April 4-9

From First Friday and the RVA Burlesque Festival to Circle Jerks, Descendents, the Bad Plus and La Lom.

Thursday, April 4

The 2024 Richmond Burlesque Festival at various venues (April 4-6)

Dedicated to celebrating the art of burlesque, the third annual RVA Burlesque festival takes place at multiple venues and features over 40 performers from around the country, including Valerie Veils, Kayy Lovely, Trisha Spectacle and Jewelissa. On Thursday, it will be at Strangeways Brewing (doors at 7:30 and show at 8 p.m.); on Friday at Ember Music Hall (doors at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m.); and on Saturday at the Byrd Theatre (doors at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m.). For more information on ticket prices, visit their website.

Image courtesy of Richmond Burlesque Festival.

Friday, April 5

PyroCircus First Friday Street Show at Gallery5

Join the Party Liberation Foundation (PLF) in historic Jackson Ward for the next edition of the PyroCircus First Friday Street show, which kicks off Gallery5’s 19th birthday celebration. The always amazing fire performances take place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with music and other festivities kicking off at 5 p.m. This is a free community event and all ages are welcome. Donations appreciated.

The Bad Plus with Nucleus Trio and VCU Jazz Quintet at the Broadberry

The Bad Plus made its name in the early aughts as a jazz trio with a modern sound driven by pianist Ethan Iverson’s angular, sustain-heavy delivery of songs like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The group has reformed twice since then, once when Iverson left and was replaced by Orrin Evans, and again when it dropped piano altogether and added two well-known instrumentalists, guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Chris Speed. There is consistency through the changes with the exemplary rhythm section of bassist Reid Anderson and drummer David King. That is a lot of instrumental firepower for the somewhat cozy Camel. The entry point for the band is likely its wide range of eclectic covers, which range from Black Sabbath to Aphex Twin. But the center of their sound is an egalitarian, ensemble approach, emphasizing group interaction as opposed to long solos connected by strands of chord changes. Their most recent album, simply titled “The Bad Plus,” is all originals, albeit built on melodic ideas that are clear enough to follow even in the densest of interplay. RVA’s “jazz adjacent” Nucleus Trio, a band with some similarities to the original Bad Plus, and the VCU Jazz Quintet open. Doors at 7 p.m. $30. –Peter McElhinney

Saturday, April 6

Circle Jerks, Descendents and Adolescents at the National

One of the old-school national punk tours of the year. If you caught the Circle Jerks last time they came to Richmond at the Broadberry, you know they can still throw down, especially with hard-hitting younger drummer Joey Castillo (Queens of the Stone Age) on the skins. This weekend, the band co-headlines with legendary California punk rockers, Descendents (“Milo Goes to College”). The two iconic punk groups covered each other’s classic songs on a recent split 7” out via Trust Records with the Circle Jerks performing “Kabuki Girl” and “Hope” and the Descendents reworking “Red Tape,” “I Just Want Some Skank,” and “Beverly Hills.” This tour is selling out around the country but at press time, there were still some tickets left for the Richmond stop. Doors at 7 p.m. Show at 8 p.m.

Circle Jerks stand in front of the Bernie Slamders mural in Richmond. Photo by Scott Elmquist

Sunday, April 7

The Third Annual Spring Artisan Market at Hardywood Richmond

Come celebrate spring and support local businesses as artists and makers sell homemade home décor, art, jewelry, apparel, woodworking and you drink all the Hardywood beer. The market will be located inside Hardywood Richmond’s Barrell Room. Noon to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 9

La Lom at Richmond Music Hall

La Lom stands for The Los Angeles League of Musicians. This group formed during the pandemic in 2021 and its members play a sizzling mix of “Cumbia Sonidera, ‘60s soul ballads and classic romantic boleros that emanate from radios, backyard parties and dance clubs in LA with the twang of Peruvian Chicha and Bakersfield Country.” Sounds great to us. If you loved Marc Ribot and his Los Cubanos Postizos project, you might want to come on down for a great night of music Tuesday. Doors at 7 p.m. $20.

 

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