Richmond’s do-it-yourself music scene is shifting as traditional house venues become less central, but artists and organizers say the community continues to adapt in new ways. This shift mirrors the national trend of independent venues struggling to make ends meet,...
Last week, President Trump signed a sweeping executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” calling for the review—and potential restoration—of monuments removed from public land since 2020. While the order doesn’t name specific cities, its intent is clear: to challenge the widespread removal of Confederate symbols, many...
Last weekend in Church Hill, Richmond did something that only Richmond can do — it let history walk and talk right in front of us. Inside St. John’s Church, the scene was familiar. A reenactor delivered Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech to an attentive audience, a ritual that’s been part of the city’s cultural calendar for...
When it comes to creating visual work that uplifts Richmond’s music scene, The Sunroom has quickly become a trusted name. I caught up with Michael Thibodeau, the founder, creative director and producer at The Sunroom, to talk about how they started, their growing body of work with local artists, and what’s coming next. “So I’m Michael Thibodeau....
Twenty years ago, RVA Magazine and Gallery5 came to life together—two DIY efforts launched with no budget, no blueprint, and no permission. What they shared was a vision: that Richmond’s creative culture was worth showing up for, amplifying, and celebrating. On First Friday, April 4th, both organizations come together to mark their...
The enchanting world of Studio Ghibli returns to Richmond this week as Studio Ghibli Fest takes over the historic Byrd Theatre. Kicking off Monday, March 31 with a screening of Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), the fest brings a lineup of beloved animated films that have defined generations — and there's more magic ahead all week long. A bit of a...
"Holy smokes, Bobby from Vinyl Conflict, this guy is truly one of a kind. I honestly can’t imagine Richmond without him. His hands are in all the good pots—often with little to gain beyond making the city cooler, more fun, and more connected. A jack of all trades, and he does it all with a grin: small business owner, promoter, facilitator,...
I flew in under the wire to catch 5th Wall Theatre’s final performance of Martyna Majok’s Sanctuary City at Richmond Triangle Players' impressive stage in Scott’s Addition. This play is a curious hybrid, a bifurcated cryptid if you will, as its first and second acts are paced in startling opposition to each other. The play begins in time-lapse...
Richmond has a way of letting history slip through the cracks. Some stories get enshrined, others get forgotten, and too often, the ones that matter most fall into the latter category. Sister Rosetta Tharpe is one of those names that any one who loves music history should know, yet somehow, she’s often missing from the city’s narrative. That’s...
A protest has been organized for Sunday, March 23rd, at Patrick Henry Park in Richmond, coinciding with the annual reenactment of Patrick Henry’s famous “Liberty or Death” speech at St. John’s Church. The demonstration, themed “250 Years of No Kings in America,” draws on the Revolutionary War-era spirit to oppose President Donald Trump. The...
