Get Out Loudoun is distributed monthly to entertainment, tourism, & hospitality venues throughout Loudoun County. For the latest news on the music & arts scene and other community events, go to getoutloudoun.com.
CONTRIBUTORS
Douglas Graham
Douglas Rogers
Norman K. Styer TO ADVERTISE
Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sales@loudounnow.com getoutloudoun.com
HISTORY
200 years ago the streets of Leesburg were filled with residents welcoming the Marquis de Lafayette. The town relives that event this month.
DESTINATIONS
Some to the region’s top musicians will gather at 868 Estate Vineyards for a Labor Day weekend tradition.
TUNES
Get Out Loudoun’s best bets for August. 14 16
Patrick Randall and his new band CuLP are jumping into the Loudoun music scene with hopes to go further.
WINE
Renee Ventrice long has been introducing Loudoun wines to visitors through tours, tastings and talks. Now she’s added her writing talents to the effort.
BEST BETS
Photo by Douglas Graham
Patrick Randall taps into Loudoun’s music scene.
HOPS for Hope
BY DOUGLAS ROGERS
Visit Loudoun
Three years ago the Loudoun County Brewers Association brought together a dozen Loudoun breweries to create Loudoun’s first charity ale - “You Are Not Alone,” a hoppy malt-rich West Coast-style IPA, with proceeds going to the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Fast forward and this summer the LCBA released Loudoun’s third annual charity beer: “Hops for Hope,” a tropical fruit-forward hazy IPA, with proceeds going to the Leesburg branch of Arc of Loudoun, a nonprofit that assists people with disabilities.
“Partnering with Arc of Loudoun for Hops for Hope is an honor,” said Chris Suarez, LCBA chair and Director of Operations at Lost Bar-
rel Brewing. “Their impactful work strengthens our community, and it’s inspiring to see our close-knit brewing community unite to craft exceptional beer for this cause.”
Suarez says the LCBA hopes to raise at least $20,000 for the charity.
Brewed at Lost Rhino in Ashburn, the beer— 60 canned cases in total—is available while stocks last. Among participating breweries: Crooked Run Fermentation, Honor Brewing, Flying Ace Farm and Harvest Gap.
August is Virginia Craft Beer Month and aside from purchasing Hops for Hope, there are other ways to celebrate Loudoun’s dynamic craft beer scene. Several new breweries — Water’s End (Leesburg), Eleven Eleven (Purcellville), Route 7 (Ashburn) — opened within the past year, while Loco Lion, a farm
Members of the Loudoun County Brewers Association joined forces to create a new brew to raise money for the Arc of Loudoun.
HOPS FROM PAGE 4
brewery named for two African lions buried on the property, is set to open in the fall on rolling pastures outside Hillsboro.
Then there are new taste trends to keep abreast of.
“The scene is ever-changing, driven by customer preferences,” Suarez said. “Demand for farm breweries with outdoor spaces is growing while breweries are embracing non-alcoholic beers, seltzers and exploring THC-infused beverages to stay ahead of trends.”
Another trend: “The popularity of lagers is increasing all the time,” said Jasper Akerboom, of Jasper Yeast who worked closely with Suarez and the LCBA on the Hops for Hope collab. “Every brewery has several now, from light American lagers to delicate malty ones
all the way to dark Baltic porters. We can hardly keep up selling lager yeast.”
Meanwhile, from live music to trivia nights, there are always fun events at breweries. One not to miss: “A Toast to Lafayette” at Dynasty Brewing on Aug. 8 where historians Travis Shaw, Joe Rizzo, Annemarie Chirieleison and Mark Schnieder will tell tales of America’s favorite fighting Frenchman over master brewer and Virginia history buff Favio Garcia’s superb brews.
Download your digital LoCo Ale Trail passport—available in the Food & Drink section at visitloudoun.org—start collecting stamps for prizes and raise a glass to another year of sublime Loudoun craft beer!
www.visitloudoun.org
The Return of a War Hero
Lafayette’s Visit to Leesburg Celebrated 250 Years Later
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
In 1825, citizens across the United States—all 24 states—were marking the 50th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution. During a period of deep political division, it proved to be a unifying event. Perhaps no one played a greater role in that effort than a 67-year-old Frenchman, the Marquis de Lafayette.
The oldest living Continental Army general, Lafayette was invited by President James Monroe to join the American celebration. For 13 months, Lafayette toured the nation, visiting
every state to great fanfare.
His August 1825 visit to Leesburg was no exception.
“Reportedly 10,000 people turned out in Leesburg to see him, which I think was somewhere around the population of the entire county at the time. In Leesburg, the town only had a population of what 1,500, maybe,” said Traci Gillespie, a historical educator at NOVA Parks. “In all of his tour, throughout all of the states— and he did go to every state when he was here in 1824 and 1825—it’s estimated that over half of the American population saw Lafayette. He was just this incredible hero.”
Library of Congress
Marquis de Lafayette in battle shown in a 1834 engraving by Godefoy from Chasselat.
HISTORY FROM PAGE 6
Lafayette’s visit to Leesburg came in the final weeks of his tour. He was invited by Monroe, now retired from the presidency and living at Oak Hill south of town. The local residents pulled out all the stops to welcome him, culminating with a grand dinner on the courthouse lawn where famously more than 50 toasts were made in his honor. President John Quincy Adams was among the attendees.
“His visit starts to bring back all of this feeling in American spirit—it hadn’t been lost, but I think a lot of the veterans were starting to be forgotten,” said Ian MacDougall of the Piedmont Heritage Area Association.
MacDougall noted that many local soldiers would have served with Lafayette in his 3rd Virginia Regiment and had personal attachment to him.
“Many of these old soldiers from Loudoun and Fauquier counties, all these guys in the Continental Army—many of them are not receiving pensions even at this moment 50 years after
the war. Many of them are in their old age. Many of them are poor. But Lafayette’s visit brings out this real American spirit.”
Library of Congress Marquis de Lafayette in 1823 by French painter Ary Scheffer.
HISTORY CONTINUED ON 18
Loudoun Musicians
Join Forces for LoCo Fest
BY NORMAN K. STYER GetOutLoudoun.com
In its eighth year, LoCo Fest at 868 Estate Vineyards is a Labor Day weekend tradition in Loudoun County.
This year’s lineup includes 17 bands and performers ranging from the best-known names in the county’s music scene to young rising stars.
While the Sunday, Aug. 31 event offers attendees the chance to see many of the region’s most popular musicians in a single day, it also supports the music community more broadly.
Organized by 868 co-owner Nancy Deliso and musician Todd Brooks, the festival is a fundraiser that has provided over $70,000 in music equipment to performers, schools, and community programs.
“Originally Todd Brooks was the person who had the really brilliant idea to do this. What he wanted to do was to have a place where a lot of local musicians could come together and really hang out for the day and experience each other’s music because the musicians are playing in all these different venues every
Contributed
Seventeen bands will take the stage at 868 Estate Vineyards on Sunday, Aug. 31 for the eighth annual LoCo Fest.
DESTINATIONS FROM PAGE 8
weekend. They never get a chance to hear each other,” Deliso said.
The performers donate their time.
“They see this as a worthwhile cause. Our tagline is ‘Keep Live Music Growing in Loudoun County’ and the musicians really believe that,” she said.
For Deliso, one of the highlights each year is the final performance that closes out the festival.
“There’s a jam session on stage and all of the musicians who are still there at 9 o’clock when the regular lineup ends. They get up on stage and they just jam. They have a great time just being together and getting a chance to connect up and collaborate,” she said.
Another point of pride is the Rising Stars performances that put the spotlight on talented teen performers—many of whom have gone on
to build careers in the music industry.
“It is just a great program that Todd started. Primarily it’s been young kids. We’ve had musicians as young as 13 up on that stage—including Sela Campbell, who’s gone on to just fabulous things; Emma Rowley, who’s down in Nashville now; and Lillian Hackett, who is one of the performers who regularly plays breweries and wineries around here now,” Deliso said.
A special Rising Star performer this year will be Farris Hallaj, who has a vision impairment. Hallaj works with the music therapy program at A Place to Be in Leesburg, a nonprofit that has received donated equipment from the festival.
“Farris is going to come play, and it’s really special for us to have him up there. He doesn’t have access to transportation, and so he doesn’t get a chance to play in front of a live audience very often. We are going to offer
| Games | Touch-A-Truck
DESTINATIONS FROM PAGE 9
him an audience of over a thousand people to play on that stage. He’s very excited about it and we are, too” Deliso said.
Others in this year’s lineup are Mission Road, Dave White, Kate Elizabeth, Jim Steele, Chad Laughlin and Blue Ridge Rain, Savash, 41 North, Natalie Williams, Sarah Cooper, The Darby Brothers, Mike Ault and Gary Smallwood, Dylan Woelfel, Ronnie Wolford and 50 West, Jumptown, and Todd Brooks and Pour Decisions. There also will be food trucks, beer
partners. So when we started 868, we knew that music and art, which is another thing we do at 868, were really things that we wanted to emphasize and to support in the community. I am just very excited that 868 really has become a place that is known for supporting music in the community and not just the weekend musicians.”
Festival attendees can bring pop-up shelters, chairs or blankets.
“It’s a very easy festival to go to. We have plenty of parking. It’s very easy to get from the parking area to the concert area,” Deliso said. “We turn our whole system around so that the stage is out in a big field, and we have lots of places for people to set up their space to enjoy the day.
from Lost Rhino and plenty of wine and wine slushies from 868.
In addition to hosting two large charity music festivals each summer—the Nova Music Fest is held Memorial Day weekend—868 Estate Vineyards features live music each weekend May through October.
“Everybody on our staff loves music. That’s a really a special thing. And I grew up playing piano and then I played band through all of middle school and high school and on into college. Music has always been a part of my life,” Deliso said. “And it is the same for our business
Tickets for the festival are $30 in advance for the rain or shine event. People under the age of 16 are free, but registration is requested through the ticket system to track attendance.
“It is really helpful to us if people buy their tickets a little bit ahead of time so we know how many people are coming and we can plan for everybody. This is a fundraiser and we want as much money going to ticket sales as possible so that we can really grow this program of delivering musical instruments to musicians and community programs in our area,” she said.
Buy tickets and learn more at locomusiciansfestival.com.
1 50 West Vineyards 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg 50westvineyards.com
2 8 Chains North Winery 38593 Daymont Ln., Waterford, VA 8chainsnorth.com
1 Stonehouse Meadery 36580 Shoemaker School Rd., Purcellville stonehousemeadery.com
TUNES
rock & roll dreams revisited
A California Transplant Taps into Loudoun’s Music Scene
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
Growing up in California, Patrick Randall was following his rock and roll dream. His Orange County band played local gigs and opened for The English Beat and A Flock of Seagulls. It was no easy place for a band to make its name.
“California is a strange market, because it’s great if you’re established. It’s not so great if you’re trying to break out,” he said.
Eventually, he left the area when he “had to go see about a girl.” His future wife was finishing her veterinary residency in Ontario, Canada, and he moved to New York. They eventually settled in Des Moines, IA, where she took her first job out of her residency. An appealing veterinary opportunity then brought them to Northern Virginia, where they settled into a Purcellville home.
Over the years Randall traded his rock and roll dreams for a steady software job.
Last year, his wife urged him to quit and get back to doing music full-time.
“She’s like you hate your job. You should do this,” Randall said. “I call her my super-hot patron. But she believes in my music. She’s like you need to go do this.”
I said, OK, let’s go. So, this is what we’re doing.”
He played during open mic events around the region and over the past six months put together a band—CuLP (Copper Legion Privateers). They’ve been in the studio recording Randall’s original music and played their first public gig Aug. 1 at Route 7 Brewing in Ashburn.
He was playing an open mic in Mount Airy, MD, where someone suggested he play at the one hosted closer to home at Old 690 Brewery near Hillsboro. There he met Brad the Guitar Guy, who provided the connection to Route 7 Brewing, where Randall has performed solo a few times.
“Because I’d already had a relationship with the owners down there—super wonderful people—I said, ‘Hey, I want to play with my band.’ And they’re like, ‘OK, we’ll set you up for the first of August,’ and it’s a great time to release the record same day as that show.”
The band plans to release five songs through the rest of the year.
“’Be Still’ is the one that I’m releasing first. That one is very old, but I never got an opportunity to give it life and put it out into the world,” Randall
Patrick Randall
Photo by Douglas Graham
said. “I wrote it a long time ago after having the flu, and just it was about like the dichotomy of just having peace in the midst of chaos and like having fever dreams and those sorts of things.”
Randall is heavily influenced by ’90s grunge and taps into the driving force of Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters.
“You’ve got this phrase called ‘be still’ all wrapped up in drums, bass guitar, with distortion and all that. So it’s a bit of a paradox shall we say,” he said. “I’m excited about the release of this song, because it’s higher energy. I think it’s a good first one out of the gates for what I’m trying to release.”
In addition to “Be Still,” CuLP’s sets will include several other original songs.
“I’m introducing the five jams that I have and then the rest of the three hours will be cover material that people know and have fun with it,”
Randall said. “It’s a hard sell for people to show up and hear 10 original songs. I think that this is going to be just a much more natural way to introduce people to my material. And I think when I do my job right and I market this the right way, people will find and connect with the music that I’m writing, and it will go where it needs to go— where I believe it can go.”
While Randall envisions taking CuLP to bigger venues and going on tour, he has found a supportive environment in Loudoun’s music scene.
“If you’re into music and you want to play music, there’s so much opportunity here,” he said. “I think it’s really cool. Leesburg is just really cool. Loudoun County is great. And we love Purcellville; I call it Main Street USA, which is a lot like Disneyland’s Main Street USA, which I grew up going to in Anaheim.
“I love the music scene here. I love the tribute bands that are continually rolling through Tally Ho that you can go see some really good renditions of some of your favorite bands. It’s really, really fun.”
Learn more at culpmusic.com.
WINE
Pour Relationship Choices:
Continuing Your Wine Journey with Renee Ventrice
NORMAN K. STYER
nstyer@loudounnow.org
Renee Ventrice has been a leading ambassador of Loudoun’s wine industry for over a decade, working to break down barriers and build connections.
Now she is expanding that effort with her writing talents. Her first book, “Pour Relationship Choices,” qualified as a best seller on Amazon.com. The collection of personal stories blends wine vintages with life lessons toward the goal of furthering her mission.
“What I learned is that people are very
intimidated by wine, and they’re intimidated by wine people,” she said. “So, one of the missions that I’ve had on my wine journey and with writing this book is to demystify it and to let everyone know that everybody has the opportunity to have wine be theirs.”
The U.S. Navy veteran turned wine whisperer entrepreneur co-founded, and later sold, the award-winning Cork & Keg Tours and now leads WineauxClock Culinary Experiences, hosting events that introduce participants to new flavors and pairings.
“I like to make people feel more comfortable around the wine bottle. I like to make them feel comfortable ordering wine in a restau-
Contributed
Renee Ventrice in the kitchen with her new book “Pour Relationship Choices” and a glass of red.
FROM PAGE 16
rant or picking it up at a supermarket,” Ventrice said.
In that effort, it is important not to be put off by the sometimes-snooty aspects of wine culture. “You can’t be wrong if you say you taste persimmon in the wine, and the tasting notes say peach. Who cares? It’s your palate.”
Ventrice is relatively new to the wine world, but her writing roots are deeper.
“I started drinking wine right after [my son] was born, when I found out that it paired well with food. And then after we moved to Loudoun County, I found out that we lived in wine country. I didn’t even know that we did. At that point, I was like we have to check this out,” she said.
Two decades later, she is the one leading others on that exploration.
Her writing journey started as a 7-year-old.
“In 1977, I won a creative writing award. I even beat sixth graders. I beat hundreds of kids in Bellevue, Nebraska, where I grew up,
and thousands across the state,” she said.
But she never got to fully celebrate the achievement.
“We couldn’t afford to go to the award ceremony. It was in Kearney, Nebraska—four hours away. It may as well have been on the other side of the planet,” she said. “So, I never even got the award. Maybe they mailed it to me, who knows? But I never got it.”
During a recent therapy session that memory resurfaced as a lasting sadness for that seven-year-old who never got to celebrate the prize.
The therapist suggested she celebrate now—go bake a cake.
“We didn’t have any cake batter. So, we made tapioca pudding, my other favorite, and then in icing I wrote, ‘Congrats, Renee, 1977,” she said.
Not even a week later, Ventrice was contacted by a friend who was launching a book publishing company and asked her to be his first writer.
“Within 24 hours of reviewing the contract, I said yes. So that was really pivotal,” she said.
And then the book went to number one on Amazon.
“I guess that’s a part of me as well. That’s a part of the seven-year-old Renee who started writing and has been holding on to not doing it for so long, maybe because I was afraid of being rejected, or afraid of not being celebrated for doing something that I thought was amazing,” she said.
“I’ve always written. I’ve always been a creative writer. I wanted to be a journalist when I joined the Navy, but that job wasn’t
CONTINUED ON 23
Renee Ventrice takes a turn in the tasting room at Two Twisted Posts Winey & Tavern.
FROM PAGE 7
Gillespie and MacDougall serve on Loudoun County’s Virginia 250 Committee, a coalition of historians and cultural groups developing programs to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial.
To commemorate Lafayette’s visit, three days of special programs are planned.
On Friday, Aug. 8, Historians on Tap will feature an informal discussion about Lafayette’s impact on the nation starting at 6:30p.m. at Dynasty Brewing, 101 Loudoun St. SE.
On Saturday, Aug. 9, there will be a full day of living history activities. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be activities at the Loudoun Museum, including visits by reenactors portraying James and Elizabeth Monroe and Lafayette. There will be special activities for children and the public will be encouraged to view the museum’s exhibit that dives deeply into Lafayette’s visit to Leesburg.
Starting at 6 p.m., activities will move to the
courthouse lawn where a reenactment of the dinner party 200 years ago is planned, including many of the 50 toasts. Perhaps fittingly, the program will take place during the town’s TASTE Leesburg festival, which will have the downtown streets full of revelers.
On Sunday, Aug. 10, a ticketed program will be held at Oatlands starting at 2 p.m. A more formal history talk, the program will be moderated by Chuck Schwam, the executive director of the American Friends of Lafayette. Speakers will be Lafayette interpreter and historian Mark Schneider, Monroe interpreter and historian Jay Harrison and Marc Leepson, author of “Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from The Idealist General.” Tickets are available at oatlands.org.
For more details and information about other activities planned by the Loudoun VA250 Committee, go to visitloudoun.org/ loudoun250.
Loudoun’s Attractions
CATTY CORNER CAFE
A place where cat lovers can come together, spend time in our cozy lounge, drink coffee, and get the chance to meet our amazing rescue cats. With the option of even being able to adopt and give them their forever home.
CATS - COFFEE - COOKIES
116 E. Market Street, Leesburg VA703-944-4158
cattycornercafe.com
DOUBLE X ARCHERY
Northern Virginia’s Premiere Archery Pro Shop and Indoor Range ARCHERY SERVICES - LESSONS - RENTALS
500 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 540-206-0041 doublexarchery.com
LOUDOUN HERITAGE FARM MUSEUM
Travel through time to meet the 10 generations of Loudoun County residents who built this county and left their mark on the land. Exhibits include a schoolhouse, general store, Native American artifact display and the American Workhorse Museum Collection.
Morven Park is a 1,000-acre historic estate on the edge of Leesburg that was home to Virginia governor and agricultural pioneer Westmoreland Davis. Tours of the Greek Revival mansion include 16th century Belgian tapestries, Spanish cassones, hundreds of silver pieces, Hudson River Valley paintings, and Asian treasures. The estate also features the Winmill Carriage Museum, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting of North America, formal boxwood gardens, miles of hiking and riding trails, and athletic elds. 17195 Southern Planter Lane Leesburg, VA 20176 703-777-2414 • morvenpark.org
lh
loudoun
happenings 08.2025 Get
08.09
TASTE LEESBURG CELEBRATES LOCAL FOOD & BEVERAGE OFFERINGS
TASTE Leesburg will return to downtown Leesburg on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 5 to 10 p.m.
Food vendors, breweries, wineries, businesses, and entertainment will fill five blocks of the downtown historic district. Visitors can experience the flavor of Leesburg with over 65 booths showcasing their offerings.
Local breweries and wineries will also be onsite offering samples of beer, wine, cider, and mead. Restaurants, food trucks, and vendors will offer a variety of menu options for purchase or visitors can stop into one of the downtown restaurants for a bite to eat.
This year, TASTE will celebrate the historic 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Leesburg in 1825 with a recreation of the original event on the Center Stage at 6 p.m. featuring fife and drum performances, speeches, and toasts.
Drink tickets are available online and cost $50 through Aug. 8. Ticket prices will increase
The streets in downtown Leesburg will be filled with food and beverage vendors Aug. 9 during the annual TASTE Leesburg celebration. file photo
to $60 on Aug. 9. Ticket purchases include a souvenir sampling glass and drink tastings. A limited number of beverage tickets may be available the day of the event through online purchase only.
Music will begin at 5 p.m. on the Center Stage, located on the courthouse grounds, and features games with DJ C Squared and a performance by the JunkFood Band. The Sip & Savor Stage on North King Street will feature a DJ along with more tasting opportunities.
Parking will be available downtown at the Town Hall Parking Garage, the Pennington Parking Garage, and the Loudoun County Parking Garage. Street closures will begin at 10:30 a.m. and are expected to re-open at approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10.
The event is sponsored by Pella Mid-Atlantic Windows & Doors, The American Friends of Lafayette, Kaiser Permanente, M.E. Flow, Sprouts Farmers Market, Power Home Remodeling, Patient First, Prince William Home Improvement, Renewal by Andersen, Atlantic Union Bank, and Wegmans Food Markets Inc.
For more information, go to tasteleesburg.com.
Out
GO FLY A KITE AT IDA LEE PARK
The Leesburg Festival of Kites and Crafts will be held Saturday, Aug. 16, at Ida Lee Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The family-friendly celebration features families flying colorful kites of all shapes and sizes along with vendor displays of handmade crafts, including jewelry, artwork and home décor created by local artisans. There also will be a moon bounce, a coloring tent, live entertainment and food and beverage vendors.
Admission is free. Learn more at chiceventsdc.com.
AUTHOR TALK: KATIE BO LILLIS
The National Sporting Library in Middleburg will host Katie Bo Lillis to discuss her book “Death of a Racehorse: An American Story” during a special program Aug. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The CNN senior reporter, former war correspondent and Virginia equestrian calls the book her “love song to horse racing.” As an expert journalist, her firsthand experience in horse racing gives her a leg up to make non-fiction read more like a crime novel.
The book is a cutting, on-the-ground investigation into the morally ambiguous behavior at the industry’s glamorous center. Centering on two of the industry’s biggest scandals—the disqualification of Medina Spirit from the 2021 Kentucky Derby and the FBI arrests in 2020 of dozens of individuals on wiretaps admitting they were using performance-enhancing drugs on their horses—raising nuanced questions about the relationship between animal and human but also offering a hopeful path forward for one of America’s oldest sports.
Tickets are available at nationalsportinglibrary.org
SIEH EXPLORES THE EXPANSION OF ASIAN TRADE
Historian Daniel J. Sieh will be giving a talk titled “After the Fashion of His Country: Asia and Asians in the 18th Century Mid-Atlantic” at Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg on Aug. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Sieh’s presentation will explore how global trade, particularly through the British East India Company, brought goods, ideas, and people from Asia to the Mid-Atlantic region during the 18th century. It will delve into how these individuals, including sailors, soldiers, traders, and enslaved people, navigated American society and left a lasting impact.
Pre-registration is required. For details, go to leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library.
WITNESS TO WAR AT MT. ZION CHURCH
Nova Parks hosts its monthly history program at the historic Mt. Zion Old School Baptist Church near Aldie on Sunday, Aug. 24.
The church was the site of an 1864 Civil War cavalry fight. Tours include a living history presentation with a Union army doctor describing how the church was used as a hospital in 1863.
Signatures of Civil War soldiers can be seen at this site, part of the Northern Virginia Civil War Graffiti Trail.
This is a free program runs from 1 to 5 p.m. No registration required.
Mt. Zion Historic Park is located at 40309 Little River Turnpike.
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SHEMEKIA COPELAND
Sunday, Aug. 10, 7 p.m. (doors)
Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland delivers a potent mix of blues, soul, R&B, and Americana—packed with genuine emotion and social commentary. Kelly Bell Band opens. $45.
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MELISSA & THE MOTH MEN
Friday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m.
Hillsboro’s Old Stone School oldstoneschool.org
Get ready for a night of two-stepping and line dancing with this classic country dance band. Free.
THE GAMBLER RETURNS
Friday, Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Franklin Park Arts Center franklinparkartscenter.org
The professionalism and musicianship of Alan Turner will capture your heart and remind you why you have always been a fan of Kenny Rogers. $25.
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THE SEVEN WONDERS
Saturday, Aug. 23, 6 p.m.
Tarara Vineyards tararaconcerts.com
With spot-on vocals, masterful musicianship, and the true spirit of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, this show takes you on a journey. $20.
OZZMOSIS
Saturday, Aug. 30 7 p.m. (doors)
Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
08.30 08.22
Celebrate the life and music of Ozzy Osbourne with this journey through classic metal rock. $15.
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LOCO FEST
Sunday, Aug. 31, 12 to 10 p.m.
868 Estate Vineyards 868estatevineyards.com
More than 20 bands join forces for this daylong celebration of Loudoun’s music scene. Come to see your favorite—and find a new one. $30.
WINE FROM PAGE 17
open, so I became a cryptologist instead,” she said.
The stories in the book stem from her experiences at Loudoun’s diverse winery scene.
“Just watching all of the different ways that the wine expresses itself in Loudoun that is so different—whether you’re at Bozzo Family Wines, or a mega winery like Stone Tower—lots of different experiences can be had at wineries. So why can’t each wine have its own actual experience, its own actual relationship definition?” she said.
Within the chapters, she compares box wine with the bitter experiences with an ex-boyfriend and draws laughter with her attempts to say “cheers” in Estonian. [“Fact: I’ve never really drank box wine on purpose.”]
“I’ve been doing events all over Loudoun
County, at restaurants, at wineries, at Gvino Wine Bar. And those two chapters have really been resonating. When I do networking and work events, I have a chapter about your relationships with your business besties and people, collaborators and business partners. And they seem to really like that one a lot, and want me to actually come and do a talk on how to do collaborations,” she said. “The book was really a compilation of my own life experiences, but also a way for me to continue coaching people and also doing more wine events as a sommelier.”
“Pour Relationship Choices” is available on Amazon in both the digital version and paperback format and soon will be available on Ventrice’s website, reneeventrice.com, which also has a schedule of her upcoming wine events and talks.
