‘Extended Play’ Big Dipper Keeps the Conversation Going After Hours

by | May 11, 2026 | COMMUNITY, CULTURE, EVENTS, MUSIC

Big Dipper Innovation Summit isn’t just happening inside Main Street Station this week. The conversations are spilling out into Richmond, with a full slate of after-hours events under the Extended Play banner.

From receptions and garden socials to rooftop sets, intimate performances, and a Scott’s Addition block party, Extended Play is built around the idea that some of the best connections happen after the panels wrap. 

RVA Magazine is part of that lineup with After The Summit, happening Wednesday, May 13 from 6–9 PM at The Library at Harry’s at The Hof + Rooftop. Our event is free to attend and designed as a relaxed landing spot after the day’s programming, with Manifesto Hour from 6–7 PM, live music from Theocles on the rooftop, and DJ sets from Elliott and Aimée Lauren inside The Library.

Other Extended Play events include The Kickoff Reception at Havana ’59, The Garden Social at Agecroft Hall, Get Tight Takeover, the BDIS26 Summit Block Party in Scott’s Addition, Ant the Symbol & Friends at Common House, and Rebuild the Algorithm at Bingo Beer Co.

Big DipperEXTENDED PLAY’ SCHEDULE

The Big Dipper Innovation Summit’s after-hours programming, called Extended Play, spreads across Richmond this week with live music, networking events, curated experiences, rooftop gatherings, and public concerts designed to keep the conversations going long after the panels end. 

Tuesday, May 12

The Kickoff Reception
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Havana ’59

The Summit opens with an evening reception built around introductions, reconnecting, and setting the tone for the week ahead. Live performance by Rozzi.
BDIS registration required.

Wednesday, May 13

The Garden Social
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Agecroft Hall

Featuring Sounds Funny Band with DJ Marc J in an Extended Play experience by UnlockingRVA. Outdoor social event with music, cocktails, and heavy hors d’oeuvres available for purchase. Summit credential or separate ticket required.

Extended Play after Big Dipper Innovation Summit_RVA Magazine 2026
More information HERE

After The Summit
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Library at Harry’s at The Hof + Rooftop
Free to Attend

Presented by RVA Magazine, Big Dipper Innovation Summit, and Harry’s at The Hof.

The evening begins with Manifesto Hour from 6–7 PM, a guided wine tasting focused on flavor, balance, and pairing inside The Library. From 7–9 PM, live rooftop music from Theocles blends with DJ sets from Elliott and Aimée Lauren inside The Library for a more relaxed social close to the Summit day. Food and drinks available throughout the venue. 

Extended Play after Big Dipper Innovation Summit_RVA Magazine 2026

Get Tight Takeover
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Get Tight Lounge

A genre-crossing night moving through house, acid jazz, alternative rock, soul, and groove-driven DJ sets. Featuring Museum District, CHRISTIAN, Shera Shi, ANNELIESE, and Acid’s Groove. 

Thursday, May 14

Extended Play after Big Dipper Innovation Summit_RVA Magazine 2026

BDIS26 Summit Block Party
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Bellville Street between W. Moore and Norfolk Streets, Scott’s Addition
Free and Open to the Public

Closing celebration for the Summit featuring live performances from The Main Squeeze and Hot Like Mars. Outdoor block party atmosphere centered around live music and neighborhood energy. 

Extended Play after Big Dipper Innovation Summit_RVA Magazine 2026

An Evening with Jonathan Paige Brown Jr. and Isaac Friend
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Vasen Brewing, Scott’s Addition

An intimate folk, Americana, and Southern Gothic song-swap performance inside Vasen Brewing’s barrel room. The evening also includes theremin performances and cyanotype artwork from Caroline Scruggs. Hosted by Freight Train Management. 

Extended Play after Big Dipper Innovation Summit_RVA Magazine 2026

Ant the Symbol & Friends
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Common House Rooftop

A genre-blending, album-forward experience led by Grammy Award-winning producer Ant The Symbol, mixing hip-hop, electronic, indie rock, downtempo, soul, and collaborative performances. 

Extended Play after Big Dipper Innovation Summit_RVA Magazine 2026

Rebuild the Algorithm
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Bingo Beer Co.

A DJ-driven live music experience focused on discovery and genre blending. Featuring performances from Mia Broadberry, Sir Rome, and Ronnie Luxe, with DJs crafting sets around R&B, soul, electronic, and adjacent genres. Select sets will later be released as curated playlists. 

You can also read our full Big Dipper Innovation Summit preview HERE


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