About 10 years ago, actor Michael Shannon and veteran band member Jason Narducy threw an impromptu covers set in Chicago. The two quickly bonded over a shared love of alternative rock and found themselves doing yearly shows where they would play entire albums. They...
When we saw the lineup, it definitely caught our attention. Major hip hop legends coming to Charlottesville, VA for a locally grown festival? We are down to know more. Digging in with Jay "Jaewar" King, the dynamic creative force behind Vibe Riot and the creator of Vibe Fest, is on a mission to unify and celebrate diversity through the pulsating...
Oh my god, the scene is all over the place. On this week's SOUND CHECK, Shockoe Records is hosting an event to honor the 50th anniversary of the creation of hip-hop with RVA Rapper's Delight, some Richmond veterans are celebrating 20 years of playing in the city, while another rising star is leaving the country to further their education. On top...
As we nosedive into the sultry sizzle of summer, the city's asphalt starts to offer a small breath of relief but, let me tell you, Richmond's nightlife doesn't know the meaning of chill. This week, our shutterbug in residence, Jody Adams, was beating the pavement, venturing everywhere from the ear-bleedingly loud metal shows deep in the Ipanema's...
Jordan Reinecke, otherwise known as REIN, was supposed to meet me at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens on a beautiful late Spring Day. Earlier in the week, however, smoke came down from Canada. It was an onslaught of wildfire fumes. Due to both of us having asthma, we wound up sheltering inside Harrison Street Cafe at a small two-person table on...
There are lots of celebrations in the Richmond music world coming up, and what could be a more fitting way for musicians to commemorate milestones and successes then by having a day filled with music. If you’re overwhelmed by all the exciting things happening around town, then look no further because I will be giving you the full run down on all...
Meet Smyth, a Richmond-based artist and founder of Kidz At Play, who we wrote about earlier this week. His latest solo album, Paperface!, serves as his emotional canvas. Drawing from suburban experiences and cinematic influences, Smyth crafts a vibrant, psychedelic world, transforming the mundane into the otherworldly. Paperface! isn't just an...
Richmond's summer night scene? Its never done and with the weather, its actually sizzling. Shoutout to our friends at Bingo! Beer Co. for partnering with us on this series. You've gotta give this nightlife diamond a whirl, and their lager? Hell, it's pretty good. Alright, this past week, our resident photog, Jody Adams, made the rounds. Checked...
Hey, Richmond, ready for a shot in the arm? Well, next week, prepare for the maiden voyage of Richmond Music Week, a coordinated strike from some of the city's stalwart music institutions — HearRVA, Ignited, The Auricular, RVA Playlist, Shockoe Records, and Virginia is for Music Lovers. It's a bold move, attempting to bottle the lightning that is...
Richmond's music scene has been buzzing about the collective success of local hip-hop group, Kidz At Play. This sensational 11-member collective, which began as a close-knit group of high school friends, has recently been signed to AWAL, a label under the Sony banner, renowned for housing diverse major talents like Little Simz, JPEGMAFIA, and...
