The Paramount announced its fall line-up, and my column in tomorrow’s C-VILLE has a short interview with Larry Wilson, SMG’s general manager for the John Paul Jones Arena and acting GM for the Paramount. The full schedule was kept under wraps ’til today, but you can see it here. The Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival also recently announced its September line-up, visible here.
The Paramount is working towards a management deal with SMG, the same company that manages operations at JPJ, but the fall season was largely in place by the time Wilson and SMG came into play. Not many surprises on the Paramount schedule, save a promising gig by the barking Brit himself, Billy Bragg, and another by New Orleans composer Allen Toussaint, who kicked out the brilliant River in Reverse record with Elvis Costello last year.
Toussaint and Bragg are the only must-sees at the Paramount, but what of the rest? Pick your favorites, Paramount or Chamber, in the brackets below:
1. Ricky Skaggs (September 8) vs. Opening of the Chamber Music Festival (September 7)
I favor the Chamber Fest, which opens strong with a piece by percussionist David Cossin and director Tim Summers titled "Improvisations for Violin and Amplified Cardboard Tube." Sounds…I don’t know…brawny?
2. Levon Helm Band (September 14) vs. Chamber Music Concert No. 3 (September 14)
The Chamber crew rolls deep with Schubert, Schoenberg and Eric Moe’s "Time Will Tell." And I don’t typically go in for former greats that opt for the "fade away" path. But Levon Helm’s work with The Band was stellar and, according to a post on the Bonnaroo message boards, Levon’s been playing everything from "The Weight" to "I Shall Be Released." I’ll take the Helm.
No other scheduling conflicts to speak of. I’m saving my Lincolns for Jonathan Richman and blues gal/Dylan acquaintance Maria Muldaur at Gravity Lounge in October.
If not Allen Toussaint, then who? The Paramount and the Chamber Music Festival announce upcoming performances.