Country in the City: Behind the Scenes With Big & Rich and Mickie James

by | Jul 11, 2019 | MUSIC

From the midwest to Virginia, and from its rural heritage to modern city fads, country music has its place in the heart of American culture old and new. In the spirit of that tradition, Richmonders came together this week for the All Star Country Music Jam — part of the Eastern League’s first All-Star Week in the River City since 1992.

Legendary country superstars Big & Rich, who released the iconic “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” in 2004, headlined the show at Virginia Credit Union LIVE! with support from Cowboy Troy and DJ Sinister, as well as a shimmering opening performance by WWE wrestler and country singer Mickie James.  

RVA Magazine was on the scene, backstage with Big & Rich and Mickie James through the evening, along with Dakota Hood, the singer and actress well-known from her role in The Hunger Games in 2012. Hood joined the artists as part of the All Star Week, partnered with Richmond Raceway and The Flying Squirrels, to sing the National Anthem at Tuesday night’s Squirrels game. 

Check out our images from the evening, by Branden Wilson, below for a glimpse behind the scenes and live with a group of beloved country artists at the show. 

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

Caley Sturgill

Caley Sturgill

Caley Sturgill is the Director of Media at RVA Magazine. Email her at caley@rvamag.com for inquiries and RVA On Tap releases.




more in music

Thundercat Has Entered the Chat

Next Saturday, October 17th, the weird, funky spaceship that carts Thundercat around will land in Richmond for his show at The National. As a massive fan, I will absolutely be there. His is the kind of unique sound that makes a concert a “happening.” A funk so deep...

My First Phish Show in 1994 to Photographing Them in Richmond

In 1994, while in NOVA for high school, a friend who had grown up in Vermont introduced me to a band named Phish around the release of their fifth album, Hoist, and I became obsessed. As a classical-metal-progressive rock music fan, I loved it. My first show was...

Old Grace Street is Richmond History. Let’s Recognize It.

Editor's note: We were sent this petition after publishing: VCU Demolition Blitz: More Richmond Erased HERE. As reported by The Richmonder last week, “The Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan, which sailed through City Council with a unanimous vote Sept. 28, is intended...

Richmond Has The Talent. Tilt Studio Puts It in the Same Room.

“Richmond has always had this DIY, collaborative spirit, and I think projects like this are a great expression of that. There's a lot of talent here, and when those different creative communities start crossing paths, I think the city gets more interesting.”  —...

It’s Still Our City Ep. 25 | Yavé Rust

RVA Mag and NODDERLY presents It’s Still Our City, a podcast hosted by Harrison Christy and with Clair Morgan as co-host and producer through NODDERLY. "Yavé Rust is a Richmond, VA-based music producer and audio engineer specializing in metal and punk. Originating...

GWAR Co-Founder Chuck Varga, aka Sexecutioner, Dies at 68

Chuck Varga, a founding member of GWAR and the artist and performer behind the band’s Sexecutioner passed away over the weekend following a battle with cancer. He was 68. Varga was part of GWAR from its earliest days, co-founding Slave Pit Studios in Richmond and...

This is Endling

The creative soul of Richmond has been flourishing for years. Within the past two, it’s made itself known through Endling, a creative collective of underground hip-hop artists who have one goal: to prevent the underground from dying. From originating in house shows to...