Thursday, April 25
Thao with David Shultz at Richmond Music Hall at Capital Alehouse
The talented singer-songwriter, William & Mary grad, and former Virginian returns home from California, joined by another familiar local talent, David Shultz. Doors at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. Tickets here. $25.
Junior Brown at the Tin Pan
Seeing this guy play his guit-steel double neck guitar is something everyone should do at least once. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Get tickets here.
Saturday, April 27
Herbs Galore at Maymont’s Carriage House Lawn
It’s Richmond’s favorite plant sale at Maymont. They suggest bringing “a roomy wagon to carry home the bounty of herbs, annuals, perennials, vegetable, and even trees, plus garden accessories and garden-inspired goodies from large nurseries like Colesville and specialty plant growers.” Runs 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More info here.
WRIR’s 19th Anniversary Party at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (Richmond)
Community radio needs your support and this free, day-long party is always a nice showcase for local talent. There will be DJs spinning outdoors to celebrate the end of the spring fund drive, and performances by Destructo Desk, Opin, Lunch $pecial, Dazy, George, Closet Space and Billy Bacci. Donations encouraged. 1 to 10 p.m.
Wes Freed Day at Canal Club
Read our full preview here of this event that offers live music and an art auction to raise money for a scholarship in the name of this dearly departed Richmond artist and musician Wes Freed, who was widely known for defining the visual look of the Drive-By Truckers. Includes a performance by J. Roddy Walston. Starts at 3 p.m.
Plunky and Oneness at Révéler Experiences
Richmond native/citizen of the world, saxophonist James “Plunky” Branch has been a vital builder of RVA music for decades. Recognized as a visionary in African jazz fusion, his career has featured multiple genres while eluding easy classification. You can hear his playing everywhere from “The Cosby Show” to “Grand Theft Auto.” If anything, his career has accelerated over the past few years ago with lauded reissues of his early Black Fire albums, and he became something of a local hero with uplifting nightly performances on his front porch during the COVID lockdown (an institution he revisited during the solar eclipse a few weeks back.) With over two dozen albums to his credit, including 2024’s “Love is Everywhere [N.A.M.E], Plunky has a deep book of original music to draw on. His sound is big enough to fill theaters and festivals, including his annual midsummer shows at Dogwood Dell, so this weekend provides a rare opportunity to see Branch and his band in the intimate, eclectic confines of Révéler Experiences. 8 p.m. Tickets range from $24-$40. –Peter McElhinney
Sunday, April 28
Vinyl Record Pop-Up at Hardywood Richmond
Come browse the bins and maybe find your next obsession that makes it all bearable. Noon to 5 p.m.
The Second Annual Richmond Animation Festival at the Byrd Theatre
Should be a fascinating and eclectic mix of animation shorts. Read our full preview and talk with animator Dash Snow. 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Waxahatchee at the National
“Tigers Blood” is the sound of an artist hitting her stride. The new album from Waxahatchee, the project led by Kansas City, Missouri-based singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield, landed in March, almost exactly four years after another high-water mark of an LP, “Saint Cloud.” While Crutchfield briefly considered letting the success of that release pull her sound in a more pop-leaning direction, she and returning producer Brad Cook decided to stick to the Americana approach that has resonated so deeply. Nevertheless, two key additions to the studio lineup – guitarist MJ Lenderman of rock band Wednesday and drummer Spencer Tweedy – deftly complement Crutchfield’s songwriting, which seems to be getting more vivid, efficient and memorable with every stroke. In that sense, “Tigers Blood” hits less like a sequel and more like new chapters in a story you never wanted to put down in the first place. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and music starts at 7:30 p.m. with an opening set from Good Morning. For tickets, visit thenationalva.com. –Davy Jones
Monday, April 29
Naturally 7 at the Tin Pan
Five friends and two brothers make up the vocal powerhouse Naturally 7, an a cappella group – and a band – based in New York. The group has released 13 albums in their 20-year career as recording artists, the latest being a tribute to the music of classic films called “Naturally 7 @theMovies, Volume One.” While the septet hasn’t made an appearance on the big screen yet, it has been seen on “Car Karaoke” with James Corden, CBS’s “The World’s Best” and “The Late Late Show with Chris Ferguson.” All the sounds that the audience will hear at their performance may not be created by human voices, but they should be pleasing to the ear. $54.99 – Craig Belcher
