We Are Star Children

About We Are Star Children: We Are Star Children is a 6-piece "adventure pop" band from Charlottesville, VA. They veer in and out of conventional rock/pop arrangement: horn and synth cascade over a surging rhythm section, brazen enough to share lead with the advancing wall of rich harmony vocals. In their recordings and live shows alike, they continually dance with beauty and mayhem, occasionally spinning into a contemplative waltz or tip-toeing down an eerie alley, but ultimately whipping the crowd into a full froth. They frequent debaucherous fundraisers, host homegrown shows in bookstores, and bring down the house whenever they appear on stage.

About The Judy Chops:  The Judy Chops are an indomitable force in the VA music scene, rocking audiences with original tunes, remixed covers, and mash ups since 2008. Averaging over 150 shows a year, the Chops are a high-energy 7 piece Americana group who delight in wowing audiences throughout the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Their many festival appearances and shows have included opening for acts like Lake Street Dive, The Black Lillies, Miss Tess & the Talkbacks, David Mayfield Parade, J.P. Harris & the Tough Choices, and Igor & Red Elvises have proven the Chops to be consummate performers.

The band’s sound is built around strong three part harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, banjolele, searing electric guitar and fiddle solos and a unique rhythm section featuring upright bass, cocktail drums, with the occasional horn player to round out the mix. Stylistically, the band blends elements of swing, blues, rock-a-billy, classic country and western, with a modern flair, for a unique, genre-defying musical experience. The Chops have previous recorded two albums, Modern Vintage Vol. 1 in 2008 and Give Her the Gun in 2010. In 2013, The Judy Chops were voted “Best Local Roots Band” at the inaugural Red Wing Roots Music festival in Mt. Solon, VA, bringing home 20 hours of studio time at Blue Sprocket Sound in Harrisonburg VA, and a microphone package from Peluso Microphone Labs. These prizes enabled them to record their most ambitious album to date, Minor Sunshine, which is being released in June 2014.

About Elby Brass:  On April 15, 2009, Lake Braddock Secondary School posted an ad on Craigslist. They had several hundred of their old marching band uniforms available, completely free for the taking. With one catch.

You must take at least 50.

Lake Braddock alumnus Seth Casana, never being one to pass up a deal, responded the next day. He spent a weekend hauling 150 back to his home in Fredericksburg, hats and all. He also gladly acquired a battered but solid sousaphone from the LBSS music director, Roy Holder. Armed with these new resources, a project that had merely been an idea suddenly became reality.

Fellow Fredericksburg musicians Lars Holmstrom and Chris Park had been scheming with Casana to create the ultimate street brass band. The concept was clear: all brass and percussion, all acoustic, all mobile. This would allow them the freedom to perform anywhere, anytime, all at a moment's notice.

In the following months, local musicians flocked to the newly formed band, some old friends, some new acquaintances. All had prior performance experience and each shared in the sheer excitment of this new group. Horn players in particular are often treated as an afterthought being called upon at the last minute for high-profile gigs or recording sessions. Here was a chance for the marginalized to step up and shine in all their glory.

Ever since then, ELBY BRASS has been bringing it to the streets. The heavy horn funk might catch you in the club or in your own backyard. All the world's a stage and ELBY is front and center, just look for the purple and gold.