It’s a typical Thursday at Victorian Station’s open-mic night. The first musician on stage this evening is Roy Ira Moats, who softly strummed his guitar and said, “The only way this song will work is if Bobby Blackhat comes up here.”
The longtime Hampton Roads blues musician smiled, grabbed one of his harmonicas and headed toward the stage. Moats sang while Blackhat provided the perfect accompaniment.
Phoebus’ Victorian Station is not a concert hall or a bar; instead, it offers an acoustic listening experience in a 115-year-old home.
Every first and third Thursday of the month, people arrive and grab a beverage and a simple charcuterie board, or a hummus and crackers snack from the bar. Owners Chris Jacobson and his wife, Karen Ann Benson, created the space with no televisions; clinking glasses and the crowd quiet once the music begins.
Every fourth Sunday of the month, performances take place in the round, accompanied by a potluck dinner provided by the audience and the musicians.
A special Sunday session is scheduled for Aug. 10 with three local duos: Carol and Dale, Dry Land and Wine Dark Sea.
The events are supported through Big Pink Music, a nonprofit member organization founded in 2016 by Kelly Murphy, a NASA Langley Research Center rocket scientist. Big Pink produces 25 events annually and supports more than 200 local musicians at various events. Murphy launched and ran the Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival for several years.
“Bars rely on alcohol sales, and when a musician plays, the audience is not always listening because there are things going around them,” Murphy said. “What’s the difference between us and Nashville? Their audience is trained to listen. We are building that kind of culture here. And this place preaches the gospel of the listening room.”
Moats, who started playing guitar in the late 1960s, agrees.
“It’s a cool place to play because the focus is on listening. When I am playing, I don’t hear chatter, laughing or dropping silverware. And when I am listening to another musician, I can understand the lyrics. It’s a great place to show off the song.”
Bob Potter, a regular audience member, said the paneling, installed in the early 1990s, offers great acoustics.
The couple purchased the home 20 years ago when it was a tearoom. At the city's suggestion, they preserved the tearoom. However, in 2011, following the retirement of British tea hostess Jenny Chapman, the space transitioned into a music venue.
The home’s interior retains intricate Victorian architectural details and a collection of antiques, especially teapots.
Upstairs is a small bar with a huge model sailboat, dark wood and a sitting area. When multiple musicians play, the area is used as a green room.
The change to a music venue coincided with Jacobson’s renewed connection to the late music legend Vaughn Deel, whose impact extended beyond his talent. He was a mentor and friend to many, cultivating a warm and welcoming environment for artists and audiences, Jacobson recalled. The couple created the Vaughn Deel Memorial Listening Room and display his numerous awards.
Victorian Station also hosts special concerts, such as guitarist Stephen Bennett’s show on Aug. 2. He has performed internationally and is known for playing his great-grandfather’s harp guitar.
There is a fundraiser to purchase a new sound system for $3,500. The Big Pink recently received a $500 grant from the Newport News Arts Commission and an anonymous donor is willing to match up to $2,500 of donations, Murphy said.
Visit bigpinkmusic.org for more information.
