And so we begin the holiday season, wrapped up in scarves and full of Thanksgiving leftovers. Some fantastic shows this weekend to take the in laws to, show ‘em what we got going on on a Saturday.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at griffin@rvamag.com.
J. Roddy Walston and the Automatic Band
Friday, November 28nd
The Camel
Richmond’s proudest rocker is always here to party during the holidays. Don’t get twisted,J. Roddy Walston will still be performing his iconic Christmas show. This is just a little Thanksgiving bonus. Every iteration of J. Roddy is a riot. Whether it’s with Palm Palm, The Business, or this current lineup, the shows are wild and chaotic, dropping you into a lost land of pure rock ’n’ roll. His sets feel like their own world. The outside light fades as you’re caught in neon and smoke, his piano blaring through the haze. This one’s easy: the show is going to rip.
Kendall Street Company, Big Fancy
Saturday, November 29th
The Broadberry
We’re running through all the local(ish) favorites, and next up is Kendall Street Company returning to The Broadberry. If you don’t know this Charlottesville powerhouse, get familiar. They capture a really pure Virginia sound, with touches of John Prine, Ween, and Zappa woven in. K.S.C. knows exactly how to make you feel seen in a three-minute western jangle. The banjos bounce, the drums tap with that quiet joy of looking up at the stars. They strike you as a pure-hearted band full of life, eager, and endlessly curious. Even when they lean louder, there’s still that vein of excitement and optimism running through it.
Joining the Company is Big Fancy. They made a splash last year with their debut single, which has since pulled in over 30,000 streams. Their pop-leaning sound is drenched in ambience and mystery, a sheer curtain of purple and blue velvet. The melody slips out of the mist and dances around. Even with just two songs out, you can already hear the mix of influences: jazz, soul, indie. It feels like the start of something, and I’m genuinely hopeful for what comes next from Big Fancy.
Redd Volkaert
Sunday, November 30th
Get Tight Lounge
Closing out Thanksgiving weekend, we’ve got a legend of the honky-tonk world. Redd Volkaert, guitarist for Merle Haggard, Ray Price, and plenty more, is coming to Get Tight. This guy brings more voice to his guitar than most choirs bring to church.
Working up from the roots of the blues, Volkaert is an unstoppable force of twangin’ lines that chirp like birds leaving a tree. It’s some of the most enjoyable guitar work I’ve heard in a long while, fitting just as easily in an El Paso saloon as in a packed stadium.
Fortunately for us, it’s happening right down the road at Get Tight Lounge.
New Tunes
‘Stay Ready’ by DJ Harrison feat. Yaya Bey
Groooooovy tune from DJ Harrison featuring Yaya Bey. Harrison’s beat is mellow and smooth, giving Bey’s vocals space to glide over the top. The instrumentation is stripped back but still warm and full, something you can pull around your shoulders on a cold night. And that bass line is downright infectious, replaying in your head and narrating your day long after you’ve taken the headphones off.
Main photo of Nabeel
Support RVA Magazine. Support Independent Media in Richmond.
At a time when media ownership is increasingly concentrated among corporations and the wealthy, RVA Magazine has remained one of Richmond’s few independent voices. Since 2005, the magazine has provided grassroots coverage of the city’s artists, musicians, and communities, documenting the culture that defines Richmond beyond the headlines.
But we can’t do this without you. A small donation, even as little as $2, one-time or recurring, helps us continue to produce honest, local coverage free from outside interference. Every dollar makes a difference. Your support keeps us going and keeps RVA’s creative spirit alive. Thank you for standing with independent media. DONATE HERE.
We’ve got merch HERE
Subscribe to the Substack HERE
And Reddit HERE
And YouTube HERE
