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Photos | Heart of Winter Fest

An unseasonably warm Friday afternoon set the tone for Day 2 of Heart of Winter at The Canal Club, a strange but welcome contrast to the bleak, frostbitten sounds pouring out of the venue. Despite the mild weather, the atmosphere inside was anything but soft. Black...

A Look Back at United Blood 2025

Editor’s Note: This article reflects on United Blood’s return back in April 2025 and is a preview of what is in store for 2026. Words and photos by Cristian Espinoza The sleeping giant walks the earth again. After a five-year hiatus, United Blood returned to Richmond,...

From Hibernation to Hellfire: Heart Of Winter Returns to Richmond

After more than a decade in hibernation, one of Richmond’s most revered underground metal gatherings is clawing its way back to life. Heart Of Winter, the black metal and doom-heavy festival that helped define an era of the city’s DIY extreme metal scene, is...

Richmond New Year’s Eve 2025-2026! The Ultimate Rundown

Richmond has its own way of ringing in the New Year. A little backward glance, a little chaos, and just enough polish to feel intentional. You can lean into loud live shows, dress up for something splashy, or keep it simple with a solid drink and good company. However...

Photo | Nettspend x Vans Keep It Local at Laurel Skatepark

Richmond's Nettspend and Vans turned Laurel Skatepark into a canned food drive that was part skate scene, part community pull-up, built around a simple ask: bring something that helps someone else eat. For readers who may not know him yet, Nettspend is one of...

Richmond Live Music Picks | New Year’s Eve Edition

Editor's Note: We have our full list of New Years events posted HERE. This week is all about New Year's Eve. We got a ton of insane local talent at nearly every venue in town, anywhere you look you got something. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone...

In the Heat of the Night Vol. 10: Sizzlin’ Summer BBQ

In the River City, when the summer sun dips below the horizon, the nightlife ignites, pulsing with a rhythm all its own, a rocking vibe that captures the city’s true spirit. Our on-the-ground lensman, Jody Adams, has been out there, guitar pick in one hand, camera in the other, hitting everything from The Camel's fiery live shows to City Beach's...

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In The Heat Of The Night Vol. 10 by Jody Adams

804 Day, Shakey Graves & REIN: This Week’s Sound Check

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...

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shakey graves

Local Music In The Spotlight at First Ever Richmond Music Week

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...

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Richmond Music Week 2023

Breaking Skin: The Music of Rikki Rakki

My FaceTime call with Rikki Rakki opened up on the picturesque scene of the four band members drinking cocktails on a wooden porch in the Black Mountains of North Carolina. I felt as though I interrupted a most intimate moment of not only a band, but a dear group of friends in the midst of a hang out in which I was not invited. Of course I was,...

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Rikki Rakki Album release 2023

boygenuis’ Lucy Dacus Calls Out Obama As A War Criminal

A bit of Richmond music news making national headlines this morning. Music fans in Richmond, and we at the mag, have a well-documented love for Lucy Dacus, a homegrown talent. But apparently, she shares no love for former President Barak Obama. Each summer, the former president curates a diverse and eclectic playlist showcasing his musical...

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Lucy Dacus, Obama war criminal story 2023

In The Heat Of The Night Vol. 5: Midnight Marauders

The cosmos of hops has harmoniously intertwined as we unite with the audacious brew masters at Bingo! Beer Co. Our team of city voyagers, equipped with cameras, embarks on an imaginative journey every weekend. They’re plunging into the rabbit hole to explore the pulsating veins of the city that reverberates like an endless nocturnal celebration...

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In The Heat Of The Night Vol. 4: Midnight Marauders by CJ Payne

Flipturn, Landon Elliott & SMYTH: This Week’s Sound Check

As summer settles into the city with its lazy dog days and a peaceful hush descends with students on holiday and families on vacation, it's time for RVA Mag to lend you a helping hand in making the most of this laid-back season. Whether you're basking in the sun's freedom on the shores of the James River or seeking some quiet debauchery in the...

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Flipturn Sound Check