It’s time to say goodbye to the life-giving greenery that the trees so generously gifted us during spring and summer. But fear not, something else is in the air. From a reissued, instrumental hip-hop classic to jazz so adventurous it’s likely to scan as new, even upon repeat listens, there are more autumnal sounds to luxuriate in than leaves in that backyard pile you worked so hard to rake together.
DJ Harrison
The “Stashboxxx” 10th anniversary edition (Sept. 6)
Something old, something new, nothing borrowed, but — sure enough — something blue. The old wedding ritual, slightly modified, describes the upcoming 10th anniversary reissue of DJ Harrison’s 2014 album, “Stashboxxx.” Alongside the original batch of quick-hit instrumentals by the Butcher Brown keyboardist and production whiz, you’ll find the newness: a collection of previously unreleased “Bonus Traxxx.” There’s even a limited-edition, blue-marble version of the deluxe vinyl pressing, and a FatBeats exclusive variant in green. Nothing is borrowed, however. The liner notes proudly proclaim: “No samples were used on this record.” Just DJ Harrison, a few assists from the Butcher Brown orbit and Jellowstone Studios’ signature auditory warmth. djharrison.bandcamp.com
The Great Beforetimes
“The Set Down: A Crip’s Journal from the 9th Apocalypse” (Sept. 22)
It’s not just a band name, the Great Beforetimes was truly ahead of schedule when the idea arose, pre-COVID, to make jug band music with a post-apocalyptic outlook. A self-titled debut album made that vision real in 2022, with lyrics about eroding soil, 40-day rains, fallen towers and a sacred land of sinners. The group has shared singles since: an ode to life experience called “Slime Mold” sprouted up last October and a reckoning with disability, “February,” arrived just after Valentine’s Day. Sophomore album “The Set Down: A Crip’s Journal from the 9th Apocalypse” will have with its own ceremonious timing, coming into view on the autumnal equinox. Check out more at thegreatbeforetimes.bandcamp.com
Kate Bollinger
“Songs from a Thousand Frames of Mind” (Sept. 27)
Richmonders in Kate Bollinger’s fanbase may find it surprising that her upcoming album is a full-length debut. “Songs from a Thousand Frames of Mind” follows a pair of EPs — 2020’s “A Word Becomes a Sound” and 2022’s “Look at It in the Light” — that both felt like complete, jazz-folk statements. Bollinger has since moved west, but still present is her gift for harmonically complex, personal songwriting. Even amid the upbeat, throwback sunshine of “Any Day Now,” there’s an intimacy that makes it feel like you’re part of the conversation. Add in co-writing and sonic inspiration from Spacebomb Records founder Matthew E. White, and you have the perfect way for her Richmond listeners to stay connected. katebollinger.com
Illiterate Light
New album coming (Nov. 1)
Those who made it to Main Line Brewery for this year’s Daydream Fest got more than a string of top-notch performances. Attendees also received an early heads up about the next album from Illiterate Light, which now has an official foothold in Richmond thanks to drummer Jake Cochran’s recent relocation. Singer and guitarist Jeff Gorman generously shared that the rock band’s next album will arrive on Friday, Nov. 1, chasing the announcement with a yet-to-be-released, shoegaze-leaning tune titled “All The Stars Are Burning Out.” The chorus laments always being “the last one to find out” — deliciously ironic for those hearing breaking news about the next release from one of Central Virginia’s most beloved rock bands. illiteratelight.com
Justin Golden
“Golden Country, Volume 3” comes out in December
One of the Richmond music scene’s earliest highlights this year was “Golden Country, Volume 1,” a collaboration between fingerstyle guitarist Justin Golden and Vocal Rest Records house band, Devils’ Coattails, that landed in January, pairing a single original tune of Golden’s with seven reinterpretations. We’ll have a third volume by December, and in the meantime, we have “Golden Country, Volume 2,” which arrived just in time to soundtrack the change from summer to fall. Golden’s chemistry with Devils’ Coattails offers a unique marriage of honoring the past and bottling first-take immediacy. Regardless of how many volumes follow, it’s safe to say we’re in a golden era of musical reappraisal. justingoldenmusic.com
Label spotlight: Out of Your Head Records
Operated in Richmond by bassist Adam Hopkins and drummer Scott Clark, Out of Your Head Records specializes in adventurous sounds in jazz from near and far. The label’s fall slate is especially ranging, both in its focus on out-of-town artists and its inventiveness. First up, dropping just as August gives way to September, is “Bakunawa,” an album from the avant-garde trio of drummer Andrew Barker, saxophonist Jon Irabagon and William Parker, whom Adam Hopkins has dubbed a “bass hero.” Following that will be new sounds from groups led by two established Out of Your Head saxophonists, Michaël Attias and Travis Laplante, as well as a song-based release from guitarist Grey McMurray. You’d be hard pressed to find a more high-flying roster as temperatures begin to dip. outofyourheadrecords.com
