Looking Backstage: How Danny Shea keeps Charlottesville’s Live Music Scene Alive

Lola Garvie / V Mag at UVA

Most students at the University walk around Grounds or on the Downtown Mall without realizing that one of the largest independent artist management companies in the world calls Charlottesville home. Red Light Management was founded in Charlottesville in 1991 by Coran Capshaw, who helped launch Dave Matthews Band to stardom. Since then, Red Light has grown into a global powerhouse with offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, New York and London. Its roster now spans more than 400 artists, writers and producers, including big names like Sabrina Carpenter, ODESZA and even Kesha, who they recently signed in October 2025.  

Red Light Management is one of many examples of Charlottesville’s unexpected musicality, which thrives today through live shows and events. At the center of that ecosystem are venues like Ting Pavilion, The Jefferson Theater and The Southern Café & Music Hall, which are operated by Starr Hill Presents, a division of Red Light Management. For Danny Shea, an Event Booker and Manager working with Red Light Management, Charlottesville’s “blend of small-town charm and big-stage energy offers something rare in the industry.”

Before Shea stepped into the world behind the stage, he was simply a fan of live music. With a degree in fine arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and an eye for anything creative, he said he loves collecting tangible art from shows. Shea still remembers one piece in particular — a Grateful Dead ticket with an embossed design that he still holds on to today.

Before transitioning into a full-fledged booking representative, Shea worked at Plan 9 Records on the Corner, where CVS Pharmacy stands today. He described the gig as a “useful barometer” for what young people were listening to and said it further fueled his love for music. Plan 9 was also connected to Satellite Ballroom, a live music venue that was once known as "a vital element of Charlottesville culture," according to Cville Weekly.

At Plan 9, he started designing and changing displays, building sculptural installations and experimenting with what he calls “low-end engineering…putting his art degree to use.” Even when the venue struggled financially, Shea found creative ways to stretch resources. He printed new posters on the backs of old ones, used construction paper for tickets and screen-printed flyers himself. 

As he got more involved, Shea began helping with booking shows at Satellite Ballroom, working directly with artists and touring crews. “We made a splash,” he said, reflecting on the number of shows he steered and the fun he had unifying the community. Shea continued his work in the music industry from there, eventually joining the team at Red Light.

Now working primarily out of The Southern, Shea handles everything from booking acts to the behind-the-scenes maintenance that keeps shows running, including tasks not expected from someone in his position. One might even find him crawling in the ceiling to fix plumbing issues or making a DIY photo booth for their annual landmark Mock Stars show every October. During the event, local bands perform covers while the Charlottesville community arrives dressed to the nines in Halloween costumes.

Shea said some of his favorite acts he has booked include Sharon Jones, Robert Plant and TV on the Radio. He keeps a bucket list of artists he hopes to book one day but jokes to “never meet your idols.”

“Students don’t always realize how vibrant the music scene is,” Shea says. He laments that because of how the University was built, it can be easy for students to feel isolated from the local community. 

The Southern Café and Music Hall continues to keep Charlottesville's creative heart beating, with a full slate of upcoming shows listed on its website and free weekly events like open mic nights and karaoke.