anne Krieger, Harry Powell, and Rapunzel’s very own Bob Taylor and Carolyn Stone - sharing the old standards and making you smile.

Stephanie Nakasian

Exciting! Innovative! Vibrant Virtuoso! Fun!

Stephanie Nakasian is an exciting, well-seasoned vocalist and master of innovative jazz improvisation, completely authentic with a fresh and vibrant sound all her own.

A prolific recording artist with 15 celebrated albums, including her acclaimed "Show me the Way" and special tribute to Billie Holiday “Billie Remembered” which was featured on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, Stephanie continues to perform live and is dedicated to inspiring "next generation" artists through her writings, guest speaker appearances and participatory vocal training courses and improv workshops. 

Known as one of the world’s leading jazz vocalists, Stephanie will take you on a fantasy musical voyage that transcends the Great Ladies of Song in genre, tribute and originality. Capturing the heart of audiences with her extensive repertoire, reaching from Jazz to Classic Rock, Pop and Cabaret, Stephanie creates an atmosphere of romance and excitement that will transport you to another place and time. 

Please note that our Jazz Night in November 2024 will be moved to the fifth Saturday, November 30th - continuing our after Thanksgiving Jazz Night tradition.

For December, we will not be hosting a Jazz Night on December 28th - please enjoy the holidays with your friends and family. However, we will be celebrating the Rapunzel’s Christmas Party on December 14th with a Jazzy twist! Stay tuned for details.

Join us for a musical evening on Saturday, October 19th from 5:30-8:30 with North Branch students, teachers, alums, and other special guests!
Performers include Joia Wood, Daniel Dennis, Michael McConkey, Pete Osborne and Lindsey Osborne, and more...

Om Taco will be serving up delicious vegan or vegetarian tacos and as always, Rapunzel’s will be offering a wide selection of beverages – coffee, tea, milkshakes, fresh cider, beer, wine, and more – as well as yummy desserts.

North Branch School is a private institution located in Afton, Virginia of Nelson County with hands-on learning for students ages preschool through 8th grade.
The teachers of North Branch School inspire children and lead them to a love of learning. The students of North Branch School inspire their communities.

This is a Fall Fundraiser event for the school.

Once upon a time, the folksinger and our friend Darrin Bradbury lived nearby and was a resident artist at Rapunzel’s- appearing at every open mic and songwriter’s contest for a couple of years and he even joined in the special Six Pack Songwriter Series that began here. Darrin then left Virginia and after a few twists and turns on the road, he settled down in Nashville. A few years ago he noticed a need in the community and got to doing what he could to help. That project became a non-profit and most recently resulted in them buying an old bus which they use for distributing food, water, and needed items in the Eastern Nashville community.

Darrin is bringing that bus on tour and visiting Rapunzel’s this Saturday, October 12th - with Corey King accompanying him (of The Ohio Weather Band) from Nashville and our local Virginia musicians Blair Jones (who just released an album last week!), Mary Gordon Hall, and Betty Jo Taylor who make up The LaDaDas will also join the stage this evening.

This will be a pay what you will fundraiser show. 7:30 seating, 8pm show

The LaDaDas - Three women, with hard earned time on their hands, come together to create gorgeous 3 part harmonies.

Join us on Saturday, October 5th for a full day of fun during the 3rd Annual Fall Street Festival in Lovingston! Hosted by the HeART of Nelson Artisan Collective this is family friendly event to celebrate the season, our creative community, and the small town we are lucky to call home.

The stretch of Front Street from the corners of Main Street to Brookside Lane will be closed and filled with over 30 local and regional artisans, crafters, food vendors, and brewers with on going live music, kids activities, face painting, and more! This event will be held rain or shine.

The entertainment line up will include sets from:

• Joe Madison, of Blue Star Music, and friends (11am)

• The Gia Ray Band (12pm)

• storyteller Joia Wood (2:15pm)

• John Spangler (3pm)

• and Annie Stokes (4pm)

Come enjoy some exquisite Jazz with us on Saturday, Septmeber 28th - brought to you by none other than Dwight Spencer and Karl Kimmel. The pair will present a tribute show in the stylings of Jim Hall and Ron Carter.
Opening the evening will be a short set from The Quintessential Quartet.

Seating 7pm, show 8pm
free community event