The Virginia Arts Festival and a Grammy Award-winning songwriter are packing multiple shows and workshops into one day.
“Aoife O’Donovan: Light in the Eastern Sky” will be Saturday in Norfolk and feature three separate — but connected — events.
O’Donovan is known for her cross-genre solo albums and collaboration with artists such as Alison Krauss and Yo-Yo Ma. She was the founder and face of the nontraditional bluegrass group Crooked Still and a member of the folk trio I’m With Her. The trio’s song “Call My Name” won the 2020 Grammy for Best American Roots Song.
The Saturday events that O’Donovan has curated for the festival will kick off with a 1 p.m. jam session and workshop at Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Restaurant.
Local musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and join O’Donovan and a bluegrass group, The Wildmans, playing what is expected to be traditional Irish and American folk ditties.
O’Donovan will join Yasmin Williams at 4 for a workshop, “Invading Dreams.” The two musicians will perform and discuss songwriting at the festival’s Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center.
A street market with food trucks and artisan vendors will precede the concluding 6:30 concert at the Perry Pavilion. Williams, The Wildmans, O’Donovan and her husband, Eric Jacobson, the music director for the Virginia Symphony, will perform.
Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8138, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com
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IF YOU GO
“Old Time Music Revue” with Aoife O’Donovan and The Wildmans
When and where: 1 to 1:45 pm, Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 211 Granby St., Norfolk
Tickets: Free
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“Invading Dreams” with Yasmin Williams and Aoife O’Donovan
When and where: 4 to 4:45 p.m., Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center, 440 Bank St., Norfolk
Tickets: Free with registration at vafest.org
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Street market
When and where: 5 p.m. on Bank Street in Norfolk
Tickets: Free
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“Light in the Eastern Sky” concert
When and where: 6:30 p.m., Perry Pavilion, 451 Bank St., Norfolk
Tickets: Start at $18.75
Details: vafest.org
