It’s time for the 9th Annual 2nd Best Comedy Fest running June 11–13, 2026. The Coalition Theater hosts this annual event, and is the brick-and-mortar heart of Richmond's alternative comedy ecosystem. Calling it the 2nd Best Fest is a beautifully defensive undersell...
Maybe it is a facade but the weather is nice and life is returning to the streets of Richmond. The parks are full, the lines for ice cream are long, and hopefully the venues are packed. Check out one of these shows, enjoy the weather, and pretend you are in a movie.If you’ve got any tips, send them my way. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply...
Ipanema is gone. You probably saw it on Reddit, sandwiched between a blurry photo of a pothole and a debate about whether the city’s latest apartment complex looks more like a dentist’s office or a minimum-security prison. The regulars lamented. The former regulars nodded knowingly. A few people squinted and asked, Wait, that place was still...
The streets are buzzing with whispers of new releases from some of RVA’s favorites, and I’m stuck in the present, waiting for them to drop. The only thing keeping me grounded is the constant rotation of shows at The Camel, Banditos, Gallery5, and beyond. If you’ve got any tips, send them my way. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply...
Names have power. They carry history, identity, and meaning. In street art, a name on a wall is a statement: I was here. I matter. For Richmond muralist Basta, names are more than words—they’re a tribute to strength. Through his project SuperName, he’s turning graffiti into a symbol of resilience for young people battling cancer. Photo courtesy...
Lately, I’ve been in a serious rap mood, and with that, I’m continuing my quest to dive deeper into the local scene. If you’ve got any tips, send them my way. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. Basic City Beer Co. Thursday, February 13th, 2025 Tennishu, Eras, Crenshaw,...
Some musicians don’t just play—they shape a city’s sound, quietly stitching themselves into the cultural fabric with every note. Justin Golden has been doing that in Richmond for years, sliding his bluesy riffs into our collective consciousness. You might’ve caught him live, lost in a groove, or maybe you’ve just soaked in the atmosphere he...
Richmond’s history is layered with stories of resilience, reinvention, and, in some cases, outright injustice. The Clear Redline, a new documentary by filmmaker Myles Black, peels back those layers to expose the lasting impact of redlining in Richmond and across the United States. For Black, this isn’t just a historical exploration—it’s...
Been hitting the shows hard lately and the tinnitus gives me a solemn look, but the shows are good, so we pop in the earplugs and press onward towards the endless night. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. Gallery 5 Sunday, February 9th, 2025 The Smirks, White Beast, Dials,...
In a dancing mood this week. We got some bouncers, some swayers, some goth sporadic twitching. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. Gallery5 Friday January 31st, 2025Wes Parker, Opin, Sun V Set https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atD1wST7U6c Splinter is Wes Parker’s newest EP, a...
