Daryl Davis and The Nighthawks Throw Chuck Berry a 100th Birthday Party

Published October 9, 2026 · 3 min read

Chuck Berry would have turned 100 this month.

Sit with that for a second. The man who fused country licks and rhythm & blues into something nobody had a name for—born October 18, 1926, in St. Louis—would be a centenarian. He didn't make it. He died in 2017. But the blueprint he drew is still the foundation every rock band in the world builds on.

On Sunday, October 18, 2026, The Birchmere in Alexandria hosts a birthday party worthy of the occasion.

The Man Who Invented the Rules

"Maybellene." "Roll Over Beethoven." "Johnny B. Goode." Three songs that did more to shape modern popular music than most artists manage across an entire career. Berry was the first inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the list of guitarists he influenced is basically the list of guitarists.

A hundred years is a milestone. The Birchmere is treating it like one.

Daryl Davis: The Bandleader Who Was There

Here's what separates this tribute from a cover band. Daryl Davis played piano alongside Chuck Berry for over 30 years. He didn't learn Berry's music from records—he learned it from the man himself, night after night, on stages around the world. Davis spoke at Berry's funeral.

He's not just leading this show. He's the living connective tissue between Berry's legacy and the stage it's being celebrated on.

The Lineup

The Nighthawks—a DMV institution in their own right—back Davis for the evening.

Guest guitarists rotate through: David Chappell, Dan Hovey, a few more. You'll have to be there for the rest. And then the moment that matters: Charlie Berry III, Chuck's grandson, on guitar.

Expect high-energy blues, rockabilly, and classic riffing in a room built for exactly this. The Birchmere seats 500, with tables a few feet from the stage. There's no bad seat, and there's no barrier between the band and the crowd.

Logistics

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026

Timeline:

• 5:00 PM — Box office and Will Call open
• 6:00 PM — Doors open (food and drinks available on site)
• 7:30 PM — Showtime

Venue: The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305. Phone: 703-549-7500.

Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster and The Birchmere's official site. Expect roughly $39.50 to $53.65 depending on the platform. Will Call requires the actual credit card used for purchase and a valid photo ID.

Parking: Free, secure on-site parking.

Accessibility: The Birchmere is fully handicapped accessible.

Good to know: No outside food or drinks. Photography and recording typically prohibited. All ages, but everyone needs a ticket.

Weather: Mid-October in Alexandria averages highs in the upper 60s to low 70s with cool evenings. Check your weather app before heading out—and check it again before you leave, because October does what it wants.

A man who spent three decades playing piano behind Chuck Berry is throwing him a 100th birthday party. Berry's grandson is bringing his guitar. Five of the DMV's best guitarists are lining up for their turn.

Tickets at Ticketmaster or birchmere.com. This one's going to be loud, and it's going to be worth it.

#ChuckBerry #DarylDavis #TheBirchmere #ChuckBerry100 #DMVConcerts #RockAndRoll #CulturalDMV

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