Madipalooza

Ok so everyone has probably heard about this event called Madipalooza or have seen the strange word flashed across many of the Harrisonburg buses but do you really know what it is?  Madipalooza is a music festival hosted by JMU’s University Program Board that will occur on Festival lawn at James Madison University Saturday from 1pm-7pm.  There will be tons of food, great musicians including American singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson, and tons of food.  The best part….IT’S ALL FREE!  Who can pass up free food AND free music.  So JMU students come out and show your JMU spirit and if you are in the Harrisonburg area come check out the event.  It should be a fun time and maybe you will even get to talk to Eric Hutchinson!

Performers (schedule subject to change):
1pm Casey Cavanagh Band
2pm Eric Hutchinson (come early for a chance to win a meet & greet pass!)
3pm Bandits & Beggars
3:45pm DJ Yanzee
4:30pm The Movement
5:30pm Lights in the Fog
6pm Brenton Duvall

Don’t know who Eric Hutchinson is?  Check out this video and decide what you think!

Rocktown Beer and Music Festival

On Saturday April 23rd downtown Harrisonburg will welcome their first ever Beer fetival featuring music, entertainment, and thirty true-blue American breweries from across the country.  This event will run from 2:30pm-8pm at the Turner Pavilion (the Farmer’s Market Pavilion) and features music entertainment by Snarky Puppy, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Hackensaw Boys, and Yarn.  In addition to the breweries at the festival, there will be vendors from the Harrisonburg area such as Dave’s Taverna, Jack Brown’s, Pennybackers, and the Joshua Wilton House.  Although this is the first year for the festival, word is spreading fast so be sure to get your tickets ASAP!  Tickets can be purchased through the event’s website at http://www.rocktownfestival.com/index.php for $23 for adults and $15 for designated drivers or those under 21.  All proceeds benefit Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance.  So if you’re looking for something fun to do this spring in Harrisonburg you won’t want to miss the first ever Roctown Beer and Music Festival!

Directions

From 81 North or South
Take Exit 245 Take a left from the South or a right from North and go west (toward JMU and downtown) on Port Republic Rd.
Take a right onto South Main Street. Follow South Main to downtown. Take a left onto Water Street. Take another left onto Liberty Street.
From Points East and West
Take Rt 33 (Market Street) to Court Square
From the West
Take a right onto Liberty Street just before Court Square.
From the East
Go around Court Square and continue west on Rt 33. Take a left onto Liberty Street.
From Liberty Street
Continue South through the light at Bruce Street. The Market is just ahead on your left.

Contemporary Dance Ensemble in Concert

Are you interested in modern dance and performance?  Or maybe you’ve never experienced modern dance and are interested in trying something new.  Well here is your chance!  This weekend in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts the Contemporary Dance Ensemble will be in concert on the Mainstage .  The Contemporary Dance Ensemble is a dance company full of undergraduate students in JMU’s School of Theatre and Dance that gives students the opportunity to perform as well as choreograph.  The concert will consist of work by student choreographers Shelby Gratz, CariJoy Fitzgerald, Kate Folsom, Alison Hanchey, and Caroline Barna as well pieces by faculty members Cynthia Thompson and Shane O’Hara and a guest piece by renowned New York artist Monica Bill Barnes.  The concert will run March 31-April 2nd at 8pm so if interested come out and support JMU’s dancers and experience a show in the gorgeous Forbes Center! 

Who: Contemporary Dance Ensemble in Concert:

When: March 31-April 2nd at 8pm

Where: The Mainstage Theatre in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets are $11 for JMU students and those under 18 and $14 for adults which can be purchased at the box office inside the Forbes Center or online at www.jmu.edu/arts

For more information visit http://www.jmu.edu/jmuarts/masterpiece/events/contemporaryDance.shtml

 

New College Night at Beyond

Beyond Resteraunt and Lounge, just located off West Water Street across from the parking garage, is switching their college night from Wednesdays to Thursdays.  This restaurant has been known for its asian fusion style and extensive tapas and sushi  selection as well as its classy atmosphere.  The new college night offers those over 21 drink specials all night as well as live music.   The switch to Thursdays is set to start just after we all return from spring break on March 17th with DJ Ty Walker as the musical guest of the evening.  So if you are looking for something to do, especially with St. Patrick’s Day approaching, look no further than Beyond Restaurant and Lounge for a fun night!  Remember you must be 21 and bring 2 forms of i.d. in order to get in.  For more info on the restaurant and their menus visit http://www.restaurantbeyond.com/ and for more info on college night check out Beyond’s Facebook Event site.

Informal Dance Show at the Forbes Center

Looking for some way to spend your Thursday night?  Try visiting the Earlynn J. Miller Dance Theatre inside the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts for an informal concert featuring D.C. choreographer Vincent Thomas.  This concert hosted by the Virginia Repertory Dance Company will feature a solo performance by Vincent Thomas, a question and answer session with Thomas, and a never before seen piece performed by JMU’s Virginia Repertory Dance Company.  The best part about it all is that it’s FREE!

So come out to the Earlynn J. Miller Dance Theatre inside the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts tonight from 7-8 for this Dance Concert.  You won’t want to miss it!

Tubing Tuesdays

So it’s February and despite the unseasonably warm weather we had the past few days, it is pretty cold.  It may seem like there isn’t much to do but to stay inside and hope that we survive winter.  However, I am here to offer a suggestion on one outdoor activity you can do.  Massanutten Resort is located just off of Route 33 and is maybe a 20 minute drive if you’re from the Harrisonburg area.  I recently went last Tuesday for their $10 tubing session and had an amazing time.  This session was only two hours but for tubing it was plenty.  We continuously were going up and down the hills and there were hardly any lines what so ever.  Not that interested in tubing?  No worries Massanutten also offers a wide variety of winter sports such as snowboarding and skiing.  Massanutten is also a four seasons resort offering an indoor water park, a golf course, a spa, and many dining and lodging facilities.  Make a night or a weekend out of it and take your friends to Massanutten for a fun time!  http://www.massresort.com/

Massanutten Tubing Slopes

Open Mic at Little Grill

Have a good singing voice and want an opportunity to perform?  Or maybe you’re not a “singer” but you are still looking for a good time.  Well you’re in luck!  Little Grill, located on North Main Street, offers Open Mic nights every Thursday starting at 8:30 pm.  Open Mic night allows for the community to get together for a night full of singing, comedy acts, and much more.  For more information visit http://littlegrillcollective.com/events/open-mic.  Don’t miss out on this chance to witness the talent of Harrisonburg!