Annual Mother’s Day ride for families, led by Norfolk Cycle Sisters and Slow & Steady Bike and Goods. Little wheeler friendly, around 5 miles and ends with brunch!
Family Friendly
Annual Mother’s Day ride for families, led by Norfolk Cycle Sisters and Slow & Steady Bike and Goods. Little wheeler friendly, around 5 miles and ends with brunch!
After 17-plus years of performing more than 100 concerts annually, releasing eight studio albums and selling more than 3.5 million tracks online, Umphrey’s McGee might be forgiven if they chose to rest on their laurels. But then that wouldn’t be consistent with the work ethic demonstrated by the band, which consistently attempts to raise the bar, setting and achieving new goals since forming on the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, IN, in 1997. After releasing their eighth studio album, Similar Skin, the first for their own indie label, Nothing Too Fancy (N2F) Music (distributed by RED), the group continue to push the envelope and test the limits. Their brand-new studio album, The London Session, was a dream come true for the members having been recorded at the legendary Studio Two at historic Abbey Road. The stealth recording session yielded 10 tracks in a single day, proving once again, the prolific UM waits for no one. The original Umphrey’s McGee played a mix of originals and cover songs, waiting just eight months to release their debut album, the cheekily titled Greatest Hits Volume III. Their initial “proper” recording, Local Band Does OK, came out in 2002, followed shortly afterward by an appearance at the first-ever Bonnaroo in Tennessee, selling more albums than any other band on the bill. The 2007 double album, Live at the Murat, earned a four-star review in Rolling Stone and a Jammy for Best Live Album. Despite attempts at categorizing UM, the band has devoted its craft to making their devoted followers feel as if they are part of something larger, through such technology-fueled innovations as fan-curated sets, the immersive high-end audio offering, “Headphones & Snowcones,” where the pristine sound of the live soundboard mix is piped wirelessly through high-end personal monitor systems and headphones, as well as making every live show since 2005 available via their live music portal UMLive.net. UM were also the first group to launch its own single-artist streaming service. Last year’s Similar Skin saw Umphrey’s McGee aim to strut their rock and progressive roots, with touchstones ranging from the Police and U2 (“The Linear”), the Beatles (“No Diablo”), Nirvana (“Loose Ends”) and Led Zeppelin (“Hindsight”) to Metallica, Soundgarden and Pantera (“Puppet String”) and even the symphonic rock of Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Yes or Genesis (the closing nine-minute live staple, “Bridgeless,” finally committed to record). “Every night, we have the opportunity to play whatever and however long we want,” says singer/guitarist Brendan Bayliss. Going into the studio, the challenge was to be as concise as possible, to trim all the fat we could.” Recorded at IV Labs in Chicago between tour dates, Similar Skin was produced by Umphrey’s McGee themselves as “a coherent vision,” featuring plenty of dynamics and contrast, with many of the songs coming from their live repertoire. Thematically, Bayliss was inspired by his own fatherhood, tackling such issues as living in the moment (“The Linear”), his own mortality (“Cut the Cable,” “Hourglass”), having children (“No Diablo”), the things that bring us together (“Similar Skin”), the question of whether there is a God (the Ryan Stasik slap-bass-driven “Puppet String”), sleep-walking (“Educated Guesses”), the art of storytelling and, according to Brendan, “unresolved psychological issues from the past” (“Loose Ends”). Finding themselves in London last June for three shows at the Brooklyn Bowl, the idea of recording at Abbey Road was first proposed by Umphrey’s producer Manny Sanchez, a notion, as Bayliss recently told Rolling Stone that seemed as likely as “being asked to give a sermon at the Vatican.” “It wasn’t a goal,” he explains, “because it never seemed like a possibility.” But never to be bound by what seems possible, UM secured a coveted day at the world’s most famous recording studio and dove in headfirst. The first songs Umphrey’s McGee recorded that day were altered acoustic arrangements of “Cut the Cable” and “No Diablo,” from Similar Skin. “Something we could go in and get quickly,” according to Brendan. “Bad Friday,” a song the band debuted live in Denver the previous New Year’s Eve and “Comma Later,” a song described by Rolling Stone as “smooth R&B menace with Jeff Beck-styled lead guitar” – was another recent original, recalling the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s Wired album was also recorded at Abbey Road under its cathedral-high ceiling. “It makes one note just fold over and over again, coming back around,” marveled guitarist/ vocalist Jake Cinninger, who ventured into the original microphone closet, where he discovered all the Neumann and Telefunken mics The Beatles used still in pristine condition. “You can hear the echo in the room. The notes keep singing operatically.” “Glory,” “Eat” and “Out of Order” were three set-list regulars that had never been recorded for a studio release. With time still left on the clock, the band decided to cut The Beatles’ “(I Want You) She’s So Heavy,” for their own entertainment, but ultimately ending up including on the album. Twelve hours after first setting foot in Abbey Road Studios, just before midnight, Umphrey’s McGee left the historic room with their own new album, The London Session, what Rolling Stone dubs “a historical primer, an evolution story inside 51 minutes.” “You’re looking at 17 years of change,” says Bayliss. “We managed to capture a good representation of our spectrum.” Umphrey’s McGee are more than just a rock band – through nearly two decades, they have proven to be on the cutting-edge of both music and technology, super-serving their fans through a community that stretches from the campus of Notre Dame to the hallowed halls of Abbey Road.
The English Beat is a band with an energetic mix of musical styles and a sound like no other. The band’s unique sound has allowed it to endure for nearly three decades and appeal to fans, young and old, all over the world.
When The English Beat (known simply as The Beat in their native England) rushed on to the music scene in 1979, it was a time of massive social and political unrest and economic and musical upheaval. This set the stage for a period of unbridled musical creativity, and thanks in large part to the Punk movement and it’s DIY approach to making music, artists like The Beat were able to speak out and speak their mind on the news of the day, as in “Stand Down Margaret”, things that mattered to them and the youth culture, as in “Get A Job”, and universal matters of the heart and soul, as in their classic hits “I Confess” and “Save It For Later”.
The original band consisted of singer-songwriter Dave Wakeling on vocals and guitar, Andy Cox on guitar, David Steele on bass, and Everett Morton on drums – later additions Ranking Roger (toasting) and foundational First Wave Ska legend Saxa (saxophone) completed the outfit. The band crossed over fluidly between soul, reggae, pop and punk, and from these disparate pieces they created an infectious dance rhythm.
The Beat first came to prominence as founding members of the British Two Tone Ska movement, with their classic first album “Just Can’t Stop It” fitting squarely in that genre. Along with their contemporaries The Specials, The Selecter, and Madness, the band became an overnight sensation and one of the most popular and influential bands of that movement.
However, band leader Dave Wakeling never felt constrained by the movement. Dave has always viewed ska as a springboard, not a straight jacket. Indeed, the band’s sound continued to evolve over their first three studio albums, through the General Public era (a band formed by Dave with Ranking Roger, the toaster from The Beat), and has continued it’s evolution with the forthcoming English Beat album “Here We Go Love”, a PledgeMusic crowd-funded album set for release in 2016, the band’s first new album since 1982’s “Special Beat Service”.
Consummate showman that he is, Dave Wakeling has continued to keep The Beat alive and strong. Dave continues to tour the world as The English Beat with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing all the hits of The Beat, General Public, and songs from his new album “Here We Go Love”.
You just can’t stop The English Beat!
With a rare gift for turning his hometown experiences into natural melodies, Kidd G has found tremendous success by staying true to his roots. As a kid growing up in small-town Georgia, he first started creating his own songs at the age of 15, and soon arrived at a gritty but melodic sound equally inspired by classic country and hip-hop. As he continued exploring his country roots, Kidd G soon came up with “Dirt Road”— a nostalgia-soaked ballad that quickly went viral, its video surpassing 5M YouTube views in little over a month. Naming Hank Williams Jr. among the artists he was raised on, the burgeoning star has now surpassed 1.5M monthly Spotify listeners, and his tracks have seen radio play from KIXX Country Radio in Australia and reached new peaks on highly coveted country playlists including Amazon Music’s ‘Country Heat’ (peaked at No. 2), and Spotify’s ‘Hot Country’ (peaked at No. 3). Now, with his first ever headlining tour under his belt and the announcement of his partnership with Big Machine Label Group’s The Valory Music Co., Kidd G wrapped 2021 on an even higher note than he started it on.
Born Gabriel Horne and raised in the town of Hamilton (population 1,130), Kidd G got his start singing at the age of 11 with the full support of his music-loving family (his great uncle played bass in Fleetwood Mac, and both his parents are hobbyist singers). Within several years he’d set up a makeshift studio in his bedroom and started recording with his friends, partly mining inspiration from new age rappers like Juice WRLD. One of his first viral moments was his video, “Letter to Juice,” a minute-long verse over a melancholic beat paying homage to the late artist. But while early tracks like his debut single, “Sorry,” lean toward traditional hip-hop, Kidd G later brought an element of old-school country into his songwriting. “I love country because it feels so natural to me, and you can really tell stories in the songs,” he notes. As he continued posting his music on SoundCloud, Kidd G soon amassed a dedicated following undeniably drawn to his down-home charm and the honest detail of his lyrics, The New York Times dubbing him a “knockout country-rap crossover.” With the arrival of “Dirt Road,” that following grew exponentially as Kidd G saw the track gain serious traction on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and land on coveted Spotify playlists like “Fresh Finds Country” and “Next from Nashville.”
Thanks to his deliberately laid-back, hometown influence and approach, all of Kidd G’s music unfolds with a carefree energy that lightens any mood. “A lot of my songs come from me just getting stuff off my mind, and I hope it helps other people get through the day and get through their problems— maybe make life a little easier for them,” he says. But as Kidd G reveals, the ultimate test of a song’s power invariably happens in his hometown. “Most of the time when I’m making a song, I’m thinking about how my friends will react to it,” he says. “That’s when I know something’s good— when I’m working on it and I start thinking, ‘I can’t wait to get back home and show this to my friends.’” And as he looks to the future, Kidd G plans to maintain that hometown spirit while massively expanding his musical horizons. “My goal is to get a platinum record,” he says, “reach No. 1 on Billboard, sell out arenas, and perform in front of millions of people.”
Join Wild Works of Whimsy and Southern Branch Nursery owner Trista Imrich to design your DIY River Star Homes conservation landscaping or shoreline buffer project. River Star Home participants will learn the art of native plant design and come away with a shovel-ready project for their property.
$250 per person | Limited to 15 attendees each session | Lunch will be provided both days of the workshop.
Once your DIY project is installed, the fee for the design project will be reimbursed toward the installation cost of your River Star Home project within the Elizabeth River Project watershed. Contact River Star Homes Program Manager Phoebe Murrell to see if your DIY project qualifies or with questions before registering – pmurrell@elizabethriver.org.
Celebrate World Otter Day and Join Otter Spotter!
Ever wondered how to spot an otter? Join Elizabeth River Project as we celebrate World Otter Day through stories, presentations, tours, crafts, and otterly fantastic programming. Learn about otters of the Elizabeth River, the amazing recovery of our waters that makes their presence possible, and how you can become an official Otter Spotter! This is an event for all ages.
Highlights of the Event:
When the River Otter Ecology Project in California —a beacon of conservation and community science—had the chance to expand across America, they chose two rivers that pulse with life and promise. One of those rivers? Our very own Elizabeth River! Join the otterly amazing adventure at Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab for a crash course on the natural history of river otters, how to find them, and their importance as an indicator species of healthy rivers. “We’re very interested in urban river otters. Their presence reminds us that wildlife can thrive in close proximity with densely populous areas, given the right circumstances,” said Megan Isadore, founder of River Otter Ecology Project, of her choice of the Elizabeth. “A big predator coming back like that, on an urban river, is fabulous.”
We are pleased to inform you that the Class of 2025 Advanced Degree Ceremony for Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School and EVMS School of Health Professions at Old Dominion University will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Chartway Arena.
Tickets for the ceremony are required, but free to graduating students and their guests. Each graduate can claim up to 12 tickets. The graduating student does not require a ticket.
During registration for the ceremony, students are permitted to request a maximum of 4 additional tickets. This is only a request for that number of tickets, not a guarantee. Ticket requests will be reviewed after registration has closed and those who submitted a request will be contacted with more information. We encourage students in need of tickets to check with classmates for any available tickets.
Find more details about this year’s Commencement. For questions or additional information, please contact VHS Special Events.
Chartway Arena is excited to host the 2025 Chesapeake Public High School Graduation Ceremonies on June 16, June 17, and June 18, 2025!
Please adhere to the following graduation schedule:
Monday, June 16:
Grassfield High School – 4:00 pm
Great Bridge High School – 7:30 pm
Tuesday, June 17:
Western Branch High School – 4:30 pm
Deep Creek High School – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, June 18:
Oscar Smith High School – 9:30 am
Indian River High School – 12:45 pm
Hickory High School – 4:30 pm
Excited to share that our rescheduled Saturday, October 11 show will now be apart of Jo Koy’s upcoming Fall Tour! Mark your calendars and get ready to laugh with Jo Koy as he returns to Chartway Arena for an unforgettable night of comedy.
As one of today’s premiere stand-up comedians, Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest beginnings performing in a Las Vegas coffee house. Jo’s uniquely relatable comedy pulls inspiration from his colorful family that has reached all kinds of people and has translated into sold-out arenas around the world.
The comedian continues to be one of the top 10 grossing stand-up comedians each year according to Pollstar and Billboard as he sells out and breaks sales records at some of the most prestigious venues around the world. In 2024, Koy became the first comedian to sell-out 6 shows at The Kia Forum in Los Angeles. In 2022, Koy made another dream come true when he performed and sold-out Madison Square Garden for the first time in New York City. The same year he sold-out the Climate Pledge Arena (over 14,000 tickets) in his hometown of Seattle and returned later that year to sell out the Tacoma Dome (over 22,000 tickets). In 2020, Koy once again became the first comedian to sell-out the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, PH. In 2017, The comedian broke a record for the most tickets sold by a single artist at 23,000 tickets and 11 sold-out shows at The Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu. In response, the mayor’s office in Honolulu proclaimed November 24th as “Jo Koy Day.” His universal comedy transcends borders as he’s sold-out arenas around the world including Coca-Cola Arena (Dubai), ICC Theatre (Sydney, AU) and O2 Arena (London) to name a few.
It was Koy’s universal appeal and relatability that led to Steven Spielberg discovering his Netflix special Comin’ in Hot. Very quickly after that, Koy was starring in the 2022 Universal Picture comedy Easter Sunday. The film takes place around a struggling single father that returns to his hometown of Daly City, CA to survive a chaotic Easter with his family. The film is a love letter to his Filipino roots and is loosely based on Jo Koy’s life experiences and stand-up comedy. Easter Sunday was produced by Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin Partners alongside Rideback and Dreamworks Pictures and is the first motion picture film to feature an all-Filipino cast and be produced by a major studio. In honor of the film, Daly City gave Jo the Keys To The City and declared July 22nd “Jo Koy Day.”
In 2023, Koy appeared in Disney’s Haunted Mansion and voiced characters in Netflix’s animated films, Monkey King and Leo. In 2024, he was most recently heard voicing the character Monkey King in the Paramount+ film, The Tiger’s Apprentice. He’s also appeared in Netflix’s Mr. Iglesias and Comedy Central’s Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens.
In 2023, it was announced that he inked a two-special deal with Netflix with the first special releasing in 2024. Jo returned to Netflix in typical style, sharing his unfiltered opinions on social media, aging and moving into a new phase of his life; his zaddy phase. Filmed at the historic King’s Theatre in Brooklyn, NY, Jo Koy: Live From Brooklyn premiered globally on June 4th, 2024 only on Netflix and reached the Top 10 within the first week. The special had over 240 million minutes streamed making it one of the top 10 streaming specials of the year. His other Netflix stand-up specials include Live From The Los Angeles Forum, Comin’ In Hot and Live From Seattle. Overall, Koy has had seven highly rated and successful specials on Comedy Central and Netflix. In June 2020, the comedian released his first variety special, Jo Koy: In His Elements on Netflix in which Koy brings the laughs and beats to Manila, spotlighting local culture in a one-of-a-kind show featuring Filipino-American comedians, DJs and B-boys.
Koy continues to push for representation in Hollywood and shine a light on Filipino talent. Last year Koy joined Nurse Unseen, a documentary from Emmy-winning director Michele Josue, as an executive producer. The film explores the little-known history and humanity of the unsung Filipino nurses who risked their lives on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing a resurgence of anti-Asian hate in the streets.
In 2023, Jo came on as a producer for the David Byrne-Fatboy Slim musical, Here Lies Love. Here Lies Love told the story of Imelda Marcos’ rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution. The show received four Tony Award nominations during its run and was the first to feature an all-Filipino cast on Broadway.
In 2022, Koy was once again acknowledged for his advocacy for more representation in entertainment and was given the proclamation in Los Angeles that October 7th would be declared “Jo Koy Day.”
In 2021, Koy released his first autobiography, Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo with Harper Collins Publishers to raved reviews. In this funny and moving memoir, Koy uncovers the stories behind his stand-up: the conflict, the drama and the laughter as he struggles to find his place in the entertainment industry, his home and around the world.
Jo is currently on his Jo Koy: Just Being Koy Tour. For more info on his comedy, book and tour dates, please visit: Jokoy.com.
