Thursday, April 10

The Waste Spring Kickback @ Cobra Cabana (April 10), The Broadberry (April 11) and The National (April 12)

Celebrating 25 years of Municipal Waste, Richmond’s preeminent thrash metal wunderkind is pulling all the stops for these anniversary celebrations, complete with pre-parties, after-parties and, of course, party-parties that bring together a slew of the country’s best in punk. “Every band playing has some ties to us one way or another,” vocalist Tony Foresta points out. “We are a lucky band who has been able to share the stage with some killer people. It’s great to be able to bring that vibe to our home town.”

Kicking off the festivities on Thursday night at Cobra Cabana: Local grind legends Suppression, Australian power-trio Stepmother, the Waste’s own Phil “Landphil” Hall’s death metal side-project, Morbikon, and Gainesville, Florida’s long-running Asshole Parade all make for an epic serving of talent under one tent. Friday’s offering at the Broadberry is sold out, but there are still tickets available for Saturday’s main event which features Enforced, Dropdead, Midnight, Toxic Holocaust and the reason for the season, Municipal Waste, who’ll no doubt whip the National’s pit into a sweat-dripping tizzy. “This is something we are trying to do to give back to our fans and friends that have been around us for all of these years,” Foresta says, adding  “And our city that has put up with our shit for so long.” More info is available at the band’s website and socials.—Tim Abbondelo

The Commonwealth Lecture in the Humanities presents David Brooks at Altria Theater

David Brooks is a moderate, intellectual conservative who manages to appeal to folks on both sides of the intense political and ideological divide in this country through his thoughtful approach to finding common ground. An op-ed columnist for The New York Times, a writer for The Atlantic, and commentator who regularly appears on PBS News Hour, Brooks reminds some people (who are old enough) of a time when political debate was still somewhat sane in this country. His lecture will “examine the intersections of public life and culture, exploring how the humanities are relevant in today’s world, especially in a civically engaged society.” Then there will be a conversation moderated by award-winning journalist Barbara Hamm Lee. Doors at 7:30 p.m. and the main event is at 8 p.m. Tickets are available here.

Friday, April 11

Richmond Poetry Fest at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond (also April 12)

Come celebrate poetry and attend one of these free readings, spoken word performances and workshops. There will be vendors on hand. Free to attend. For more info on who all is participating, visit here: visarts.org/rva-poetry-fest.

Villages at Révéler Experiences

[Special bonus, we have two writers weighing in this week on this show]

Peter McElhinney’s take:

Villages’ swarm of local musical talent centers around the songs of multifaceted, alt-country guitarist and pianist Justin Paciocco. Marketed under the covered bridge, catch-all term Americana, the group’s country-tinged, pedal-steel haunted sound serves to mount intelligently crafted storytelling lyrics. However intimate and personal the lyrics, all singing is part acting. Paciocco’s delivery connects solidly with an unforced, character-based country tradition. The advertised band is first rate, featuring pedal steel player Stephen Kuester, guitarists Corey Wells and James Lloyd Hodges and drummer Stephen Lecky. This is the third time they’ve played Révéler, whose multi-colored listening room ambiance is perfect for being able to follow the poetic heartbreak and rueful anger of the lyrics. It is likely to sell out, but they always hold back a number of tickets at the door.

And Davy Jones’ take:

If community is what you value in Richmond’s music scene, your Friday would be well spent seeing Villages perform. For the third time, the local Americana supergroup led by Justin Paciocco will turn a band name into a living statement of purpose by inviting several colleagues to the stage for a show titled “It Takes a Villages.” Justin’s band already features some of Richmond’s most connected musical contributors, including bassist Chip Hale and drummer Stephen Lecky, who also serves as Venture Richmond’s director of events. But on Friday, they’ll be joined by a slate of special guest performers, including up-and-coming singer-songwriter Jonathan Paige Brown Jr., Todd Murray of Sincerely Iris and Travis Rinehart of Jackass Flats, among others. As a bonus, in honor of spring’s recent onset, the already-colorful environs of Révéler will be augmented by available-for-purchase flower arrangements from the Richmond Flower Truck. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $15-20 and can be purchased at revelerexperiences.com. (This is a 21+ show. 16+ can attend if accompanied by an adult.)

Saturday, April 12

The 26th annual Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k

Be prepared if you head downtown: Saturday is one of the city’s biggest annual outdoor sporting events and organizers are expecting around 25,000 registrants. Yes, the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger is back in full effect, which means runners and walkers alike will be making the 6.2-mile journey along Monument Avenue as tons of people party on their porches and cheer them on, while live bands play and DJs spin records. Starts at 8:30 a.m. at W. Broad and N. Harrison. If you’re involved, you’ve already signed up most likely, but visit sportsbackers.org for all race-related info.

Record Store Day at various local stores

Vinyl lovers, activate! It’s that day again where you get up early and wait in line with like-minded record fiends and hopefully near whoever’s got the coffee brewing. Richmond is blessed to have great local shops, for example you can partake in RSD at the veteran Plan 9 in Carytown (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Deep Groove Records at 317 N. Robinson (noon to 6 p.m.), Small Friends Records and Books at 1 N. Lombardy (opens at 10 a.m) and others. Check your local favorite to see if they are participating, then get in line. And hey, support your favorite record store anyway, even if they aren’t participating in RSD, b/c music is one of those things that just makes life better.

Cancer Sucks III Rock and Roll Rumble at Hardywood West Creek location

This grassroots event in its third year has already raised over $50,000 for the Bon Secours Cancer Institute funding support services like “scalp cooling therapy,” which helps chemo patients keep their hair. This day of live music includes performances by Clampdown, Giant Squid!, Love Redemption: OTW, Mother’s Little Helpers and Walton Select Family Band. Runs from noon to 7 p.m. $20 suggested donation.

The Richmond Fringe Festival at various locations (Through April 14)

Billed as a “multi-vector performing arts festival of bold, curious and risky work,” this curated cultural event is “shepherded by the local creative hous Spectacle & Mirth” and is a profit-sharing festival. If you enjoy experimental work, check out their list of events, which includes events for gamers, an art market, and a Fringe Funeral “for all who we have lost and are losing” (bring an item for the Altar of Unnamed Saints). Fringe HQ will be at Révéler in Carytown. Other venues include the Shafer Street Playhouse, Fallout, and Gold Lion Community Café. You can read our preview of the one-woman show, “Penis Envy,” here. And go the RFF website for more details and the complete schedule.

Sunday, April 13

Kool Keith and MC Homeless with Destructo Disk, Marc Live, J Sylez and DJ Halo at The Camel

A founding member of the Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith might still be most known for his legendary solo debut, “Octagonecologyst” by Dr. Octagon. Nonetheless, he’s a veteran hip-hop performer from the Bronx who loves to get surreal. He’ll be joined by rapper/punk rocker MC Homeless, who grew up in Youngstown, Ohio going to hardcore shows and has been collaborating with Keith since 2019. Marc Live is another veteran hip-hop artist who started in 1990 with Raw Breed in the Bronx; J Stylez is also from the Bronx, but delivers a mixture of singing and rapping over self-produced tracks. And finally, DJ Halo has been creating his own music for over 12 years, mostly remixes to play at gigs but also original productions, according to a press release. Doors at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and available here.

Monday, April 14

Out of Your Heads Records’ Second Mondays @ Artspace

For something completely different, consider going to one of Out of Your Heads records Second Monday events at Artspace. Adventurous musicians delve deeply into the possibilities of organized and improvised sound surrounded by paintings, pottery, and sculptures by local artists. No two events are the same. This month, RVA-based composer Sarah Bouchard leads a trio with Chrystine Rayburn and Robert Scott-Celedón in a set of improvisatory interactions including, but not limited to, bass clarinet, Korg synthesizer, mandolin and vocals. The second set, from Gen Ken Montgomery the founder of Generator, New York City’s first sound art gallery, along with dancer Andrea Beeman, a.k.a. the Enchantress of Bioluminosity, promises a program that combines quantum physics, plate tectonics, magnetic fields, and a binaural, simultaneous experience of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This is not something you’re going to hear anywhere else in town—maybe not even this dimension. Doors are at 7:30 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.—Peter McElhinney