The Bluegrass Barn concert series, which celebrates bluegrass music, will kick off next month at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon. Concerts are held on Sundays from 7-9 p.m.

Season passes for all eight shoes and reserved seating are available online.

The series is sponsored by the Friends of Frying Pan Park, Vienna Hardwoods and Eastman Guitar and Mandolins in cooperation with Fairfax County Park Authority. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door.

The program breakdown is below:

• October 21: The Plate Scrapers, a traditional bluegrass band from western Maryland
• November 4: Gina Clowes Project, featuring Gina, who was raised in Virginia and has taken a national role as the banjo player for Chris Jones and the Night Drivers
• November 11: Donna Ulisse, a veteran songwriter and singer who was named Songwriter of the Year in 2016 by the International Bluegrass Music Association
• January 27: Only Lonesome, a band nominated by the Washington Area Music Association as the Best Bluegrass Group from 2013-2016
• February 10: Laurie Lewis, a Grammy Award-winning musician and international renown singer and songwriter who has recorded nearly 20 albums since her debut in 1986
• February 24: Nothin’ Fancy, a band based in Virginia
• March 24: Highland Travelers, a new band formed after The Boxcar and Ramblers Choice combined

The series will close off with a final show by the Becky Buller Band on April 14. Buller was the first person to win in both the instrumental and vocal categories at the International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Photo via Frying Pan Farm Park

Middle school and high school students from the Herndon High School Drama Boosters Club will present “The Little Mermaid,” a full-length musical based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman and John Musker.

Performances, which will take place at Herndon Middle School (901 Locust Street), are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday (July 27) and Saturday (July 27). A Sunday show will take place at 2 p.m. 

The club will also offer a backstage tour for young children before Sunday’s matinee from 1-1:45 p.m. After each show, cast members will be available for photos.

“It’s an amazing experience, as students must really come together as a team in order to put on this full-length production in less than four weeks,” said Renee Maxwell, a drama booster.

Tickets are $10 for students and children and $12 for adults if purchased online. At the door, tickets are $12 for students and children and $15 for adults.

The complete cast is below:

• Director: Raphael Schklowsky, Theatre Director, Herndon High School
• Vocal Director: Jane Waldrop, Music Teacher, Clearview Elementary School
• Tech Director: Lukas Funke, FCPS Employee (and former Herndon High student)
• Assistant Director & Choreographer: Erin Maxwell, Rising Senior, Herndon High School
• Stage Manager: Gigi Henriquez, Rising Senior, Herndon High School
• Orchestra Conductor: Jeremy Shoop, Director of Music Ministries, Holy Cross Lutheran Church
• Costume Designer: Maria V. Bissex, Owner, MVB Costumes

Photos via Renee Maxwell

Six bands are on the lineup for the second annual Lake Anne Roots Music Festival.

The event, set for Saturday (July 14), will take place from 1-7 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza.

Event-goers will get to take advantage of a full day of bluegrass and contemporary roots music from around the region. A plaza-wide beer garden is also part of the event, which is free and open to all.

The schedule for the festival is below:

• 1 p.m.: Bobby Thompson
• 2 p.m.: Morgan, Finch & Young
• 3 p.m.: Jeff Welsch
• 4 p.m.: Snakehead Run
• 5 p.m.: Splitt String Soup
• 6 p.m.: The Jakobs Ferry Stragglers

Photo via Lake Anne Plaza

Between the “Take a Break” concert series at Lake Anne Plaza and “Summerbration” at Reston Station Plaza, there are several options for outdoor summer entertainment. “Sunday Art in the Park” will return to Reston Town Square Park on Sundays.

This Sunday, Schwarz and Stokes, who play Bach, Mozart and Brahms, will perform from 7-8 p.m. The event, located at the corner of Market Street and St. Francis Street, is open for all ages.

The complete lineup of the program, which runs through August 19, is below. All concerts run from 7-8 p.m. The series is presented by Reston Community Center and hosted by Reston Town Center Association. Garage parking is free on weekends.

• June 17: Jazz Trio Conversations
• June 24: Shenandoah Conservatory String Ensembles
• July 1: Two Bass Hit
• July 8: A Little Charm from Across the Pond
• July 15: Luis Hernandez and Friends
• July 22: Galestro-Smith Duo
• July 29: R2DUO
• August 5: MLO Fusion Project
• August 12: Amor e Saudade
• August 19: Shenandoah Conservatory Saxophone Quartet

During July, Greater Reston Arts Center is also offering free art activities for all ages from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

NextStop Theatre Company is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special community production of Amour, a French music fable about a man who walks through the walls that confine him. The 2018/2019  includes seven shows that will run between August 3 and June 23.

“These shows range from the truly epic to the deeply intimate,” said producing artistic director Evan Hoffmann. “But each one is certain to bring our beloved community a unique and personal experience, filled with the kind of joy and fulfillment that you can only find in live theatre.”

The season will kick off in September with The Wedding Singer, a musical based on the film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. In the fall, the theater company will feature East of Eden, an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel, which brings the story of Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel to California in the 20th century.

The new year will begin with [title of show], a musical comedy about four friends who write a musical as the deadline for submissions is three weeks away.

In February, NextStop will present The Wolves, Pulitzer-Prize nominated play by Sarah DeLappe that explores the lives of suburban high school girls and offers a glance into the lives of young women today.

March features Fallen Angels by Noel Coward. Directed by managing director Abigail Fine, the comedy follows the rivalry between two housewives who await the arrival of a former lover. The season will close out with Singin’ in the Rain.

Subscription options and season packages are available. Prices start at $119. The complete lineup, including show timings and dates, is online. 

Photo by NextStop Theatre Company

Over the last several months, new eateries like Founding Farmers and Sweet Leaf Cafe have opened up shop in Reston Station Plaza.

Now, as summer approaches, the open-air plaza will be the home of “Summerbration,” a free summer concert and entertainment series. The event is intended to activate the space.

The first concert, featuring classic rock band Battery Lane, will take place today from 7-9 p.m. Complimentary parking is available from 6:30-9:30 p.m. for the concert series. Attendees should follow signs to ParkX.

The complete line-up is below:

• June 8: FarAway
• June 15: King Teddy
• June 22: Cedar Creek
• June 29: Elikeh
• July 7: Four Star Combo
• July 13: Oasis Island Sounds
• July 20: Jason Masi Band
• July 27: Alfredo Mojica & Friends
• August 3: Anthony Swamp Dog Clark
• August 10: Scott Kurt & Memphis 59
• August 17: Cristian Perez Band
• August 24: The Swingin’ Swamis
• August 31: Chris Vadala with the Rick Whitehead Trio

The event, which is free and open for all ages, is hosted by Reston Station and presented by Reston Community Center in cooperation with MSE Productions, Inc. 

File photo

Reston Concerts on the Town, a weekly free summer concerts series at Reston Center, is back for its 28th year. The event, which includes concerts from June 2 through August 25 on Saturdays from 7:30-10 p.m., features local and national acts.

Parking is free and the event is made possible by a grant from Reston Town Center Association and support from Boston Properties, RTC’s owner.

The 2018 lineup is available online.

A number of new performers include the Blues Beatles, a blues band based in Brazil; Good Shot Judy, a band that performs swing and jazz; the T Sisters, a trio of sisters from California who have formed an acoustic band; and the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters, the U.S. Navy’s official chorus.

Returning favorites, as described by organizers, include:

• Leonard, Coleman & Blunt—The former lead singers of The Temptations, The Platters & The Drifters and their big band will take you on a musical journey of your favorite Motown and doo-wop hits. They’ll kick off the series on June 2.
  

• Scythian – These raucous roots-rockers blend Celtic and klezmer for a high-energy, dynamic show. Come see these world-class fiddlers rock Reston on July 14.
  

• Local jazz favorite Chuck Redd returns on June 23 with very special guests: jazz harmonica virtuoso Hendrik Muerkens, renowned trumpeter/vocalist Byron Stripling (played Satchmo on national tour) and bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott
  

• Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band—This Louisiana-based Grammy-winning zydeco band will shake things up on August 4. 
• Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.–This 2011 winner of America’s Got Talent, went from car washer to jazz superstar. Back by popular demand, Landau and his big band close out the series on August 25.

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and picnics to the concerts. The event takes place in RTC’s pavilion (11900 Market Street).

Photos via Reston Concerts on the Town

Friday Night Live! (FNL!), Herndon’s free outdoor concert series, returns on Fridays now through August 24. Held on the town green next to the Herndon Municipal Center, the concert series features local bands from across the East Coast.

FNL! is produced by the Herndon Chamber of Commerce and presented by the lead sponsor, Volkswagen Group of America, along with other sponsors like United Bank and Budlight.

Domino’s Pizza and TurCuisine offer food at the event and Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern and Egg Karne provide food on rotating schedules. A featured beer is selected each month.

The schedule for the event, which runs from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., is below. FNL! will not take place on June 1 due to the Herndon Festival.

• May 11: Gonzo’s Nose (band reunion)
• May 18: LauraLea & Tripp Fabulous
• May 25: Here’s to the Night
• June 8: Love Seed Mama Jump
• June 15: GoodMan Fiske
• June 22: keeton
• June 29: Drop Dead Sexy
• July 6: Shane Gamble Band + Scott Kurt & Memphis 59
• July 13: Kristen and the Noise
• July 20: Herr Metal + Dr. FU
• July 27: JunkFood
• August 3: The Reflex
• August 10: Almost Journey + South Bay
• August 17: Screaming Monkeys
• August 24: Social Call

File photo by Laura B. Poindexter

PROJECT Trio is bringing its classical training blended with an eclectic music taste to the Reston Community Center on Sunday at 3 p.m.

The trio includes Greg Pattillo on the flute, Eric Stephenson on the cello and Peter Seymour on the double bass.

The group has been described by Gramophone Magazine as “an ensemble willing and able to touch on the gamut of musical bases ranging from Baroque to nu-Metal and taking in pretty much every stylism in between.”

On top of that, The New York Times has called beatboxing flutist Pattillo “the best in the world at what he does.”

Tickets for the show cost $15 for Reston Association members and costs $20 for non-members.

Photo via RCC

The U.S.S. Herndon took part in World War II’s Normandy invasion 75 years ago. Next year, Herndon High School’s marching band will return to the shores of Normandy to participate in a D-Day anniversary celebration.

The band is preparing to perform in the 75th D-Day Memorial Parade and Musical Salute  in June 2019. Roughly 200 students and chaperones plan to attend the event, which offers a salute to veterans.

The U.S.S. Herndon and the Town of Herndon were named after Commander William Lewis Herndon, a Navy officer who served in the Mexican-American War.

The U.S. Navy ship helped escort ships ahead of the invasion in France, took part in anti-submarine duty and screened landings, submarines and aircraft carriers. The ship also provided some fire support.

Fundraising is underway to make the trip possible. A kick-off celebration and benefit concern will be held on May 5 on the Herndon Town Green. The event will feature live performances by The 5:55, guest speakers, food and beer.

The band was recommended by the government and military organizers of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii based on their performance in 2013.

“Getting to represent not just Herndon, not just Virginia, but the entirety of the United States will be a life shaping experience for our students,” said Kathleen Jacoby, the band director at Herndon High School. “Not only are they connecting with current day Americans, but we’re asking them to time travel back to 1945 and put themselves in the shoes of the brave men who were on the beaches of Normandy.”

Here’s more from the band about the tribute:

As they march, the Pride will also be paying a special tribute to the brave men of the USS Herndon, the destroyer that led the Allied naval armada in the assault on France and named for CommanderWilliam Lewis Herndon, after whom the Town of Herndon, VA is also named. The USS Herndon was launched on 2nd February 1942 by the Norfolk Navy Yard, sponsored by Lucy Herndon Crockett, great-grandniece of Comdr. Herndon. The ship was nicknamed the “Lucky Herndon,” because it was never hit by enemy gunfire, despite being targeted by torpedoes, aerial bombardments, and well-fortified German shore batteries. The men of the “Lucky Herndon” were given 10 to 1 odds that they wouldn’t come out of D-Day alive. By contrast, Herndon effectively pounded enemy gun emplacements on Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, ahead of our first troop landings there, and was credited with firing the first naval shots of this campaign. Each member of the Pride will carry a photograph of a Herndon crew member who served during WWII, as they march in Normandy. The marching banner will have a photograph of the ship, and the band will wear baseball caps that say ‘USS Herndon’.

For more information and to donate, visit the band’s website.

Photos via Rini Dutta and William Craig Dubishar

Oscar Paz-Suaznabar, a 12-year-old pianist, will perform on Thursday (April 12) from 2:15-3:30 p.m. at Reston Community Center’s CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road).

Paz-Suaznabar has performed on From the TOP, an NPR radio show that features gifted young musicians.

He also won first place in the Asian American Music Society Competition and the American Protégé Competition at Carnegie Hall. He attends The Langley School and began playing the piano on his sister’s keyboard when he was two years old.

The event is the product of a partnership between Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University and RCC.  All ages are welcome to the free event.

Photo via Reston Community Center

Frying Pan Farm Park will celebrate some of the best bluegrass music in the mid-Atlantic area this season.

At Bluegrass Barn, concerts will take place indoors on selected Sunday evenings at Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center (2739 West Ox Road) from January through March.

Show dates are as follows:

• January 14: Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike
• January 28: Mile Twelve (IBMAs Momentum Award winners)
• February 25: Nothin’ Fancy
• March 11: Darrell Webb Band
• March 25: local band By & By

Tickets cost $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Purchases can be made online or by phone at 703-222-4664 or 703-437-9101.

Bluegrass Barn is made possible through the support of Vienna Hardwoods, John and Sandy Herring, and the Fairfax County Park Authority.