Graham Whorley began his musical journey at the tender age of five, learning the Suzuki method of piano. After seven years of study, Graham left his piano teacher dumbfounded as he told her he had learned everything by ear, not by the notes on the paper and soon found his calling with the guitar. Graham was forming bands and playing shows in venues he wasn't even old enough to be in by the time he was 14. After talking to his sister over a pay phone at the age of 19, standing in the freezing snow and sleeping in his Subaru, Graham decided to make the big move away from his roots of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to head for sunnier days and bigger opportunities in Charleston, South Carolina.

Since moving to Charleston twelve years ago, Graham has been focused on nothing but his music. Forming The Graham Whorley Band soon after he arrived and playing acoustic several nights a week, he quickly became one of Charleston's best (earjingle.com) and has played over 250 shows a year for the last 5 years running. "For years, Charleston-based singer and electric/acoustic blues rock guitarist Graham Whorley has worked with various groups of musicians who understand his soulful vibe and complex rock stylings. On the side, he has established himself as a versatile solo performer," according to Michael Andrews of The City Paper (Charleston, SC.)

Graham Whorley's acoustic show can best be described as an acoustic breeze followed by a thunderstorm of rhythm. By utilizing live seamless loop recordings (no samples here, folks) insightful songwriting, and percussive back beats that make you move, Graham Whorley builds layer upon layer of groove your mood sounds created by just one man with one acoustic guitar.Graham Whorley has shared the stage in the last year with several notable musicians including Tim Reynolds, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Lee Oskar of WAR, Efrem Towns (trumpet) of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Colonel Bruce Hampton with Duane Trucks on drums, and most recently Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove.

Smokin’ hot music with a cause! That’s definitely one way to sum up the provocative, innovative and eco-promoting material of the Charlottesville, Virginia rock band Trees on Fire. Nearly four years into their career, Trees on Fire’s five members have already built a sizable fan base and captured the attention of music heavyweights such as violinist Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band. “Trees on Fire is a band to watch for sure,” said Tinsley after judging the group at a songwriting competition at the Star Hill Music Hall in Charlottesville. “I look forward to working with them.”

What is it about Trees on Fire’s sound that has people like Tinsley singing their praises? According to co-founder and vocalist/guitarist Blake Hunter, the group skillfully fuses ear-catching melodies with unique harmonic concepts and world rhythms. He said he and his bandmates are not afraid to push the creative envelope in order to provide the listener with a fresh, exciting and inspiring experience.

Having shared the stage with such names as Kansas, the Temptations, and the Ragamuffin Band to name a few, Paul’s music is just as widely diverse and broadly accepted as it is familiarly personal.  With a strong emphasis on the emotional attachment in music and song, he is the epitome of a songwriter’s songwriter.  From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, you can definitely hear a progressive, percussive, soulful blend of jazz and folk in his music.

As passionate as Pink Floyd and as precision-oriented as Rush, few bands dare to tread where Steal The Prize feels right at home. They may be young, but don’t let their youth fool you… these guys have been playing together for years and within seconds of listening anyone can tell that every member is well-rehearsed. Cover bands come and go, but rarely does original music have such a profound effect on a new audience as this. The original music of Steal The Prize connects with the psyche and the spirit, leading the listener on a musical voyage through the full gamut of human emotion. Their stage shows are powerful, their fans are driven, and their symbol (the exclamation point) says it all. Don’t be surprised to see their names on major concert bills in the years to come!

Thunder. Power. Electric. Grind. These are the first words to come to mind when Spuknof takes the stage. Somewhere between punk, metal, indie, and rock, Spuknof’s original songs and stage antics are always shocking for some and entertaining for most. Like cheese and crackers to wine, extreme sports and leather jackets are best paired with Spuknof.

This is jam music. After Destiny is a live band, and they can only truly be experienced as such. No recording in a studio can do justice to the versatile nature of their music. This is stuff that hits you on a deeper level. It’s instantly so familiar, that feeling to dance and groove, JAM OUT! Feelings that just formulate and boil up and become something so big its beyond the framework of your own rationality, and you’re just bobbing, strutting, waving, shaking, jumping, grooving, (or just taking in with enthusiasm) the soul and the rhythm and gut punch of some complexity that leads you to realize the primal connection we have to vibration… energy… Something that, perhaps, is actually a catalyst to the universal nature of ourselves, our collective connection. Our collective tapestry that we all can touch base with and yet lose touch with just as easily and quickly. Those that can master and harness that energy need to be heard.

It happened on a whim last October. Blake Reams quit his job in Russellville, Ark. and hitchhiked to Lynchburg. “This is home now, I just really like it. Something said ‘Go.’” Reams is intense and soft-spoken with shaggy hair that almost covers his eyes. He was drawn to Lynchburg after spending four days here during a tour stop last fall. The city has proven a fertile backdrop for his music; he’s written more than 20 songs since moving here, though he’s only kept a handful. Lately, his music has been mellow and raw. His songs are infused with questions of faith and the search for truth. “It’s always on my mind. It’s either what’s keeping me for writing or what’s got me writing.” Reams says he’s in a “weird spot” right now with his music, a “crossroads,” he calls it. “I’m not settled completely on music. I want to do other things,” he says. “I’m just trying to let the songs write themselves.”

Channel 43 is Richmond, VA's best-kept punk rock secret. A powerful blend of tasteful songwriting, impeccable musicianship, and unrelenting determination to persevere. C43, often described as one of the the hardest working bands in RVA and now in its 9th year, CONTINUES to blast out its unique brand of high energy melodic punk rock n roll. Everywhere they go, they turn heads and blow minds. C43's road has taken them from the Atlantic Ocean to points as west as Minneapolis, MN and San Antonio, TX. The live performance is as real, raw and intense as any 3-piece band could possibly generate. There is no other band like them. See for yourself! Catch them live on tour or watch one of their videos, but above all do what ever you can to support your local music scene.