Sound Check | Kashus Culpepper! JPEGMAFIA! Bramble on Tribute Festival! & More!

by | Jun 4, 2025 | DOWNTOWN RVA, MUSIC, NIGHTLIFE

Country, hip-hop, indie, fuck you. I feel like Richmond could be known for any number of genres at this point. Everything seems to be having a beautiful moment right now. Remember kids, rising tide raises all boats. 

Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com.

Friday Cheers
Kashus Culpepper, Ramona and the Holy Smokes
Friday June 6th, 2025
Brown’s Island 

Kashus Culpepper is one of the most interesting voices to come out of the modern folk/country/western scene. It is an incredibly relevant take on traditional deep southern blues tradition. The lyrics blend the cowboyish outlook, projected onto modern conversations and experiences. Kashus Culpepper is what we need right now. 

Ramona and the Holy Smokes are taken straight from the grand ol’ opera. This Charlottesville outfit put it all together in 2022 and have a very complete Williams Sr. esque sound. I am so happy that we are in the renaissance of lap steel, and the Holy Smokes are championing it well.

JPEGMAFIA
Monday, June 9th, 2025
The National 

How could you miss this. JPEGMAFIA is one of the most influential hip-hop artists so far into this century. He takes a very direct approach to his lyrics but it’s incredibly clever at the same time. Some artists are not meant for big stages but artists like this were born for it. If our current era were to have a musical mount olympus, JPEG certainly deserves a prominent spot. 

Local Weatherman, Self-Help, Valentin Prince, Receiver
Thursday, June 5th, 2025 
Banditos

Local Weatherman is toe tapping from NYC. They definitely have some 90’s rock influence but I certainly see some classic new york influence of the Velvet Underground. Self-Help is the other half of New Yorkers that are setting up a camp at Banditos. They have a lot of the fun of Mac Demarco and the dreamy outlook of Summer Salt. Check out “So Long I Guess” off their 2020 album, it’s simply lovely.

Babe Lewis bassist Valentin Prince is a new one to me, but I am quite taken with the atmosphere they are creating. It has a sort of Steve Lacey approach to conversational instrumentation.

Receiver has swung through town like a latin lover and I am swooning. This post punk quad has everything, great riffs, intelligent lyrics, and captivating stage presence. I am very excited for the future that Receiver will forge. 

Bramble On Tribute Festival
Saturday, June 7th & Sunday, June 8th
Brambly Park

Brambly Park will host the Bramble On Tribute Festival this weekend, June 7 and 8, bringing two full days of performances honoring some of the most iconic names in rock, soul, and alternative music. The annual event has quickly become one of Richmond’s standout summer festivals, combining a laid-back backyard atmosphere with high-energy sets from top regional tribute acts.

Saturday’s lineup leans heavily into classic and alternative rock, featuring tributes to the Foo Fighters (Steve Snider), Fiona Apple (Shera Shi), Smashing Pumpkins (Geek RVA), Journey (BF Journey), and the Allman Brothers (Skydog).

Sunday shifts toward soul, glam, and powerhouse vocals with sets honoring Sharon Jones (Dance Candy), Amy Winehouse (Elana Lisa), Led Zeppelin (Zepp Repp), David Bowie (Life on Mars), Sheryl Crow (Mackenzie), and James Brown (Big Payback).

Organizers describe the weekend as “a celebration of legendary artists” with something for fans of all eras. With each tribute act aiming to capture the spirit and sound of the originals, Bramble On offers a rare chance to revisit the music of beloved performers—many of whom are no longer touring or no longer with us. – Tony

New Tunes

‘I Wanna Feel It’ by Erin and the Wildfire

You may know them from their current Camel residency, Erin and the Wildfire just dropped “I Wanna Feel It” and it is red hot. This is my favorite of their releases so far, it is incredibly up front and close, no room to look away. It has a very tight and condensed sound but it still delivers on a big sound. The entrance into the last chorus is a powerful moment, with backing vocals swelling and sparking the titular title. 

Democatessen’ by Sub/Shop

This EP found its way to me and it grabbed me from the first beat. These players have plenty of experience in previous bands but I am really taken by how raw and honest this is. My initial impressions were bits of Oasis mixed with some early 2000’s punk, but as I got further in, I fell in love with all its unique moments and flavors. Especially caught by the line “just gravel between my ears,” I don’t know why, but that one really gets me.


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RICHMOND SHOW LIST!

THE BROADBERRY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SHOWS

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Wednesday, 6/4 Pallbearer w/ Cinder Well and Book of Wyrms
  • Thursday, 6/5 Neighbor w/ Big Holler
  • Saturday, 6/7 American Aquarium w/ Justin Wells
  • Wednesday, 6/11 Bad Suns w/ Little Image and The Ramona Flowers
  • Friday, 6/13 Restrictor Plate w/ Crown Vic, Short Bus Pile Up, and Doomhauer
  • Saturday, 6/14 Pet Bandana, Boat Church, Noah Jasper
  • Sunday, 6/15 Hello Mary x Lip Critic
  • Tuesday, 6/17 Cults w/ zzzahara
  • Thursday, 6/19 Mitchell Ferguson w/ Luke Borchelt
  • Friday, 6/20 Honey Revenge w/ Daisy Grenade, Vana, and Nightlife
  • Friday, 6/20 Langhorne Slim
  • Saturday, 6/21 Niiasii, CAM GIRL, Lifeline, Joi Polloi
  • Saturday, 6/21 United We Dance: The Ultimate Rave Experience (18+)
  • Thursday, 6/26 Moon Hooch w/ DJ Juicy Josh​
  • Friday, 7/11 Be Kind & Rewind x 1996 90’s Night
  • Monday, 7/14 Teddy Swims: Everything But Therapy Tour
  • Tuesday, 7/15 Mates of State
  • Sunday, 7/20 Todd Rundgren: STILL ME (STILL WE)
  • Monday, 7/21 Rose City Band
  • Wednesday, 7/23 Iron & Wine and I’m With Her – Robin’s Egg Tour w/ Ken Pomeroy
  • Thursday, 7/24 Lawn Boys – Phish Tribute
  • Friday, 7/25 The Police Experience: 45th Anniversary of Zenyatta Mondatta
  • Saturday, 7/26 Age of Madness
  • Sunday, 7/27 Thank You Scientist w/ Spilly Cave
  • Thursday, 7/31 The Wildmans


THE CAMEL

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Thursday, 6/5 Solar Circuit
  • Friday, 6/6 Beers & Banjos: Slack Family Band
  • Friday, 6/6 Erin & The Wildfire’s First Fridays
  • Saturday, 6/7 Ten Pound Snail w/ Nematode, Twin Films
  • Monday, 6/9 Heavy is The Head, Earth Burial, Bleed Out, Wasted Space
  • Tuesday, 6/10 Bug Hunter and The Narcissist Cookbook
  • Friday, 6/13 Kendall Street Company – Night One
  • Saturday, 6/14 Kendall Street Company – Night Two
  • Wednesday, 6/18 Fo Daniels w/ Gooseberry
  • Friday, 6/20 Beers & Banjos: Garden Variety String Band
  • Saturday, 6/21 Richmond Synth Collective: Synthesis Solstice
  • Thursday, 6/26 Doll Baby, Northeast Regional, Mega Soma, Sub 

  • Friday, 7/4 Beers & Banjos: Slack Family Band
  • Friday, 7/11 Erin & The Wildfire’s First Fridays
  • Sunday, 7/13 Brunch w/ Craigslist Jerry
  • Sunday, 7/13 Wim Tapley & The Cannons
  • Friday, 7/18 Beers & Banjos: Garden Variety String Band
  • Wednesday, 7/23 Cold Gawd


THE NATIONAL

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Saturday, 6/7 – Sunny Day Real Estate with Cloud Nothings
  • Monday, 6/9 – JPEGMAFIA
  • Wednesday, 6/11 – Robin Trower
  • Thursday, 6/12 – Jack’s Mannequin
  • Saturday, 6/14 – Illiterate Light with Mo Lowda & the Humble
  • Wednesday, 6/18 – Aimee Mann with Jonathan Coulton
  • Friday, 6/20 – Pecos & the Rooftops
  • Tuesday, 6/24 – Coco Jones with Lady London
  • Thursday, 6/26 – Trevor Wallace

  • Friday, 7/18 – Rick Wakeman
  • Saturday, 7/19 – A Flock of Seagulls with Bow Wow Wow and Animotion
  • Tuesday, 7/22 – JoJo Siwa


ALLIANZ AMPHITHEATER

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Friday, 6/6Kansas & 38 Special with The Outlaws
  • Saturday, 6/7Rick Springfield – I WANT MY 80S TOUR
  • Tuesday, 6/10DISPATCH with John Butler (with band) – Summer Tour 2025
  • Wednesday, 6/11Glass Animals – Tour Of Earth
  • Thursday, 6/19Boyz II Men
  • Saturday, 6/21Dwight Yoakam
  • Thursday, 6/26Parker McCollum Tour
  • Thursday, 7/10KIDZ BOP LIVE – Certified BOP Tour
  • Saturday, 7/12Counting Crows – The Complete Sweets! Tour with The Gaslight Anthem
  • Tuesday, 7/15Dave Matthews Band
  • Wednesday, 7/16Dave Matthews Band
  • Thursday, 7/17Brad Paisley – Truck Still Works World Tour
  • Saturday, 7/19Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
  • Thursday, 7/24Lamb of God
  • Saturday, 7/26Whiskey Myers – “What We Were Born To Do” Tour 2025

  • Friday, 8/1The Head And The Heart – Aperture Tour
  • Wednesday, 8/6Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder – The Brotherhood of Rock Tour
  • Sunday, 8/10Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts – Love Earth
  • Saturday, 8/23Bailey Zimmerman – New To Country Summer Tour
  • Sunday, 8/24The Red Clay Strays – Get Right Tour 2025
  • Tuesday, 8/26Simple Plan – Bigger Than You Think! Tour
  • Thursday, 8/28Gavin Adcock – Need to Tour
  • Friday, 8/29Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

  • Monday, 9/1James Taylor and His All-Star Band
  • Saturday, 9/6The Crooner & The Cowboy: Leon Bridges with Charley Crockett
  • Saturday, 9/20Steve Martin & Martin Short – The Dukes Of Funnytown!
  • Monday, 9/22“Weird Al” Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour

  • Tuesday, 10/21Tedeschi Trucks Band with Very Special Guest Little Feat: Live in 25


FUNNY BONE RICHMOND

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Thursday, 6/5 – Cliff Cash
  • Friday, 6/6 – Rickey Smiley
  • Saturday, 6/7 – Rickey Smiley
  • Sunday, 6/8 – My Cousin Tiera
  • Monday, 6/9 – Doug Stanhope
  • Wednesday, 6/11 – Shapel Lacey
  • Thursday, 6/12 – Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
  • Friday, 6/13 – Phil Hanley
  • Saturday, 6/14 – Phil Hanley
  • Thursday, 6/19 – Mona: Don’t Call Me Whitegirl
  • Friday, 6/20 – Ashley Gavin: Hype Man
  • Saturday, 6/21 – Ashley Gavin: Hype Man
  • Sunday, 6/22 – Manny ThaGod & Hilarious Omar: Let Them Cook Tour
  • Wednesday, 6/25 – Cindy Kaza
  • Thursday, 6/26 – Aaron Branch & Herman Wrice: The Dysfunctional Friends Tour
  • Friday, 6/27 – Tony Rock
  • Saturday, 6/28 – Tony Rock
  • Sunday, 6/29 – Tony Rock
  • Tuesday, 7/1 – The Unteachables Comedy Tour
  • Sunday, 7/6 – Tim Shropshire
  • Thursday, 7/10 – Zach Rushing
  • Friday, 7/11 – Michael Blackson
  • Saturday, 7/12 – Michael Blackson
  • Sunday, 7/13 – Nick Deez
  • Tuesday, 7/15 – UPDATING
  • Thursday, 7/17 – Ben Brainard
  • Friday, 7/18 – Andrew Dismukes
  • Saturday, 7/19 – Andrew Dismukes
  • Sunday, 7/20 – Maurice Benard
  • Thursday, 7/24 – Dustin Nickerson
  • Friday, 7/25 – Dustin Nickerson
  • Saturday, 7/26 – Rob Schneider
  • Sunday, 7/27 – Correy Bell
  • Tuesday, 7/29 – Patrick Warburton
  • Friday, 8/1 – Gabriel Rutledge
  • Saturday, 8/2 – Gabriel Rutledge
  • Thursday, 8/7 – Tanael Joachim
  • Friday, 8/8 – Don “DC” Curry
  • Friday, 9/13 – Tyler Fischer
  • Thursday, 9/25 – Gary Owen
  • Friday, 9/26 – Gary Owen
  • Saturday, 9/27 – Gary Owen
  • Thursday, 10/2 – Trae Crowder
  • Friday, 10/3 – Adam Ray
  • Saturday, 10/4 – Adam Ray
  • Sunday, 10/12 – Lucas Zelnick
  • Friday, 10/17 – Jared Freid
  • Saturday, 10/18 – Jared Freid
  • Thursday, 10/23 – Jeff Allen
  • Saturday, 10/25 – DC Young Fly
  • Sunday, 10/26 – DC Young Fly
  • Thursday, 10/30 – The Magic of Eric Eaton

THe CanAL CLUB

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Saturday, 6/7 – A Sound of Thunder
  • Tuesday, 6/10 – Youth Fountain & Good Terms
  • Thursday, 6/12 – Keep Flying
  • Sunday, 6/15 – Origami Angel
  • Tuesday, 6/17 – Heart Attack Man
  • Wednesday, 6/18 – One Step Closer
  • Thursday, 6/19 – Rivers of Nihil
  • Saturday, 6/21 – Afterlyfe
  • Friday, 6/27 – The Fall of Troy
  • Saturday, 6/28 – WeTouchGrass: Anime Rave​
  • Tuesday, 7/8 – Carnifex
  • Friday, 7/11 – Eyes of the Nile
  • Saturday, 7/12 – Archers
  • Monday, 7/14 – Daisyhead
  • Wednesday, 7/30 – Anthony Green
  • Friday, 8/22 – Boundaries
  • Tuesday, 9/9 – Autohert

EMBER MUSIC HALL

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

  • Thursday, 6/5 – Zen Selekta
  • Saturday, 6/7 – i2K: Electronic Music Festival
  • Sunday, 6/8 – Reverend Horton Heat
  • Thursday, 6/12 – Wonky Willa
  • Saturday, 6/14 – The Crystal Method
  • Friday, 6/20 – Chromeo 360 DJ Set
  • Saturday, 6/21 – Hardwired: A Metallica Tribute
  • Sunday, 6/29 – Faster Pussycat
  • Friday, 7/11 – Breathe Carolina
  • Saturday, 7/12 – Hot In Herre: 2000s Dance Party
  • Friday, 7/18 – ATLiens
  • Sunday, 7/20 – From London With Love: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse & Adele
  • Thursday, 7/24 – Huntley
  • Saturday, 7/26 – Grateful for Biggie
  • Sunday, 7/27 – Blue Hundreds Tour: King Lil G, Young Drummer Boy, Hexxx
  • Thursday, 7/31 – Riot Ten
  • Friday, 8/1 – Barrington Levy
  • Tuesday, 9/9 – Kamiyada+ & Lit Lords | From The Shadows Tour
  • Friday, 9/19 – Sander Van Doorn


LOSO NIGHTCLUB

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  • Friday, 6/13 – Misha w/ J.Parrish
  • Saturday, 6/14 – Soul Clap
  • Saturday, 6/21 – DJ Matpat
  • Saturday, 7/5 – Evan Baggs
Griffin Smalley

Griffin Smalley

My name is Griffin Strummer Smalley and naturally with that name I am a massive music fan. Primarily you can find me fronting local punk band Artschool! As a fresh 21 year old I am currently cutting my teeth in music, writing, and painting. Keep on living!




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