Category: Arts & Culture

By Anastasia Simonenko, arts, culture and sports reporter

Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole perform native Creole music for the community at the Center for the Arts in Blacksburg, Va. on Sept. 11, 2026. (Anastasia Simonenko, The News Feed NRV)

The Center for the Arts in Blacksburg, Va., hosted its annual free-to-the-public event featuring South Louisiana music by four-time Grammy nominee Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole.

The Center for the Arts is a leading hub for all artistic performances in Blacksburg. It hosts a variety of events from art galleries, professional presentations and touring musical performances. 

According to their mission statement, the center seeks to “transform lives through exploration and engagement with the arts and creative process.”

While art galleries are always free, most of the center’s events require a paid ticket, varying in price depending on the event.

Once a year, the center hosts one outdoor event that is free to the public to encourage community bonding.

This year, it was a musical performance by Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole for a night of music on Sept. 11.

Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy nominee and one of the most prominent musicians in Cajun, Creole and zydeco (a traditional Louisiana Creole music genre) music today. His musical talent is seen in a variety of forms — he is known as a fiddler, singer, accordionist and songwriter.

This distinctive style of music traveled from South Louisiana to Blacksburg to give the town a performance it had never seen before.

The performance was a high-energy dance style with a unique touch of accordion to the traditional band. 

Katie Gehrt, director of Marketing and Communications for the center, works to reach community members and leads engagement.

Preparing for large events at the center is a process involving a team of directors, with bookings of musical acts starting months in advance.

Once a performance is booked, Gehrt takes over by getting the word out to the community.

“We’re in a unique position to be able to bring the campus and community together, and this event is the perfect kind of place to do that,” Gehrt said. 

The performance center has hosted anyone from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to notable touring Broadway shows such as “Chicago” and “TINA – The Tina Turner Musical.”

According to Gehrt, close to 48,000 people attended some type of activity presented by the center. 

“We want to bring in artists that show people things they may not have been able to experience to allow them to see things in new ways,” Gehrt said. 

Originally the event was planned to be held outside, but with rain in the forecast, the center made an executive decision to move it inside the Anne and Ellen Fife Theater.

Concertgoers of all ages from the Blacksburg community gathered to enjoy a night of music and dance.

Families gather to dance to southern Louisiana music by Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole at the Center for the Arts in Blacksburg, Va. on Sept. 11, 2026. (Anastasia Simonenko, NewsfeedNRV)

Kacy McAllister, professor of communication at Virginia Tech and a Blacksburg mom, brought her four-year-old son to the performance. She mentioned that seeing new instruments like the accordion was a first for him.

“I’m thrilled that he has an experience to be exposed to things that might otherwise only be available in a more urban setting, it enriches our culture and our exposure to music,” McAllister said.

McAllister formerly worked for the center and mentioned that it continues to make an impact in her life as she now gets to bring her students to exhibitions for class.

The center offered an opportunity for the audience to feel the music by leaving the front of the theater as a dance floor. Children held hands with their grandparents to dance right in front of the band.

“I’m pleased to see people across all different generations be able to get up and dance to the music, it’s heartwarming,” McAllister said. 

Dozens of students also attended the performance on their Friday night, dancing their way into the theater once the music was heard from the open doors. 

Virginia Tech graduate student Lainey Bradley attended the concert with her roommates.

“Getting to hear a new, different type of music and take the time to learn a little bit more about the history afterwards was so exciting,” Bradley said. “I think the event was a total success.” 

Bradley makes a point to attend events when she is available, and she wishes students knew about the events happening on campus more often.

“I think students don’t take advantage of the Center for the Arts enough, it is here to give us the opportunity to see something new, something different,” Bradley said.

This year, the center is hoping to pique more student interest in attending events through advertising and better communication to student organizations. 

They have been testing new marketing strategies and reorganizing their website to make information more accessible, Gehrt said. 

“I want students on this campus to be aware of the one time in life that you are going to have access to these kinds of experiences,” Gehrt said. “You have an opportunity to see performances that you may not be familiar with, and that’s what college is all about.”

By Lila Trochlil, Arts, Culture and Sports reporter

Lizzy Jacobs built Blacksburg Hardcore from the ground up, bringing bands and fans together through a growing DIY music community. 

After experiencing hardcore scenes in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Roanoke, Jacobs decided to bring one to Blacksburg. Her initial plan was to create a student club, but she quickly shifted to an independent scene with the help of other local students. Since its debut in August 2025, Blacksburg Hardcore has gained 2,068 Instagram followers, with more than 200 people attending its first show. The organization has since hosted 28 bands throughout the East Coast at various shows and fundraisers. Jacobs has created a largely DIY operation that relies on community support to create an exciting and welcoming space for all hardcore fans.

[Edited for clarity]

What inspired you to start a hardcore scene in Blacksburg?

I first got into hardcore in high school, when I didn’t have a lot of friends. I had transferred from a private to public school after moving to another part of Maryland, so I didn’t know anyone. My school was also really small, and everyone was pretty cliquey. Since I didn’t have many friends, I started going to shows in the area, and that’s how I met people. What I love about hardcore shows and alternative scenes is how open and welcoming the people are. I didn’t have friends, and then I met so many cool people just by going to shows. I saw people having fun at shows in Maryland and thought, “Why don’t we bring it down here? I don’t see why people wouldn’t have fun with it here, too.” 

What do you think makes hardcore different from other music scenes?

I think the culture definitely stands out. A lot of people are familiar with punk culture,  which is very similar to other alternative scenes, but there are slight differences between genres, which I think are all awesome. The basics are politics, fashion and music, along with a shared ideology. Alternative culture started as anti-establishment, and decades of DIY culture have continued that tradition of going against the establishment. Hardcore is also a safe space for people, especially communities that have faced discrimination, such as queer people and people of color. It’s really important to maintain those safe spaces while also preserving the history of hardcore.

How would you describe the community experience at hardcore shows? 

It’s different in the sense that it’s not just a show that you attend for music. Yes, you’re there for the music, but people also go to hardcore shows to meet alternative and like-minded individuals, socialize and mosh. Moshing is a big aspect of it; you can’t have a hardcore show without it. That’s not to say you couldn’t have similar experiences at other shows, but I think the hardcore and alternative scenes are more of a hangout and social experience instead of just being about the music. I don’t typically have those same experiences at certain other concerts or shows.

How did you start building the Blacksburg Hardcore scene?

Something I’ve always been interested in is logistics and management, which is why I’m studying project management. So, the logistics of organizing events have never been that hard, but finding a venue is always difficult. I think a lot of people tend to discriminate against the hardcore genre because they hear “hardcore” and think moshing, so they get scared that their belongings will be stolen or destroyed. 

We’ve also had to figure out how to host events without any money because we don’t make or keep any money. All the money we make goes to the bands and venues, so after a show, we’re broke. We have no money for future venues. So you’re probably thinking, “How is this sustainable? How are you able to afford other venues and shows?” The answer is that we do a lot of DIY and pop-up shows in random places. Luckily, we can still pay bands through donations from people who come to the shows. If people go to a free show, they’re very willing to donate to the bands, which is really awesome. 

How did you manage to build an audience?

I made a poster promoting Blacksburg Hardcore and our Instagram account and started placing them all over Blacksburg. If you were in Blacksburg during the summer of 2025, you would have seen the posters everywhere. We also talked with a lot of downtown store owners, and many liked the idea of a hardcore scene and put the posters up in their stores. 

We gained a ton of followers from the posters alone, and more than 200 people attended our first show. We actually had to turn people away at the door because we had reached capacity. I didn’t think that many people would show up. I always expected the scene to be somewhat small and niche, but I’m really glad it’s grown. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that their first hardcore show was one of ours, which is so cool. It’s great to think that Blacksburg Hardcore has opened a lot of people’s eyes to the hardcore scene in general.

How do you decide what bands you want to host at your shows?

I love giving anyone who wants to play a chance. Whenever I hear from new bands or people who may not have as much credibility but are really excited to work with us, I’ll always hear them out and take a chance on them. I want local bands to feel comfortable playing for us. As long as they fit within the hardcore genre or a similar alternative genre, we’ll let them play. 

I also really like bringing out-of-town bands to play for us, even if they’re just from Roanoke. I feel like the Blacksburg music scene can get repetitive quickly since it’s often the same mix of bands playing every weekend, so it’s nice to bring in new people and have a refreshing lineup. And, to be honest, I love the Roanoke bands that play for us. They’re super awesome and always willing to help us with our DIY shows. We’ve even had bigger bands drop out at the last minute, and Roanoke bands immediately filled their spots. They’re always down for anything and really supportive of us. 

 

 

By Kailey Watson, arts, culture and sports reporter

St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall is the last remaining building in New Town, an African American Community within Blacksburg. Volunteers at the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation are working to document everyone who once lived there and the stories that come with them. 

By Aaliyah Kinsler | Arts, Culture and Sports Reporter

A Virginia Tech graduate prepares for a graduation photo session outside an off-campus home in Blacksburg, Virginia, during spring commencement season. (Aaliyah Kinsler, The Newsfeed NRV)

As graduation season settles over Virginia Tech, groups of seniors dressed in white dresses, maroon stoles and graduation caps crowd iconic campus landmarks from Burruss Hall to Lane Stadium. Nearly every evening in April and May, students wait in lines for their turn beneath the Pylons or outside Burruss Hall while photographers maneuver around packed sidewalks and golden-hour lighting. 

For many students, graduation photos have become as much a part of the college experience as commencement itself. 

But as the popularity of graduation photography has surged alongside social media culture, so has the pressure surrounding it. What was once a smaller tradition centered on family announcements and framed keepsakes has evolved into a booming industry tied closely to Instagram aesthetics and social expectations. For some Virginia Tech students, professional graduation photos have become increasingly difficult to afford. 

Photographer Jackson Sirbaugh, who has photographed Virginia Tech graduates for six years, said demand for sessions has grown dramatically during his time of photographing students. 

“I feel like even just a few years ago, or even before Instagram was really popular, it wasn’t as big of a deal,” Sirbaugh said. “Now you see all the iconic poses and outfits at every single different spot, and everyone wants that glorified, amazing thing.” 

Sirbaugh said his booking process now begins nearly a year in advance. By August, students already begin reserving spring graduation sessions, and by the time April arrives, many photographers’ schedules are completely filled. 

“Honestly, the most frustrating part about grad photos is that there are so many people that need to graduate and take photos,” Sirbaugh said. “Some evenings it’s endless people.” 

For photographers, graduation season has become both emotionally rewarding and financially significant. Sirbaugh described graduation photography as “the bread and butter” of his business while he was a student. 

“It’s business, it’s photography, it’s money,” Sirbaugh said. “But then it’s also been so special to do photos for friends because it kind of started off as people I didn’t know as much, and now it’s peers and roommates and best friends.” 

Sirbaugh said the culture surrounding graduation photography at Virginia Tech has also become increasingly crowded and competitive in recent years as more students purchase cameras and begin offering sessions. 

“I would say it’s definitely way more oversaturated than even before,” Sirbaugh said. “But because there are so many graduates, there’s room for a lot of people.” 

Jackson Sirbaugh photographs Virginia Tech graduates near the War Memorial Pylons during spring commencement season in Blacksburg, Virginia. Photo courtesy of Jackson Sirbaugh.

Despite the competition, Sirbaugh said many photographers at Virginia Tech operate more like a community than rivals. When his schedule fills, he often sends students to other photographers through a recommendation list he maintains. 

“There are literally endless grads to take photos with,” Sirbaugh said. 

Still, the increasingly polished culture surrounding graduation photography can create pressure for students who cannot justify the expense. 

“I think social media definitely makes it feel less optional.” 

Anna Eaton, a Virginia Tech Class of 2025 graduate, originally planned to book professional graduation photos during her senior year. But after comparing pricing packages and balancing other graduation expenses, she ultimately decided against it. 

“I definitely wanted grad photos,” Eaton said. “It felt like everybody around me was doing them, especially once people started posting their photos on Instagram.” 

Eaton said the cost became difficult to rationalize while preparing for graduation and post-college expenses. 

“At that point I was already thinking about moving expenses, graduation costs and trying to save money after college,” Eaton said. “Grad photos just stopped feeling practical for me.” 

Like many seniors preparing to graduate, Eaton said she was already balancing application fees, apartment deposits, graduation attire and plans for relocating after college. 

“When you start adding everything up at the end of senior year, it gets expensive really quickly,” Eaton said. “Grad photos were something I wanted, but they weren’t something I absolutely needed.” 

Instead, one of Eaton’s friends borrowed a camera and photographed her around campus near the Drillfield and Burruss Hall. 

“One of my friends ended up taking mine for me, and honestly it turned into a really fun memory,” Eaton said. “They weren’t professionally done, but I still love them because they feel personal to me.” 

Still, she admitted there was a sense of pressure surrounding the experience. 

“I think social media definitely makes it feel less optional,” Eaton said. “Even if nobody directly says you need grad photos, it kind of feels expected.” 

Even so, Eaton said taking photos with a friend ultimately reminded her that graduation memories do not have to look perfect online to feel meaningful. 

“At the end of the day, I cared more about remembering the moment than making everything look perfect online,” Eaton said. 

That pressure is something photographer Travis Carr said he thinks about often. 

Carr, who has photographed graduation sessions at multiple universities including Virginia Tech, New York University and Fordham University, said social media has dramatically reshaped photography culture over the last decade. 

“When I was a freshman, the seniors took grad photos, but social media was a very different environment,” Carr said. “The further along we get, definitely the more influence social media has on grad photos and the presence of them online.” 

Carr said the growth of social media has increased demand for photographers but also complicated the meaning behind graduation photography itself. 

“Selfishly, yeah, I want more of the market,” Carr said. “But also, do we all need $300 grad photos? I don’t know.” 

“Do we all need $300 grad photos? I don’t know.” 

Carr said many students feel pressure to present polished versions of themselves online, and graduation photography can sometimes contribute to those insecurities. 

“The counterweight to the social media thing tells us we’re not good enough all the time,” Carr said. “It tells us you have to look like this and be this way and pay this amount for photos.” 

Carr said his own experiences in front of the camera shaped how he approaches photographing students. 

“Photography is a vulnerable thing,” Carr said. “You’re holding up a mirror to somebody and saying, ‘Here’s all the flaws you think about all the time.’” 

Because of that, Carr said much of his process focuses on helping students feel comfortable rather than simply creating technically perfect photos. 

“If people have a good time and they feel good, that’s going to be the memory associated with it,” Carr said. 

Ironically, Carr himself never took professional graduation photos while in college because he could not afford them. 

“I didn’t have grad photos taken because I couldn’t afford it,” Carr said. 

He said that experience has influenced the way he thinks about the industry now, describing graduation as a rare moment when students pause to recognize how much their lives have changed over four years. 

“You’re sitting in Lane Stadium surrounded by this community that you’ll never be around again in the same way,” Carr said. “It’s four years of your life that hopefully launches the rest of your life.” 

He said his goal as a photographer is not simply creating technically perfect photos but creating an experience where students feel comfortable and celebrated. 

“My goal with most of the work I do is to say, ‘Hey, you are enough while you’re in front of this lens,’” Carr said. 

Sirbaugh echoed similar feelings, saying many of his favorite sessions are memorable not because of the photos themselves but because of the people attached to them. 

The Virginia Tech Class of 2024, Sirbaugh said, felt especially personal because many of the graduates were longtime friends. 

“I can look back now and think, wow, that’s what we looked like when we were graduating college,” Sirbaugh said. “This is what campus looked like, this is how we smiled, this is how we were.” 

He said some of his favorite sessions happen outside the traditional graduation locations because they allow students to express more of their personalities. 

“There are so many cool spots around campus,” Sirbaugh said. “Sometimes it can get really monotonous doing the same locations over and over, but then you go somewhere like Hahn Horticulture Garden, and it completely changes the feel of the photos.” 

Sirbaugh said the emotional aspect of graduation photography becomes more apparent as time passes. 

“A lot of those moments grow value over time,” Sirbaugh said. “At the moment, they’re just really cool photos, but years later you realize that was such a specific moment in your life.” 

As graduation season continues across Virginia Tech’s campus, students carrying bouquets and champagne bottles will continue lining up across familiar campus landmarks in pursuit of the perfect graduation photo. 

Whether captured through a professional lens, a borrowed camera or a friend’s phone, the meaning behind those photos often remains the same: preserving a fleeting moment before an entire community moves on. 

By Aaliyah Kinsler, arts, culture, and sports reporter

BLACKSBURG, Va. — The Genesis Film Festival is returning to Virginia Tech on April 27, offering students the opportunity to showcase their films on the big screen. Hosted by the Cinema Club, the festival highlights student creativity and provides a space for filmmakers of all experience levels to share their work with a live audience.

By Kailey Watson, arts, culture and sports reporter

The Lyric Theatre has reopened after being closed for its first phase of renovations. The changes are aimed at making the theatre more welcoming and improving the patron’s experience, which they are excited to share with their guests.