Tried to give this one a nice balance, something to cure it all. Get the rage out at a hardcore fest, slamming elbows and diving over the fence. Cry your heart out to some gritty country ballads. Dance away the cares with something a little more fun and light hearted.
Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com.
United Blood Festival
Friday, April 11th, 2025
The Canal Club
Hardcore heaven has descended down from a cigarette-stinking cloud and laid out a new kingdom in the streets of Shockoe Bottom. This is one of the most insane bills I have ever seen.
We have over 30 bands performing—the cream of the crop of modern heavy music. My personal standouts are Angel Du$t and Trapped Under Ice, who are taking pivotal points in the schedule.
Richmond has always been a beacon of hardcore in the vague mire between D.C. and Atlanta, and on Friday, a bright lighthouse will beckon all the leather-jacketed, camo-hatted animals of Virginia to revel beside the brutalist flood walls.
The Local Honeys, Drunk Mother
Thursday, April 10th, 2025
The Camel
The Local Honeys are a Kentucky duo that has a really honest Appalachian sound and a swinging fiddle. There is something so incredibly hard-hitting about their lyrics/delivery. They have the audience at their absolute whim, inspiring a deathly dread or a carefree whistle with the flick of a finger. Their whole feel reminds me of a more eastern John Prine.
I first walked through the swinging doors of Drunk Mother with the introduction phrase “there needs to be more cussin’ in country,” and dammit I agree. They deliver a spectacular blend of classic Hank Sr. esque styles with modern sensibility and thinking, all the while jamming away on some thoughtful and catchy riffs.
The Crystal Casino Band, The Mitras, The Barons
Friday, April 11th, 2025
The Camel
Stacked bill moment. Headlining is a non-stop stream of dancey tunes from The Crystal Casino Band. This D.C. unit arrives with a carefree attitude and jumping beats. Their sound is definitely rooted in the 2010s era—the kind that would’ve made it onto The Perks of Being a Wallflower soundtrack. The Camel is going to turn into a dance party as soon as these guitars start ringing.
Speaking of parties—we got The Mitras! They throw some of the most fun shows in RVA. I have never been disappointed by a Mitras performance. I swear they’re taking performance enhancers with how much energy they put into every show.
The Barons are a perfect match with the Mitras. I haven’t seen them live yet, but I think their sounds work so well together. The Barons meet these two bands right in the middle—with the alternative side of the Mitras and that danceable 2010s sound of TCCB.
Main photo of Angel Du$t by Elyza Reinhart
NEW TUNES
‘TM2′ by Gleex
If you’re not getting egged, what are you even doing?
“TM2” is the first single from new local egg punk band Gleex. It’s insanely catchy and whistleable. The band is made up of former members of Shawnis and the Shimmers, and they’ve carried all the fun of their past group into this project.
I’m especially obsessed with the samples that come in during the last few moments of the son
‘Home’ by White Beast
White Beast has combined their two recent singles with two new ones into the Home EP. The title track holds so much tension—it might be the best representation of the White Beast sound.
It hits like a truck, with singer Jeff’s vocals pulled from the deepest depths of his soul, and drummer Molly beating the cymbals like they owe her money.
‘Power Drifter‘ by Power Pants
Eggs are on the menu today. Power Pants doesn’t sleep, doesn’t eat—just pumps out hits. The newest dish is a four song EP, five minutes long, as God intended it.
It’s got that classic PP sound you can have a lot of fun with. The vibe is so hip, so now, so modern. This is the current generation’s reinvention of the Ramones—and yet, it still feels totally fresh and unique.
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RICHMOND SHOW LIST!
THE BROADBERRY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SHOWS
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
Friday, 4/11 The WASTE Spring Kickback: 25th Anniversary Party DAY 1 w/ Annihilation Time, The Spits, BAT, and Public Acid
Saturday, 4/12 Clay Street Unit and Shadowgrass
Tuesday, 4/15 Spafford
Thursday, 4/17 The Dip: Love Direction Tour Part II Presented by WNRN
Friday, 4/25 Panic Stricken
Saturday, 4/26 Giovannie and the Hired Guns
Wednesday, 4/30 George Clanton
THE CAMEL
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Friday, 4/11: The Crystal Casino Band w/ The Barons
Sunday, 4/13: Kool Keith & MC Homeless w/ Destructo Disk, Marc Live, J Stylez, and DJ HALO
Wednesday, 4/16: The Ivy, Lyncs, Sweet Touch
Wednesday, 4/23: Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers
Wednesday, 4/30: Bria Salmena
THE NATIONAL
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Saturday, 4/12: Municipal Waste with Toxic Holocaust, Midnight, Excel, and Enforced
Sunday, 4/13: AWOLNATION with Bryce Fox
Wednesday, 4/16: Damien Escobar
Thursday, 4/17: Valerie June
Friday, 4/18: Chiodos with Hawthorne Heights, Emmure, and The Callous Daoboys
Monday, 4/21: Magdalena Bay with Sam Austins
Thursday, 4/24: Paul Reiser
Saturday, 4/26: Wild Rivers
ALLIANZ AMPHITHEATER
Tuesday, 7/16 & Wednesday 7/17: Dave Matthews Band BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
Saturday, 7/19: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
Wednesday, 8/6: Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder – The Brotherhood of Rock Tour BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
Saturday, 8/23: Bailey Zimmerman: New To Country Summer Tour BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
Friday, 8/29: Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
Monday, 9/22: “Weird Al” Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
Tuesday, 10/21: Tedeschi Trucks Band with Very Special Guest Little Feat: Live in 25 BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE
FUNNY BONE RICHMOND
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Friday, April 11 – Saturday, April 12: Chris Porter
Wednesday, April 16: Gareth Reynolds
Wednesday, April 23: Christopher Titus
Friday, April 25 – Sunday, April 27: DL Hughley
THe CanAL CLUB
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Friday, 4/11: United Blood Festival featuring Cold World, Trapped Under Ice, E Town Concrete, Terror, No Warning, Angel Du$t, Backlash, Bad Beat, Blind Justice, Bracewar, Collateral, Combust, Dead & Dreaming, Division of Mind, Dynamite, Echo Chamber, End It, Giant’s Despair, Grand Scheme, Gridiron, Hard Stripes, Haywire, Killing Pace, Mindforce, Naysayer, Never Ending Game, New World Man, No Idols, RZL DZL, Scarab, The Mongoloids, The Wrongside, Think I Care, War Hungry, and Wasted Space
Wednesday, 4/16: Traitors with Crown Magnetar and Yosemite in Black
Wednesday, 4/23: Capstan with Colorblind, True North, and Not Enough Space
Tuesday, 4/29: Magnolia Park with Hot Milk, Savage Hands, and South Arcade
EMBER MUSIC HALL
Saturday, 4/12: Grateful for Biggie
Saturday, 4/19: Maddy O’Neal: Spring 2025 Tour
Thursday, 4/17: BoomBox
Wednesday, 4/30: The Bloody Beetroots 20th Anniversary Tour
LOSO NIGHTCLUB
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REVELER IN CARYTOWN
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DOMINION ENERGY CENTER
Friday, 4/19, Saturday, 4/20 & Sunday, 4/21 CHURCHILL starring David Payne
ALTRIA THEATRE
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Thursday, 4/10: Virginia Humanities 50th Celebration – The Commonwealth Lecture in the Humanities featuring David Brooks at 8:00 PM
Tuesday, 4/15 – Sunday, 4/20: A BEAUTIFUL NOISE (2024-25 Broadway in Richmond Series)
Tuesday, 4/22: Bonnie Raitt: Live 2025 at 7:30 PM
Friday, 4/25: Nikki Glaser Alive and Unwell Tour at 7:00 PM
