Welcome to the
Rebecca J. Graves Center for the Performing Arts

Abbey Road

October 25 – 7:30 PM

Abbey Road…The Ultimate Rock and Roll Party Band!…
are lifelong musicians and have been perfecting Abbey Road’s stage magic over 20 years.

They have been fans of the Beatles since they first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and while they are not a Beatles look-alike band, their attention to detail from a musical and performance standpoint will keep your guests rocking!

Abbey Road’s goal is to bring the music of the greatest band in history to life for your event and to make you the hero of the day!

From “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” to “Let It Be” you will hear all of the great hits from the beginning of the Beatles career to it’s finale and you’ll also discover a wide variety of crowd-pleasing classic Rock and Roll favorites that the Lads from Liverpool covered like, “Please Mister Postman”, “Twist and Shout”, “Roll Over Beethoven”, “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” and other early covers performed by the Beatles.

POTOMAC FEVER

Small Ensemble of the Gay Men’s Chorus

of  Washington, D.C.

November 1, 7:30 pm

Featuring tight-harmony a cappella pop songs sprinkled with captivating story-telling.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC (GMCW) sings to inspire equality and inclusion with musical performances and education promoting justice and dignity for all.

GMCW is the LGBTQ+ voice of equality in the nation’s capital. We are a renowned performance group. Since 1981, we’ve performed shows nationally, internationally, and at-home in Washington, DC.

To date, we have 250+ singing members. Four select ensembles. Five hundred donors. One dance company. One youth chorus. And an annual audience of 10,000+. Our mission is to use music to promote equality, achieve justice, and overcome our differences. That — and put on one hell of a show in the process.

Brent Gordon
November 8 – 7:30 PM

With Peter Fontanese
Saxaphonist / Vocalist and Guitarist

Brent graduated from Shepherd University with a music education degree and has embraced the stage the way he did the practice room when he was a student. He is an accomplished saxophonist and vocalist performing music in any genre. His fiery soulful vocals and powerful sax rich with improvisation are captivating and provide distinct energy to each and every performance.

Luray native Brent Gordon has performed with BB King, The Temptations, and The Commitments.

He will perform with Peter Fontanese, an established string and vocal artist based in Vail, CO.

This polished duo is primed to deliver pop, country, Americana, classic rock, jazz and R and B.

Glen Shelton
December 6 – 7:30 PM

Annual Christmas in the Valley

National Recording artist, Glen Shelton, has charted two Top 50 singles on the National Music Row Country Breakout Chart! Glen has shared the stage with more than 50 well known National Acts, performed at hundreds of events and venues, and has been endorsed by multiple National Acts.

Glen lives by a personal code of Faith in God, Focus on Family, and Commitment to Country. Recent releases Play for Mama, Before You, and I’m All In are examples of his mainstream country style and traditional American values.

Beyond his personal code, his ultimate passions are MUSIC and FOOTBALL. Glen has been feeding his passion for football his entire life, as a wide receiver in his high school and college days, and then coaching the next generation. His new release Play for Mama, a sentiment to that life.

Don’t miss out on new releases, live shows, and fun Glen antidotes.

The Great Zeppolini

January 17, 2026 – 7:30 PM

Johnny Peers has performed his slapstick comedy all over the world and now you can bring him to your event!

Johnny Peers was found swimming in the ocean, living amongst the seals, and discovered by Ringling Brothers! It was soon discovered he had a knack for leaving audiences in stitches, so they threw him into clown college and the rest is history!

Johnny has tickled funny bones at fairs, festivals, the White House, has been featured at Malls of America, Busch Gardens, and traveled through Europe and South America!

Zydeco Jed

Mardi Gras Redux
February 21, 2026 – 7:30 PM

Get funky to NOLA grooves from The Meters, The Neville Brothers, and The Radiators to name just a few.

Shake your tail feathers to Zydeco and Cajun bayou country music made famous by Clifton Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, Wayne Toups, and even Hank Williams. You’ll hear American standards,

Traditional favorites, Boogie Woogie, Delta Blues, good old Rock n Roll, some Grateful Dead, plus our own originals too. We’re always keeping it fresh and adding new material to our repertoire.
Come on out, put on some beads, have a ball, and Laisser Les Bons Temps Rouler with Zydeco Jed.

Denny Moore  Hypnotist/Mentalist
March 7, 2026 – 7:30 PM

Denny’s fascination with magic and mentalism sparked at the tender age of nine. By his freshman year in high school, he had already crafted his first show and embarked on a professional journey that has only gained momentum since. Denny understands that while mystifying his audience is crucial, the essence of a great performance lies in entertainment. Unlike many magicians and mentalists who focus solely on deception, 

Denny has headlined at every major comedy club in the nation, including the renowned Caroline’s Comedy Club on Broadway. His performances have also been a hit at casinos across the country.

Versatility is Denny More’s hallmark. Whether it’s a family-friendly venue or an adults-only event, he fits right in. His extensive experience spans corporate events, high school and college functions, theme parks, cruise ships, comedy clubs, professional and fraternal organizations, synagogue events, fundraisers, private parties, and television appearances.

Poehemia – Celtic Rock
March 21, 2026 – 7:30 PM

POEHEMIA delivers the best Celtic Rock! Formed alongside the docks of Baltimore’s historic, industrial waterside community POEHEMIA brings a fresh interpretation to traditional and Celtic music.

Consisting of members with national, international touring and recording experience this power house combines top shelf musicianship with a one-of-a-kind stage show. The band artistically blends traditional and modern instruments that cross generations and appeal to audiences of all ages.

Since 2016 POEHEMIA has released 3 CDs and performed hundreds of electric and acoustic shows at festivals, special events, wineries, weddings, breweries, and pubs throughout North America.

Bobby “Black Hat” Walters
April 11, 2026 – 7:30 PM

Bobby BlackHat, Virginia’s Blues Ambassador, blends the influences of Chicago, Memphis, Piedmont, and Delta style blues along with a little Gospel into a Toe Tappin’, Finger Poppin’, Hip Shakin’ Blues experience. You Never Know What’s Gonna Happen at a Bobby BlackHat Show!

Bobby BlackHat, Virginia’s Blues Ambassador, award winning recording artist, harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter, comedian, producer has been playing harmonica for over 50 years. Bobby is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander with 27 years of distinguished service which included serving as Military Aide to the President and being awarded the Coast Guard Medal for Heroism.

He has opened for music legends: B.B King, Taj Mahal, Delbert McClinton, Patti Labelle, Ramsey Lewis, and Maze. BlackHat is a judge for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

Stephanie Nakasian
May 2, 2026 – 7:30 PM

Stephanie Nakasian is an exciting, well-seasoned vocalist and master of innovative jazz improvisation, completely authentic with a fresh and vibrant sound all her own. Bringing high energy to every performance, Stephanie enthralls listeners with her pure tones and a flawless delivery, engaging them on a personal level with a love for the music that is playful, electric and spontaneous in story and song.

Then & Now: Stephanie came to international attention in the mid-80s when she sang and toured with the vocal jazz master Jon Hendricks and Company. She continues to tour and record as a vocal leader to this day!

Stephanie’s original concert revues and composer and singer tributes have been favorites with concert audiences, schools and universities. Her “Great Ladies” revue tracing the development of jazz singing has also been offered as an academic course at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, where Stephanie is currently on faculty as a vocal instructor and coaches students on jazz phrasing, listening, improvisation and repertoire preparation for performance. She has directed and coached numerous vocal jazz ensembles and is a regular workshop presenter at schools and conferences each year.

Karen Bergreen
May 30, 2026 – 7:30 PM

Karen Bergreen is a New Yorker who started as the only Harvard student with a TV in her dorm (it was black and white, don’t judge). I went from law school to law firms, dreaming of courtroom dramas but instead mastering the arts of stapling and proofreading. Turns out, I was terrible at both, which led me to the obvious next step: comedy!

I’ve performed all over the U.S. and beyond (hello, Canada!), and you might’ve caught me on Comedy Central, The View, or playing myself on The Jim Gaffigan Show.

Now, between raising kids, a needy dog named Tootsie, and some hermit crabs (that sometimes die), I write novels. Check out Following Polly and Perfect is Overrated—more to come!

Larney Starkey &
The Spiritual Seven
June 13, 2026 – 7:30 PM

We are a family group from Virginia that have been singing for 53 years. We are proud to represent and be apart of Virginia’s history as a family group started and presently residing in the state.

We are a part of the Virginia Commission For The Arts. We are known by many as the “Gospel Temptations”

We are happy to release our new Release “Hymn Time with Larnell Starkey & The Spiritual Seven. We took a few of our favorite hymns and put our twist on them .

Thank you to all of our PAL Sponsors