It’s 2023 and it is time to get ready for another year of unforgettable live music this summer in Downtown Richmond! Friday Cheers presented by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, is back for its 38th season bringing the best up-and-coming artists to Brown’s Island with headliners Snail Mail, Sierra Ferrell, Butcher Brown, Sampa The Great, Watchhouse, Tank and The Bangs, The Vagabonds, and Flipturn performing along the James River every Friday in May and June. The line up this year is diverse and has a bit to offer for everyone — and we are going to get into all of it below.
MAY 5TH, 2023
SNAIL MAIL
For those unfamiliar, Snail Mail is the brainchild and solo project of Maryland guitarist Lindsey Jordan. From self-recording and releasing her first EP in 2015 at the age of 16, to releasing two full length albums, and canceling a US and UK tour to remove polyps on her vocal chords, Snail Mail has already been around the block a few times, and at 23 years old, could go anywhere. Snail Mail’s brand of indie rock is familiar to those who mainline that sort of thing, but what is appealing to a wider audience is the digestibility of her easy going songs, her flexibility in sound and style. Often incorporating acoustic guitars (an underrated aspect of her playing) and drum kits alongside synthesizers, electric guitars, and other electronic sounds define her music, but her unpretentious and relatable lyrics discuss the trials of young love and attempts at success despite the major drawbacks of it; not a bad sound for a laid back afternoon down by the river.
WATER FROM YOUR EYES
If you’re tired of cookie-cutter music and crave something unique, Water From Your Eyes is a must-see. This avant-garde indie-pop duo from New York has been making music since 2016, and with six albums and numerous US and UK tours under their belt, they show no signs of slowing down.Their blend of electronic dance, 80s synth, and industrial noise creates a fascinating and danceable sound that’s sure to get you moving.
DAZY
James Goodson, otherwise known as Dazy, is a Richmond based solo artist who has been churning out tunes since 2020. Very quickly pumping out singles Dazy managed to somehow produce a number of incredibly successful ones, not to mention three albums, in just over two years. Playing every instrument, as well as doing his own recording, Dazy is a force to be reckoned with. The quick rise of the solo act can be attributed to the catchy hooks and melodic lines mixed lined up with fuzzy guitars reminiscent of an early late 90’s pop punk band. If you’ve got some anti-suburban angst sitting somewhere inside of you, then Dazy is an act you’ll for sure want to catch this season.
MAY 12TH, 2023
SIERRA FERELL
This Friday Cheers lineup features a great deal of country and Appalachian influenced music, and the first to take the stage is the rising new solo artist, Sierra Ferell. The West Virginia native self-released her albums Pretty Magic Spell and Washington by the Sea in 2018 and 2019 respectively, and then in 2021 released her first major label recording Long Time Coming. Though her sound has stayed fairly consistent the recording quality has improved across her records, and she has built quite the following in the last few years, working her way to playing with the likes of Billy Strings and Shakey Graves. This year Ferrell is taking her act on a tour starting in March that will see her visiting every corner of the United States, along with two dates overseas in the UK and the Netherlands, before ending at Red Rocks in Denver, Colorado in September.
CHRIS LEGGETT & THE COPPER LINE
The straight forward and unpretentious sounds of humble country rock are sometimes all you need, and Richmond locals Chris Leggett and his backing band The Copper Line are in fact all you need. What wouldn’t sound out of place at a honky tonk, the twangy guitars and soft rock edge of The Copper Line fill that foot tapping easy listening need all fronted by the good ol’ boy vibes of Leggett singing about dating girls and drinking beer. A self-actualized sound and a prominent front man make for a tried and true formula that has scored this band dates all across Virginia and have landed them at our hallowed ground of Friday Cheers.
MAY 26TH, 2023 : RVA MUSIC NIGHT
BUTCHER BROWN
Even those who aren’t immersed in the music scene in this town know about Butcher Brown. Perhaps the biggest act based in Richmond right now, Butcher Brown are a genre defining take on hip-hop, bringing in the sounds of rock electric guitars, funk rhythms, and jazzy horn arrangement to keep things fresh and their sound alive. Just off from opening for Australian stars Hiatus Kaiyote, and performing arrangements of their music with the Richmond Symphony, Butcher Brown are a hot commodity, and you’d be crazy to miss them performing at Friday Cheers on a night specifically designed to highlight Richmond’s finest bands.
CELLAR DWELLERS
This Richmond indie rock band have been making the rounds for a few years now and have built up a loyal audience of regular listeners from all over the country. Releasing music since 2020 they have been playing the single game, though one of their first releases was a short album back in August of 2020, they have put out eight singles since then and show no signs of slowing down having put out another single “Hearts On Fire” in January of this year. It might be time to catch this band on the upswing before they’re touring too much to play regular shows in Richmond anymore.
CASSIDY SNIDER AND THE WRANGLERS
RVA Music Night will see the featuring of another Richmond favorite, Cassidy Snider and the Wranglers. Their blend of Cassidy Snider’s sultry soul singer tone with the instrumentation of an Appalachian country band and the sensibilities of a blues rock band make for a unique experience and a refreshing take on the often overlooked and oversimplified nature of those genres. With her 2022 debut album out Cassidy Snider and the Wranglers are on a rise and eager to show the world their versatile sound.
JUNE 2ND, 2023
SAMPA THE GREAT
One of the few hip-hop acts making its way to this year’s Friday Cheers is Zambian star Sampa the Great. Performing with some of the genre’s greatest artists like Kendrick Lamar and Lauryn Hill, Sampa is on her way to superstardom. Raised in Botswana the bilingual artist speaks Bemba, but mainly raps in English, though she does incorporate her native language into her music as well, often seamlessly transitioning back and forth between the two within the same verse. Sampa is rapidly building an international audience with her distinctly East African fashion sense and elegant style, so if you crave heavy afro-beats and a laser focused flow, then check out this international icon in the making as she makes her way to our city.
KENNEKA COOK
Who stands out to me as the biggest underdog of this Friday Cheers is the Richmond born Kenneka Cook who will find herself opening for Sampa the Great this June. I missed Cook’s freshman album Moonchild when it came out in 2018, but it is a must to check out if you crave an honest to god masterclass in R&B. The record has a jazzy piano driven sound, the beats and basslines of a modern rap record, and the electronic sound of synths and affected horn lines, but holding it all together is the amazing voice of Cook herself. Though she doesn’t play an instrument beyond her voice, she absolutely does not need to as Cook uses her complicated harmonies and soulful voice power to produce a vocal performance that rivals much of what I’ve heard from R&B’s biggest names these days. You simply must check out this Richmond native who seems to be one correct step away from catapulting to national attention.
JUNE 9TH, 2023
WATCHHOUSE
Perhaps the biggest act coming to Friday Cheers this year is Watchhouse. The band formerly known as Mandolin Orange changed their name before the release of what is their sixth album as a duo, but is their first under the new moniker, straight-forwardly titled Watchhouse. This americana group has been playing together since 2009 and has consistently put out a string of high quality folk tunes that remind one of cruising along skyline drive or could just as easily serve as the soundtrack to a hike through the North Carolina wilderness. True veterans of the industry, becoming something of a household name, it’s hard to think of a more perfect act to appear at Friday Cheers in the height of the season.
PALMYRA
No one I know has been working harder than Palmyra. The young trio from Richmond brings bluegrass influenced folk music that speaks to more than just life in the country, but instead focuses their lyrics on complicated emotions dealt by people living in a modern world. After finishing up a tour last year with friends Illiterate Light, Palmyra plays every chance they get with numerous dates just in the next two months from New York, to North Carolina, to Tennessee. Though they have yet to release a full length album, Palmyra have a number of great singles and EPs that are available to stream or purchase online, as well as a number of live music videos. Palmyra are the perfect band to discover a foray into Appalachian string music in a more modern setting.
JUNE 16TH, 2023
TANK AND THE BANGAS
If you’ve ever found yourself sitting around wishing that there was a group that could fill a deep need inside, a veritable one-stop-shop, for hip-hop, smooth jazz, and philosophical spoken word poetry. Well then, look no further than the sound of Tank and the Bangas. The New Orleans group comes from a scene known for its jazz music, and, to a lesser extent, the hip-hop style known as bounce. Merging the roots of the two genres with looped drum beats that bounce is known for and a traditional jazz style rhythm section with a featured horn player, Tank and the Bangas is a perfect fusion for those who love either or both styles. While their newest album Red Balloon is decidedly more hip-hop influenced than their previous work, specifically their first album, it still has that blend of sounds and actually leans more into some funk influence with electric pianos and slapping guitars, all wrapped up with a delightful radio show framing device featuring Wayne Brady. Tank and the Bangas ride a line of respect down the middle producing a sound that is sure to reel in even the most unenthusiastic hip-hop fans and jazz averse.
PIRANHA RAMA
Opening for Tank and the Bangas is a local favorite, Piranha Rama. Riding the wave of the 2022 release of their third album Omniscient Cloud Cover, Piranha Rama are on a hot streak and find themselves once again back at Friday Cheers. If you haven’t caught a glimpse of their Richmond psychedelia then now is the perfect time. An eclectic group of weirdos featuring everyone from Richmond veteran John Sizemore, to the local trombone legend Reggie Pace, and none other than the saxman himself, Gordon Jones, Piranha Rama are a hot ticket if you keep your eye on the local scene. For Richmonders with a love of fantastic horn players this is not a day that you’re gonna want to miss.
JUNE 23RD, 2023
THE VAGABONDS
After 14 years it would be conservative to call The Vegabonds veterans, they are pros. The Alabama formed, and now Nashville based, southern rock ensemble released their first album back in 2009, and have been going strong ever since. Their music ranges from towering anthems featuring organs and a full band to quiet love songs strummed on an acoustic guitar. If you need another dose of some down home southern rock then make it down to Brown’s Island for some laid back tunes about love and living in the boonies from The Vegabonds.
KIND HEARTED STRANGERS
If you find southern rock to be a bit too straight forward and wish it had a little more irreverent edge, then Kind Hearted Strangers might be for you. Hailing from Colorado, and imbuing a more indie attitude into their sound, this fresh new group released their first album East // West in 2021, and are set to drop their second album in the spring of this year. They are the perfect sound to go along with the Vegabonds, and a solid addition to this year’s Friday Cheers.
JUNE 30TH, 2023
FLIPTURN
Though they’ve been steadily releasing music since 2017, the alt rock band from Florida, Flipturn, didn’t get around to releasing their first album until last year. This year finds the group on an almost nonstop tour that will take them up and down the East Coast, through the Midwest, and down into the Southwest from March to October, and right in the middle they are stopping here in Richmond, Virginia. Producing a laid back ethereal sound reminiscent of lying on a gulf coast beach and makes you wish for a simpler time, the catchy melodic hooks and upbeat sound make for perfect easy listening on a Richmond summer day down by the river.
HOLY ROLLER
This Friday Cheers is absolutely packed with Richmond favorites, and I hope you’re excited as I am to see Holy Roller this year down at Brown’s Island. Holy Roller has been floating around the city for the last 10 years, originally under the name Big Mama Shakes, but after multiple lineup changes reintroduced themselves to Richmond in 2018 as Holy Roller. Though they have gone through a number of staff rotations, the main core of singer and guitarist Brady Heck, and bassists Peter Casen has remained entirely unchanged. Holy Roller is that kind of rock band that coasts on their huge and raucous sound, but what makes them stand out is their uniquely southern charm and demeanor. If somehow in the last 10 years you haven’t found yourself at a show featuring Holy Roller, then this is a must see performance of a Richmond staple.
EVENT DETAILS
Join us for a summer of music, food, and fun at Friday Cheers on Brown’s Island in Downtown Richmond! Here’s what you need to know about ticket prices and other event details:
Individual show tickets are available for $10 in advance on TicketstoBuy.com and at Plan 9 Music in Carytown. Fees apply. You can also purchase tickets for $15 at any event entrance on the day of the show, but please note that credit/debit cards are the only accepted form of payment. Children aged 12 and under get in for free.
Friday Cheers is a rain or shine event, so come prepared for any weather conditions. If state mandates require us to cancel the event, ticket refunds for the face value will be issued within 14 business days of the cancellation notice.
Doors open and entry to Brown’s Island starts at 6:00 PM, and the music starts around 6:30 PM. Friday Cheers ends by 9:30 PM, so you can still get a good night’s rest before starting your weekend. Plan 9 Music in Carytown is also available to purchase tickets during their regular business hours.
