The Party Poppin’ Kings & Queens Of RVA

by | Mar 4, 2014 | MUSIC

Here at RVA Magazine, we believe you should never have to wander the streets begging people for the haps. There’s a plethora of top-shelf dance parties happening around town this and every week to get everyone turnt up, so to help you along in your quest to get ridiculous, here is our list of the go-to parties for any given night of the week in Richmond.


Here at RVA Magazine, we believe you should never have to wander the streets begging people for the haps. There’s a plethora of top-shelf dance parties happening around town this and every week to get everyone turnt up, so to help you along in your quest to get ridiculous, here is our list of the go-to parties for any given night of the week in Richmond.

AFRO BETA
We want to thank WRIR DJ and social activist Mikemetic Kemetic for the absolute best night in town for afrocentric dance and world music. You can’t ask for a more beautifully diverse and fun crowd in Richmond. If you love live drums over party jams from all over the world, then come get it at the next Afro Beta party, happening at The Nile on the first Saturday of every month.


Image by T.N. Photography

ANIMAL
The brainchild of Joseph Whitfield and DJ Connie Sue, ANIMAL produces queer-centric LGBT events to highlight their investment in emerging queer artists. Their last party at Strange Matter was a smash, and their ability to get wild transcends political agenda, so no matter who or what you believe, don’t miss THIS party.

GET RIGHT!
Happening at Starlite every Tuesday and featuring a rotating cast of DJs, including ADEN, MASS FX, PHENOM, Beat Down The Kid, and Bobby La Beat, this party is the only way to fight the Tuesday night doldrums. You ain’t got nothing to do on Wednesday, what are you waiting for?

REWIND
Bobby La Beat and J5k are reminding everyone what the 90s scene was all about at the New York Deli jam, REWIND. Who doesn’t bounce every time Biggie is dropped? Who doesn’t want to dance to Snoop Dogg tracks from before he was Snoop Lion? You know what I’m saying?

BUMP IN THE NIGHT
The three headed lady hydra of DJ Mixie, Sister Goldenhaze, and Area Woman hits Balliceaux every month and brings the hippest crowd in Richmond. Expect to hear soul, funk, gospel, disco, electro, hip hop, international punk, and garage vinyl in the back room while sipping on your cocktail.

SHORT & JUICY
Every Thursday is hip hop heaven at Sticky Rice, curated by the cat-loving Weird Sailboat of Steady Sounds fame. Get your sake bombs in line and start dropping them on your friends while getting all the grimy for the night.

HOODY WEATHER
If you like your nights with a side of twerkin’ and a bowl of bangers, then no one is doing it quite like Hoody Weather. Straight off the block, he is lighting up the RVA Party scene almost every night of the week. Check him out on Thursdays at Bellytimber, Fridays at Banditos, and Saturdays at Starlite.

DEEP CUTS
Every Saturday night, ADEN and Beat Down The Kid go deep into the crates and deep into the bass with DEEP CUTS, the window-rattling powerhouse dance party at Bandito’s. With visuals by Hoyt, there’ll be plenty to see, so for once you really can dance like no one is watching!

SOULPOWER
DJ Pari and Mr. Felty were the original vinyl-playing crew in Richmond, dropping old James Brown and funk tracks through out the night at Ipanema. They have since moved on to play shows all around the city and spread the message that good music is timeless. Look for them at Balliceaux, Weezie’s, Portrait House, or wherever else they can set up some turntables.

BODY TALK
If it’s funk, soul, disco, and electro you’re looking for, the Body Talk crew’s spinning the tunes for you! Playing strictly vinyl from every era of great dance music, DJ Mordecai, Sean Lovelace, Mike Murphy, and Tru Blu have got the sounds to make you get down. Their monthly parties at Balliceaux often feature guest DJs and always have the best dancefloor bangers.

#RICHMONDAINTSAFE
For the underground party ragers, there is no one getting twisted like the crew behind #richmondaintsafe. They are bringing a reckless aggression to the house party scene that hasn’t been seen since Audio Ammo’s Brain Drain heyday. Check out the video.

By R. Anthony Harris; main image found HERE

R. Anthony Harris

R. Anthony Harris

In 2005, I created RVA Magazine, and I'm still at the helm as its publisher. From day one, it’s been about pushing the “RVA” identity, celebrating the raw creativity and grit of this city. Along the way, we’ve hosted events, published stacks of issues, and, most importantly, connected with a hell of a lot of remarkable people who make this place what it is. Catch me at @majormajor____




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...