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Starting the Dream in Richmond’s Local Music Scene

Editor’s Note: This piece was written by a student at Randolph-Macon College as part of a feature writing course. Thank you to the students and to Professor Seth Clabough, Ph.D., for organizing the project. Gavin Lawton remembers the exact moment he decided music was...

The Good Road: Craig Martin on Challenging Myths Through Travel

When Richmond producer Craig Martin talks about The Good Road, he does not start with ratings or distribution. He starts with a pitch he heard on a flight more than a decade ago. “The first words out of his mouth,” Craig said of his business partner and co-host Earl...

It’s Still Our City | Ep. 17 Justin Torone of Rest In Pieces

"Established in 2014 by Justin Torone & Alaina Gearhart, what started as a personal interest and collection, quickly evolved into the shop we have today in the historic neighborhood of Oregon Hill. Conveniently located just a few blocks away from the famous...

As Virginia Legalizes Cannabis, New Penalties Spark Backlash

Virginia’s long-running effort to build a regulated cannabis marketplace has hit a new turning point this legislative session. Since adult possession became legal in 2021, lawmakers and stakeholders have spent years negotiating a retail framework to replace the...

The Next Generation of Richmond Straight Edge

Editor’s Note: This piece was written by a student at Randolph-Macon College as part of a feature writing course. Thank you to the students and to Professor Seth Clabough, Ph.D., for organizing the project. The storage unit smelled of sweat and wood. The garage door...

Knit Against the Machine: How Gen Z Is Fighting Tech With Yarn

Editor’s Note: This piece was written by a student at Randolph-Macon College as part of a feature writing course. Thank you to the students and to Professor Seth Clabough, Ph.D., for organizing the project. Where there was once a forest full of life and hidden...

Photos | Downtown Richmond In Black and White by Colin Sheppard

Photographer Colin Sheppard’s latest film photography set, shot on his Nikon N6006 with a 50mm lens and printed on Ilford XP2 Super, captures downtown Richmond in all its gritty, timeless beauty. Ilford XP2 Super is a black-and-white film processed with C-41 color chemicals, offering fine grain, smooth tones, and exceptional detail. This shot of...

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Downtown-Richmond_photo-by-Colin-Sheppard_RVA-Magazine-2024

Sound Check! Erin & The Wildfire, Chat Pile & Trauma Ray

The week and the music all seem heavy right now. Sometimes you eat the bar, sometimes the bar eats you. Sometimes you sway gently to a crooner at The Camel, sometimes you lose a tooth in the pit at the Canal Club. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com.  The Camel Saturday,...

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Erin and the Wildfire_Griffin Smalley_RVA Magazine 2024

WIGGLERS! Seyla Hossaini Brings A New Horror Hit to Town

Halloween seemed to fly by this year—I barely made it to any haunted houses or ghost tours before Thanksgiving’s brown-and-orange gloom settled in. My antidote? Heading to the Byrd on Tuesday, November 19th for the premiere of WIGGLERS by Seyla Hossaini, alongside The Dirt Eater by Jim Stramel, Traders by Olivia Gropp, and Doctor Drain Brain by...

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Wigglers Movie Premiere Seyla Hossaini by Griffin Smalley_RVA Magazine 2024

Photos | Richmond Halloween Parade 2024 by Michael Simon

The Richmond Halloween Parade returned for its 19th year, hosted by All The Saints Theater Company. A Richmond tradition, this parade has always been more than just a celebration—it’s a platform for protest. This year's theme, A Funeral March for Silence, served as a tribute to Palestine and all communities worldwide fighting for their existence....

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Halloween Parade Richmond 2024_photo by Michael Simon_RVA Magazine 2024

Photos | LTC FEST II at Canal Club by Vincent Candela

We hit LTC Fest II at the Canal Club, where local favorites and out-of-town bands tore it up from afternoon ‘til midnight. Fleshwater and Drug Church headlined, bringing serious heat, while acts like Heavyhex, Bellweather, Modern Color, and Anxious kept the energy high all day. Photographer Vincent Candela was everywhere—pit, stage, behind the...

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