We are talking ska, we are talking mod, we are talking emo. Took a turn there at the end, but we are in for tons of good stuff this week. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit us up at griffin@rvamag.com....
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Richmond’s Funniest Weekend Returns With 2nd Best Comedy Fest
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 that sets the stage for a cultural blowout.Meet the man who has spent a decade...
Northern Lights, Northern Lives: Queer Life Beyond the Lower 48
Northern Lights, Northern Lives: A Spectrum of Gender Across Alaska and the Yukon is a collection of 50 striking photographs of LGBTQ+ people and their allies that is set in the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska and Yukon. The images are accompanied by personal essays from each of the subjects about their queer experiences as well as some of...
The BIG Richmond Summer Music Field Guide 2026
Trying to put together a list of shows in Richmond these days is becoming a pretty hard thing to do. The city has gotten really busy, but at least it’s not boring. There are more shows, festivals, DJ nights, and random Tuesday concerts happening in the River City than at any point we can remember. So think of this less as a definitive guide and...
REVIEW | Ducking Awesome! WitchDuck Is Smart, Sharp, and Ruthless
I am rarely speechless, especially about theatre. Since I don’t get paid if I remain silent, I will make myself criticize a play I don’t feel I have any right to judge. Gotta pay the rent, and all that. I came into this performance of WitchDuck by Cadence and Firehouse Theatre with a vague understanding that this had some historical relevance to...
Richmond’s Sci-Fi and Fantasy Season Has Arrived. Here’s Where to Go.
Every year around this time, Richmond slips a little. It starts small and you catch it out of the corner of your eye. Someone in armor pumping gas. A Jedi standing at the crosswalk on Broad, waiting for the light like everyone else. A guy in full wizard robes standing in line at 7-Eleven like this is all perfectly normal behavior. What used to...
Opinion | My Family Deserves to Exist
by Alexis Jackson I am a Black queer woman, a wife, a mother, a licensed therapist, and a doula in Virginia. And before anything else, let me be clear: my family is not outside of the norm. Love, intention, and care are not radical ideas. They are the foundation of families. That is what my family is built on. It is what I wake up to every...
Find Your Dark Art at ‘Market of the Beast’ Richmond
Market of the Beast is a dark market for all the weirdos and occult lovers who have a bit of a funny bone in them and it’s coming to Richmond Feb 7th, 2026. This handmade market specializes in all things macabre from taxidermy and bone jewelry to home decor, occult prints and more. We chatted with founder Heather Loop about why she started the...
Photos | ‘Undeniable’ Pairs Christian Siriano and Ashley Longshore at The Branch
Last night, Undeniable, the new exhibition pairing Christian Siriano and Ashley Longshore, drew a crowd into the Branch Museum of Design on Monument Avenue. The gallery buzzed with fashion, color, and bold expression as visitors moved between Siriano’s sculptural silhouettes and Longshore’s pop-driven canvases. Shout out to our guy Rudy Lopez....
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 you want to do it, RVA has options that feel very Richmond. Here’s how to close...
