Let’s be honest: most local summer music guides read like they were written by someone who’s never been to a show. A few safe headliners. Maybe a festival or two. So we made our own and put it all in one place for easy reference.
This is RVA Magazine’s unofficial, unfiltered field guide to the music we actually care about this summer. Not everything—across genres, across Virginia, and across stages big and small—but this city moves fast and we couldn’t fit everything in. So consider this a jumping-off point, not a final word.
We’ve highlighted some of our longtime favorites, hometown heroes, rising voices, and a few new spaces making real noise. Check your local venues. Stay curious. Show up early. Tip the bartenders.
Here’s what’s happening this summer, and why you might want to be there.
Rooster Walk 15 Returns to Martinsville for a Four-Day Celebration of Music and Community
May 22–25, 2025
Pop’s Farm, Martinsville, VA
Now entering its 15th year, Rooster Walk returns to Pop’s Farm in Martinsville this Memorial Day weekend with a four-day festival that blends high-caliber music with heartfelt community spirit. What began as a tribute to two local musicians—Edwin “the Rooster” Penn and Walker Shank—has evolved into one of Virginia’s most beloved grassroots festivals.
Rooster Walk 15 brings together a diverse lineup that spans jam bands, Americana, funk, soul, and bluegrass—creating a soundscape that feels tailor-made for spring in the Virginia foothills.
Headliners include:
- Trampled by Turtles: Minnesota’s celebrated string band, known for their high-energy picking and emotionally rich songwriting.
- Lettuce: Longtime leaders of the modern funk scene, bringing deep grooves and razor-sharp musicianship.
- Keller Williams: The ever-inventive one-man band, a Rooster Walk favorite whose genre-defying performances are always a highlight.
Additional national and regional acts include: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Andy Frasco & the U.N., Little Stranger, Ghost-Note, Town Mountain, Danger Muffin, Sneezy, Kendall Street Company, and Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast.
Artists Richmond knows about featured in this year’s lineup:
- Florencia & The Feeling: A jazz-pop fusion outfit fronted by RVA’s own Florencia Rusiñol, known for their melodic hooks and vibrant energy.
- Erin & The Wildfire: Erin & The Wildfire: A Richmond powerhouse soul-pop band led by Erin Lunsford’s commanding vocals, blending funk grooves, heartfelt lyricism, and a dynamic live presence that’s become a festival favorite across Virginia.
- Ramona & The Holy Smokes: Fronted by Ramona Martinez, the group delivers classic honky-tonk with an emotional punch.
- Mountain Walrus: Psychedelic, jam-friendly rock with a growing Richmond fanbase.
- Rebecca Porter: Alt-country vocalist and songwriter whose roots-driven style has garnered increasing regional attention.
- Woody Woodworth & The Piners: A Richmond mainstay offering gritty Americana and working-class storytelling.
Other standout regional acts include Caleb Caudle, Shadowgrass, The Wilson Springs Hotel, Ashes & Arrows, and Isaac Hadden.
In addition to live music, Rooster Walk offers a full festival experience: artisan vendors, visual art installations, locally sourced food and drink, a dedicated kids’ zone, and the kind of late-night campground jams that festivalgoers talk about for years.
All proceeds from Rooster Walk support music, arts, and education initiatives in the Martinsville–Henry County community, underscoring the festival’s ongoing commitment to local impact and creative growth.
🎟️ For more information and tickets, visit roosterwalk.com.
Future Islands Bring Their Unmatched Live Energy to The National
Friday, May 24, 2025 | The National, 708 E Broad St, Richmond, VA
One of Richmond’s premier live music venues, The National continues its tradition of hosting genre-defining acts in a setting that feels both grand and personal. This May, the venue welcomes Future Islands, a band whose reputation for emotional intensity and unforgettable live performances makes this a must-see event.
Hailing from Baltimore, Future Islands rose to prominence in the early 2010s with breakout tracks like “Seasons (Waiting On You)” and “Ran,” combining synth-driven new wave with the raw physicality of frontman Samuel T. Herring’s on-stage presence. Herring’s performances are famously uninhibited—equal parts theatrical, cathartic, and strangely tender—turning every show into a visceral experience.
Their 2024 release, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, marks a return to the band’s emotionally rich core, blending lush, melancholic synths with lyrics that explore loss, memory, and transformation. The album reaffirms their place as masters of synth-pop storytelling with a deeply human edge.
🎟️ Tickets and more information are available at thenationalva.com.
Charged Up Fest – A Celebration of Richmond Hip Hop & Community
May 27 – June 1, 2025 | Various Locations Across Richmond
Curated by Richmond rap legend Noah-O, Charged Up Fest returns for a full week of music, conversation, culture, and community. Blending homegrown hip hop, soul, and R&B with panels, pop-ups, and parties, the festival is a true reflection of the city it calls home.
Across six days and multiple venues, Charged Up brings together some of RVA’s finest talent alongside community-focused events like a bike ride, basketball game, and healing panel. Highlights include the Producers Cup beat battle, the “I Used to Luv Her” R&B night at Ember Music Hall, and a grand finale concert with Noah-O and friends at The Broadberry.
🎟️ Tickets and more information are available at chargedupent.com
Daydream Fest Returns to Main Line Brewery With a Heavyweight Richmond Lineup
Sunday, May 26, 2025 | 1 PM–10 PM
Main Line Brewery, 1603 Ownby Lane, Richmond, VA
Daydream Fest is back this Memorial Day weekend with a stacked lineup that spotlights some of Richmond’s most beloved musicians and rising voices. Produced by BariPete Productions and held at Main Line Brewery, the all-day festival has carved out a place as a vital celebration of the city’s music and creative culture.
Headlining this year’s fest are two of the city’s most iconic and influential artists:
- Sam Reed, known for her powerhouse vocals and soul-drenched sound that has helped define the Richmond scene for over a decade.
- DJ Harrison, a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and member of Butcher Brown whose solo work on Stones Throw Records bridges funk, jazz, and hip-hop with an experimental edge.
They’re joined by a diverse and compelling lineup that includes:
- Rikki Rakki – Indie rock with a punch, delivering high-energy performances and raw, emotional songwriting.
- Charlie Glenn – A longtime local staple with Americana roots and piano-forward compositions that recall classic Southern storytelling.
- Dusty Ray Simmons – A genre-bending artist blending hip-hop, jazz, soul, and spoken word with precision and depth.
- Nickelus F – A Richmond hip-hop legend whose lyricism and underground credentials run deep.
- R4ND4ZZO BIG B4ND – A powerhouse brass collective channeling funk, jazz, and big band swing with no shortage of flair.
- Former Champions – Electro-jam veterans who fuse funk and electronic music with live improvisation.
- DJ Duffy / Ant The Symbol – Local DJ and producer Ant The Symbol teams with DJ Duffy for a back-to-back set grounded in beats, textures, and eclectic grooves.
Daydream Fest’s curated lineup showcases the creative range of the city—from future soul to indie rock, from jazz-fusion to hip-hop. It’s a reflection of Richmond’s ever-evolving music scene and the talent that continues to grow from within it.
Beyond the music, festivalgoers can expect food trucks, craft beer, pop-up vendors, and a welcoming, community-first environment. BariPete Productions has long worked to elevate local artists through intentional and authentic platforms—and Daydream Fest remains their flagship event.
🎟️ For tickets and updates, visit HERE
Hercules & Love Affair Brings Underground Club Culture to LOSO
Saturday, May 31, 2025 | LOSO, 2727 W Broad St | 21+
Doors at 8 PM | DJ Sets from 9 PM–2 AM
One of the most influential figures in underground dance music is coming to Richmond for a rare, intimate DJ set. Andy Butler—founder of Hercules & Love Affair—takes over LOSO on Saturday, May 31, for a night that promises both musical depth and communal release.
Since the 2008 breakout hit “Blind” (featuring Anohni), Butler has remained a genre-defying force in the global dance scene. His work fuses house, disco, techno, and emotionally charged storytelling into something distinctly his own—music shaped by queer nightlife, underground history, and a reverence for the club as sacred space.
This appearance at LOSO, one of Richmond’s emerging hubs for forward-thinking dance events, is more than just a DJ set. Butler arrives carrying the spirit of his latest project, Cluboff—a label and curatorial platform inspired by legendary venues like Chicago’s Warehouse, New York’s Paradise Garage, and Paris’ Le Palace. It’s a sound and ethos rooted in inclusivity, experimentation, and movement.
🎟️ Tickets and more information are available at losorichmond.com
Friday Cheers Marks 40 Years of Live Music on the Riverfront
Fridays, May 30 – June 27, 2025 | Brown’s Island, Richmond, VA
Richmond’s long-running outdoor concert series Friday Cheers returns for its 40th anniversary season this summer. Presented by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and organized by Venture Richmond, the event has been a staple of the city’s cultural calendar since 1985—known for its welcoming atmosphere, scenic setting, and commitment to showcasing a mix of national talent and local artists.
Held every Friday evening on Brown’s Island in the heart of downtown, the series draws thousands of attendees to the banks of the James River. The venue offers food and drink vendors, skyline views, and a family-friendly policy—kids 12 and under are admitted free.
The 2025 lineup continues the tradition of genre diversity and Richmond representation:
May 30 Josiah and the Bonnevilles with Jonathan Paige Brown Jr.
Kicking off the season, Josiah and the Bonnevilles brings Americana songwriting with an indie-pop sensibility. Opening is Richmond’s Jonathan Paige Brown Jr., a rising local voice known for his soulful delivery and lyrical depth.
June 6 Kashus Culpepper with Ramona & The Holy Smokes
Richmond soul takes the spotlight with Kashus Culpepper’s powerful R&B vocals and gospel roots. Supporting are Ramona & The Holy Smokes, local favorites blending classic honky-tonk with contemporary charm.
June 13 La Lom with Afro-Zen Allstars
A night of global grooves. La Lom blends cumbia, surf rock, and psychedelia into a genre-defying sound, while Afro-Zen Allstars return with their signature fusion of African jazz, funk, and Richmond soul.
June 20 The War and Treaty with Mekong Xpress & the Get Fresh Horns and Madeline Edwards
A triple bill of powerhouse performers. The War and Treaty’s dynamic vocals headline the night, joined by local funk collective Mekong Xpress and emerging country artist Madeline Edwards.
June 27 Say She She with Big Fancy
Closing the season is Say She She, known for channeling vintage disco and soul with a modern, activist energy. Opening act Big Fancy brings a bold mix of funk, jazz, and experimental pop.
For four decades, Friday Cheers has remained one of Richmond’s most accessible and community-focused music series. Whether you’re new to the city or a lifelong local, it’s a weekly reminder of what makes summer in Richmond special: good music, good people, and the river never too far away.
🎟️ Tickets can be found HERE
Palm Palm Kicks Off Two-Night Run at The Camel With High-Energy Rock and Local Firepower
Friday, May 30, 2025
The Camel, 1621 W Broad St, Richmond, VA
This kicks off the first of three standout summer shows at The Camel, one of Richmond’s most trusted stages for left-of-center sounds and breakout energy.
Richmond’s independent rock scene gets a jolt of adrenaline as Palm Palm returns to The Camel on Friday, May 30, launching a two-night hometown run that doubles as a release celebration for their debut album The Natural Anthem—that came out May 16 on Pour House Pressing.
Known for their high-voltage performances and genre-blurring style, Palm Palm channels the theatrical edge of glam, the grit of classic rock, and the pulse of new wave into a sound that’s as unpredictable as it is electrifying. Big on hooks and stage presence, the band has quickly become one of Richmond’s most talked-about live acts, with a reputation for turning shows into events.
Opening the night is Shagwüf, the genre-bending trio voted Best Rock Band in RVA Magazine’s 2024 Readers Poll. Rooted in Virginia and Argentina, Shagwüf combines Latin rhythms, glam rock sensibilities, and psychedelic textures into a sound that defies easy labels. Their music is as political as it is powerful, blending fierce advocacy with fearless performance.
Together, these two acts represent the best of Richmond’s current rock revival—bold, unfiltered, and unapologetically alive.
The Natural Anthem by Palm Palm is available now on vinyl and streaming platforms.
🎟️ Buy tickets at thecamel.org
Mackenzie Roark Celebrates Debut Album Ghost of Rock and Roll With Hometown Show
Friday, June 6, 2025
Get Tight Lounge, 1104 W Main St, Richmond, VA
Richmond singer-songwriter Mackenzie Roark is set to release her second full-length album, Ghost of Rock and Roll, with a release show at Get Tight Lounge on Friday, June 6. The performance marks a major milestone for one of the city’s most promising voices in Americana and alt-country.
Roark has steadily built a local following thanks to her distinctive blend of classic country sensibility, sharp lyricism, and smoky, emotionally resonant vocals. Ghost of Rock and Roll captures that combination with striking clarity—delivering songs that feel at once timeless and deeply personal. Though the album’s title hints at faded icons and bygone mythologies, Roark’s music is rooted firmly in the here and now. Her songs are soulful and unflinching, shaped by lived experience and lyrical precision.
The release show at Get Tight Lounge—a venue known for its intimate atmosphere and deep connection to the local music community—is expected to draw a full house of fans, fellow musicians, and longtime supporters.
🎟️ For more information and show details, visit gettightlounge.com.
LOSO Hosts Spring Boogie: Pride Edition, an All-Day Celebration of Dance Music and Queer Culture
Saturday, June 7, 2025 | 2 PM–2 AM | LOSO, 2727 W Broad St | 21+
Richmond’s LOSO continues to assert itself as a vital space for underground culture with Spring Boogie: Pride Edition—a 12-hour dance marathon spotlighting LGBTQIA+ artists, dance music legends, and rising innovators shaping the future of club sound.
Headlining the event is DJ Minx, a Detroit icon whose legacy runs deep through the veins of house and techno. A trailblazer since the early ’90s, Minx is known not only for her pioneering mixes and productions—including the enduring “A Walk in the Park”—but also for her activism, founding the influential Women on Wax collective and emerging as a proud voice for Detroit’s queer community. Her presence at LOSO marks a rare chance to catch a living legend in an intimate, underground setting.
Joining her is Baby Weight, the genre-bending Washington, D.C.-based producer whose meteoric rise in recent years has been fueled by a fearless blend of bass-heavy house, humor, and high-impact live sets. Known for hits like “House Princess” and “Slay 4 Me,” her music doubles as both dancefloor heat and queer liberation anthem.
Baronhawk Poitier, another standout from the D.C. area, brings a background in breakdancing, cultural preservation, and deep musical curation to the turntables. A member of The NeedlExchange and co-founder of DanceClub, Poitier’s sets are kinetic journeys through classic house, rhythmic experimentation, and unapologetically queer energy.
Also on the lineup is Richmond’s own Community Service, a collective of DJs and producers who have been curating some of the city’s most inclusive and genre-fluid dance events in recent years. More artists are set to be announced, rounding out a lineup that prioritizes diversity, celebration, and sonic adventure.
With LOSO’s warehouse-style layout and reputation for spotlighting progressive nightlife, Spring Boogie: Pride Editionis more than a party—it’s a love letter to queer club culture and a bold entry in the city’s summer calendar. Expect deep cuts, big feelings, and a dancefloor where everyone is welcome.
For tickets and updates, visit losorva.com.
Sunny Day Real Estate
Saturday, June 7, 2025
The National, 708 E Broad St, Richmond, VA
Following Future Islands’ May set, The National keeps the emotional intensity high with the long-awaited return of Sunny Day Real Estate—one of the most influential bands in emo and post-hardcore history.
Reunited and performing with their original lineup, the Seattle legends bring their haunting melodies, explosive dynamics, and cathartic lyrics back to the stage. For longtime fans, it’s a pilgrimage. For new ones, it’s a chance to witness a foundational band still playing like it matters.
🎟️ Tickets via thenationalva.com
Ember Music Hall
309 E Broad St, Richmond, VA | 21+
Downtown Richmond’s Ember Music Hall continues to level up with a sleek space, immersive production, and bookings that connect the dots between rave nostalgia and the new dance underground. This June, the venue hosts two standout nights that promise serious movement on the floor and big energy in the room.
The Crystal Method
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Veteran electronic duo The Crystal Method brings their signature blend of big beat, breakbeat, and industrial-tinged electronica to downtown Richmond for a rare live set. Known for iconic tracks like “Busy Child” and “Name of the Game,” they were at the forefront of the American rave movement in the late ’90s and early 2000s.
This is a night for the heads—fans of Fatboy Slim, The Prodigy, and early Electric Daisy Carnival will feel right at home. Expect massive bass, trippy visuals, and just enough nostalgia to make you want to dig out your old flyer stash.
Chromeo 360 DJ Set
Friday, June 20, 2025 | Presented by LXGRP.com
Electro-funk royalty Chromeo rolls into Ember for a 360-degree DJ set that promises big grooves and even bigger attitude. Known for hits like “Fancy Footwork,” “Jealous (I Ain’t With It),” and “Night by Night,” Chromeo’s brand of tongue-in-cheek funk and synth-laced swagger is tailor-made for stylish, sweaty dance floors.
This isn’t a full live band show—it’s a club-ready DJ experience, reimagined with immersive visuals, surround staging, and that signature Chromeo flair.
🎟️ Tickets range from GA to VIP packages at embermusichall.com
MSPaint w/ Draag and Pat and the Pissers
Monday, July 15, 2025
The Camel, 1621 W Broad St, Richmond, VA
MSPaint, out of Mississippi, leads the bill with a wild fusion of synth-punk, hardcore intensity, and hip-hop cadence—pushing DIY boundaries into bold new shapes. Draag, a shoegaze outfit from LA, adds a swirl of reverb-drenched textures and dreamlike haze, while Pat and the Pissers keep things raw and unruly on home turf. It’s a stacked lineup for anyone who likes their shows sweaty, strange, and slightly unhinged in the best way.
🎟️ Tickets available thecamel.org
Richmond Metal Royalty: Lamb of God + GWAR + Hatebreed
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront, 350 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA
This isn’t just a concert—it’s a homecoming, a victory lap, and a full-force celebration of Richmond’s metal legacy.
Two of the city’s most iconic and genre-defining exports—Lamb of God and GWAR—take the stage together for the first time at the new Allianz Amphitheater, joined by hardcore veterans Hatebreed in a lineup that reads like a Hall of Fame induction for heavy music in Virginia.
Formed in the late ’90s, Lamb of God rose from the city’s underground clubs (as Burn the Priest) to become one of the most respected and intense metal bands of the 21st century. Their 2022 album Omens proved they’ve lost none of their edge, delivering politically charged lyrics and brutal precision with global impact—but still grounded in RVA.
GWAR, meanwhile, has taken theatrical metal to outer space since the mid-’80s. Born in a warehouse now known as the Slave Pit, their blood-splattered shows, grotesque costumes, and unfiltered satire have turned them into underground legends with a fiercely loyal cult following. They’re more than music—they’re mythology.
Together, Lamb of God and GWAR represent the full spectrum of Richmond metal: raw, imaginative, punishing, and proud. Add Hatebreed to the bill, and you’ve got the kind of night that will be remembered in Richmond lore—and maybe felt in your neck for a week afterward.
🎟️ Tickets available now HERE.
FloydFest 2025 – Mountains, Music & Magic
July 24 – 28, 2025
Check, VA (just outside Floyd)
Framed by the rolling ridges of the Blue Ridge, FloydFest returns for five days of genre-spanning sounds, forest stages, and late-night campfire camaraderie. More than a festival, it’s an Appalachian micro-cosm where community, craft vendors, and trail walks matter as much as the music.
2025 Headliners
- The Black Crowes – Southern-rock revival icons
- Mt. Joy – indie-folk hitmakers riding a national wave
- Gov’t Mule – Warren Haynes’ blues-rock jam juggernaut
- JJ Grey & Mofro – swamp-soul fired by Florida heat
Lineup Highlights: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force • Paul Cauthen • The Travelin’ McCourys • Cimafunk • Geese • La Lom • The California Honeydrops • Futurebirds • The Brothers Comatose • Buffalo Nichols • Kelsey Waldon • Diggin Dirt • Big Richard • Jeremie Albino • Chaparelle
Richmond & Virginia Represent
- Mackenzie Roark & The Hotpants (On-the-Rise series)
- Holy Roller • Palm Palm • Mountain Walrus • Leonard Blush • Empty Bottles • The Camelcals
The Vibe: Family-friendly by day, revelrous by night: hidden woodland stages, wellness workshops, kids’ zones, craft beer, local food, and that intangible FloydFest magic you only understand once you’re there—and then can’t stop chasing. Camp, glamp, RV, or day-trip; just expect to leave with new friends and a dusting of mountain stardust in your shoes.
🎟️ Passes, camping upgrades, and the full daily schedule available now at floydfest.com.
The Head and The Heart – Aperture Tour
Friday, August 1, 2025
Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront, 350 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA
The Head and The Heart return to Richmond for a full-circle moment on their Aperture Tour, performing at the brand-new Allianz Amphitheater with the James River as their backdrop.
What many may not realize is this show is a quiet homecoming—founding members Jonathan Russell and drummer Tyler Williams both grew up in Richmond and cut their teeth in its open mic and DIY scenes before heading west to Seattle, where the band officially formed in 2009. That origin story still echoes in their music: warm, vulnerable, and emotionally open.
Their new album Aperture (2025) is a return to those roots—introspective, melody-rich, and full of subtle sonic expansion. While longtime fans will hear classics like “Lost in My Mind,” “Rivers and Roads,” and “All We Ever Knew,” the new material blends seamlessly in, offering reflections on time, change, and rediscovery.
With support from Wilderado and Marfa, this night promises to be one of the summer’s most emotionally charged—and one of the most meaningful for Richmond fans who’ve been following the band since the beginning.
🎟️ Tickets available now HERE.
804 Day Music and Community Festival
Saturday, August 2 | 17th Street Market | Free
Richmond throws itself a party, and this one’s for everyone. 804 Day returns to the heart of Shockoe Bottom with a full day of live music, local vendors, and community celebration.
This free festival features ten of Richmond’s standout acts across three stages, including Nickelus F, Kadencia Orchestra, Høly River, REIN, and Weldon Hill. Expect a wide range of sounds—from Latin and jazz to punk, pop, R&B, and rock. It’s a snapshot of the city’s music scene in one place.
In addition to live performances, there will be food trucks, local art, a Kids Zone, beer for the 21+ crowd, and over 50 community vendors and nonprofits showing what RVA is all about.
804 Day runs from 16th to 17th Streets, between East Main and East Grace. It’s free, all ages, and proudly presented by Shockoe Records and the City of Richmond, with support from Venture Richmond, Virginia Tourism, and others.
If you want to hear what Richmond sounds like in the summer—this is it.
The Flaming Lips + Modest Mouse – Live on Brown’s Island
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Brown’s Island, Richmond, VA
Two of indie rock’s most legendary and mind-bending acts—The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse—join forces for a co-headlining tour that lands in downtown Richmond this summer. Brown’s Island becomes the setting for a night of cosmic fuzz, surreal visuals, and emotional chaos in the best possible way.
The Flaming Lips are known for turning their shows into full-on psychedelic carnivals—bubble machines, confetti storms, giant inflatable creatures, and all. Expect a technicolor dream wrapped around Wayne Coyne’s joyful weirdness.
Modest Mouse brings the existential counterbalance: jagged riffs, Isaac Brock’s howl, and that uncanny ability to make dread sound danceable. Their catalog—spanning from The Lonesome Crowded West to The Golden Casket—hits hard in a live setting, especially when the sun starts to set.
This is one of the biggest and most anticipated shows of the summer. A rare double bill that feels both nostalgic and entirely of the moment.
🎟️ Gates at 5 PM | Tickets at liveloudva.com
Richmond Jazz & Music Festival – The Sound of Summer in RVA
August 8–10, 2025 | Saturday-Sunday at Maymont
The Richmond Jazz & Music Festival is back, and as usual, it’s doing the most—in a good way. Three days of jazz, R&B, soul, and hip hop, with a lineup that swings from smoky sax solos to Southern rap royalty, all in the heat of a Virginia summer. It’s powered by Dominion Energy (because of course it is), produced by Richmond’s JMI, and it’s been steadily building its reputation for over a decade now.
This year’s top-billed names give you an idea of where things are headed:
- T.I. – Still Atlanta royalty. Still sharp. Still knows how to work a crowd.
- Jodeci – The slow-jam legends. Loud, unpolished, deeply emotional—just like the ‘90s they helped define.
- Muni Long – Breakout R&B star with real vocal range and songwriting chops. “Hrs & Hrs” is the kind of track that doesn’t leave your head.
- Masego – A genre chameleon with a saxophone and a Virginia backstory (Newport News + ODU). He coined the term “TrapHouseJazz” and somehow made it make sense.
- CeeLo Green – One of music’s strangest and most soulful voices. From Dungeon Family to “Forget You,” he brings the full spectrum.
Also on deck: Aloe Blacc, Marsha Ambrosius, October London, Dru Hill, Raheem DeVaughn, and jazz heavyweights like Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair, and Norman Brown, alongside Virginia’s own Charles Owens, Alexander Mack, and others.
Expect food trucks. Expect summer heat. Maybe even a little soul on your sleeve. The music will be great—but what really sets RJMF apart is that it still feels rooted in the city that built it.
🎟️ Full schedule, lineup, and tickets available at richmondjazzandmusicfestival.com or follow @rjmfest for updates.
Michael Cera Palin + More
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
The Camel, 1621 W Broad St, Richmond, VA
Michael Cera Palin may have the most tongue-in-cheek name in the scene, but their music is no joke—raw, relatable, and soaked in the spirit of early 2000s emo, filtered through a modern, self-aware lens. Their shows are part singalong, part catharsis, and all heart.
Joining them are Newgrounds DeathRugby, whose chaotic energy and unpredictable structures feel tailor-made for anyone raised on forum culture and weird internet ephemera, and Kerosene Heights, bringing their brand of melodic, emotionally heavy indie punk to round out a night of youthful release.
For fans of Bandcamp rabbit holes, house shows, and yelling in unison with strangers—this one’s for you.
🎟️ Advance tickets recommended at thecamel.org.
James Taylor – A Riverfront Benefit for the James
Monday, September 1, 2025
Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront, 350 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA
It doesn’t get more poetic than this: James Taylor, the voice behind “Carolina in My Mind,” “Fire and Rain,” and “Sweet Baby James,” performing riverside on Labor Day—and doing it in support of the natural beauty that defines this city.
Backed by his All-Star Band, Taylor will take the stage at the aforementioned brand-new Allianz Amphitheater, a 7,500-seat venue perched along the banks of the James River with sweeping views of the downtown skyline. This one-night-only performance is also a benefit concert for the James River Park System, making it a rare alignment of music, mission, and place.
Presented in partnership with Live Nation, the event offers more than nostalgia: it’s an opportunity to give back. Sponsorship packages include premium seating, a pre-show cocktail reception, and special recognition—all supporting efforts to preserve, protect, and enhance Richmond’s crown jewel of outdoor space.
🎟️ Tickets available now HERE.
Widespread Panic – Two Nights on the James
Friday & Saturday, September 12–13, 2025
Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront, 350 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA
After nearly a decade away, Widespread Panic returns to Richmond—and they’re making it count with a two-night stand perched along the banks of the James River.
This run carries real local significance: bassist and founding member Dave Schools is a Richmond native, and these will be Panic’s first shows in the city since 2016. It’s not just another tour stop—it’s a homecoming, and for longtime fans, a full-circle moment steeped in Southern jam-rock history.
Widespread Panic is legendary for their marathon sets, improvisational firepower, and fiercely dedicated fanbase. Their sound—equal parts swampy blues, psychedelic jazz, and roadhouse rock—has made them a staple of the jam scene since the late ’80s. And this new 7,500-seat amphitheater, with its open-air views and riverside setting, might just be the ideal backdrop for two nights of deep cuts, extended jams, and unexpected covers.
🎟️ Tickets available now HERE.
Iron Blossom 2025 – Richmond’s Indie Crown Jewel
September 20–21, 2025
Midtown Green, Richmond, VA
Richmond’s own Iron Blossom Music Festival returns to Midtown Green for a weekend of genre-spanning sounds, local pride, and thoughtfully curated vibes. What started as a boutique event with an indie focus has grown into one of the most exciting—and best balanced—festivals in Virginia. Small in size, but bold in scope, Iron Blossom continues to punch well above its weight.
2025 Headliners:
- The Lumineers – Grammy-nominated folk-rock giants known for foot-stomping anthems like “Ho Hey” and “Ophelia,” bringing a stadium-size sound that still feels intimate.
- Vampire Weekend – Ivy League art-pop turned global indie icons. With crisp hooks and eclectic arrangements, their live sets mix smart songwriting with danceable charm.
- Khruangbin – Texas-based psych-funk trio with global grooves and cinematic swagger. Think surf guitar meets soul, dub, and vintage Thai pop—no band sounds like them.
- Rainbow Kitten Surprise – Genre-defying Southern rock meets emotional indie. With dynamic vocals and a fiercely loyal following, they turn every set into a full-body experience.
Also Performing: The Teskey Brothers • Watchhouse • Futurebirds • The 502s • Dexter & The Moonrocks • Medium Build • The Paper Kites • Butcher Brown (RVA’s own) • Kate Bollinger • Hazlett • Friko • Palmyra • Improvement Movement • Holy Roller • Jack Stepanian • Catie Lausten
🎟️ Tickets available now HERE.
Kicking It Off: Lucy Dacus at the Altria
The weekend begins Friday, September 19, with An Iron Blossom Homecoming—a separately ticketed pre-show featuring Lucy Dacus at the Altria Theater. One-third of boygenius, Dacus is one of Richmond’s most acclaimed exports and a defining voice in modern indie music. Expect an intimate, emotionally rich set to open the weekend on a powerful note.
🎟️ Tickets available now HERE.
Virginia Pridefest 2025 – Richmond’s Loudest Love Letter
Saturday, September 27
Midtown Green, Richmond, VA
More than a festival, Virginia Pridefest is a celebration of identity, visibility, and community—a day where Richmond shows up, shows out, and reminds the world who we are.
Organized by Diversity Richmond, this free, all-day outdoor event has grown into a cornerstone of the city’s LGBTQ+ cultural calendar, filling Midtown Green with live music, drag performances, food trucks, local vendors, and nonstop joy.
While the 2025 lineup is still under wraps, Pridefest always delivers—with past years featuring national headliners, beloved local artists, and performances that go well beyond the stage. This year’s event holds added significance as part of the broader regional celebration leading up to WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., placing Richmond firmly in the spotlight.
As a longtime community partner, RVA Magazine is proud to support this grassroots-powered, radically inclusive event. Pridefest is proof that Richmond’s creative spirit and queer resilience remain as vibrant as ever.
🎟️ Free and open to the public. Full lineup and schedule coming soon at diversityrichmond.org.
Main photo by CJ Payne from the King Gizzard show last year.
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