Jan. 16-20

Cumbia master Yeison Landero Y Su Conjunto, a celebration of Black film music featuring Butcher Brown and Richmond Symphony, two shows from singer-songwriter Mackenzie Roark (pictured), the James River Film Society Short Film Showcase at VMFA and more …Happy MLK Jr. Day!

 

Thursday, Jan. 16

 

“Life, Liberty and Happiness” with Jeffery Rosen @ Library of Virginia

Come celebrate Religious Freedom Day and join the Valentine for the first lecture in this season of “Life, Liberty and Happiness” with Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and host of the We the People podcast. His new book is “The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.” Tickets are $15 for adults and free for Valentine members, teachers and students. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Harry’s Live Thursdays presents Mackenzie Roark at Harry’s at the Hof

One of the hardest working talents on the local scene, singer-songwriter Mackenzie Roark has two shows this weekend (the second is listed below at Main Line Brewery on Sunday). Rooted in classic rock and country, Mackenzie and her band The Hotpants won FloydFest’s respected On-the-Rise competition and will return to the festival in Floyd, Virginia in the mid-summer of 2025, just after their new album drops in June. Come hear some red hot American twang this Thursday; the show is 21 and up. 7 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

 

Friday, Jan. 17

 

Yeison Landero, grandson of Andrés Landero, the “King of Cumbia” music, performs at Reveler Experiences in Carytown. Photo courtesy of the venue

Yeison Landero Y Su Conjunto at Révéler Experiences

Cumbia champion Yeison Landero’s appearance at Révéler in Carytown is the latest instance of the Brooklyn-to-RVA axis of Secret Planet (Jim Thomson) extending the local pan-cultural musical landscape beyond the bounds of the Richmond Folk Festival. The Colombian band – a multiple percussion rhythm section with bass, button accordion and vocals – plays one of the most popular Latin and South American traditional forms. The hypnotically danceable music is a venerable fusion of African, Indigenous and Spanish forms. Landero, the grandson of Andrés Landero, the “King of Cumbia,” is as perfect an exponent of the music. He headlined last year’s finale of the LA Grand Performances summer series. That was in front of an outdoor crowd. Révéler is going to be far more intimate, albeit with a significantly smaller dance floor. Arrive early for the best seats. Wear comfortable shoes because you will probably spend time on your feet. Early show tickets are sold out. Reserved seat tickets are available for the 9:30 p.m. show and cost $15-$25.—Peter McElhinney

 

The 30th Annual James River Film Society’s Short Film Showcase @ VMFA

Rescheduled from last week: Always an interesting night, this juried film competition (which Style’s Editor Brent Baldwin had fun judging in the past) spotlights the year’s finalists for best short videos and films — meaning 20 minutes or less — from a slate of truly eclectic international entries. The special guest judge this year is none other than Jerry Williams, veteran local movie critic and reporter who you may know as TV Jerry. Runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Taylor Tomlinson’s Save Me Tour at Altria Theater (BOTH NIGHTS SOLD OUT)

Popular with Generation Whatever It Is Now, Tomlinson has had three hour-long comedy specials on Netflix (the last streamer with any money to pay writers, according to our insider source who just sold a script there) and makes all the namedropper lists like The Hollywood Reporter’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” and Time 100 Next, bunch of others. A California-raised comedian, she’s used TikTok to great success and often refers to her mental health experiences as part of her observational comedy. Friday show is at 7 p.m. and Saturday show is at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $52.75 and go a lot higher.

 

New Jersey’s Classic Traffic will brave I-95 S for their rock show at Bandito’s this Friday with Beauty, Young Scum and Canaries. Photo by Luke Ivanovich

Classic Traffic, Beauty, Young Scum and Canaries @ Bandito’s Burrito Lounge

With the return of palatable water to the city, so has drinking responsibly. At Bandito’s Diablo Room that means chasing your shot-and-a-beer combo with the rehydrating powers of H20. This bill is well suited for such a celebration with the one-two, power-pop punch of Classic Traffic and Beauty. Both bands are on tour from the Garden State and have a penchant for the big chorus fodder of radio’s Golden Age. Classic Traffic is also driven by the certifiable guitar god moves of Dinosaur Jr., Purling Hiss and Tony Molina. Finely paired with local guitar-pop frontrunners, Young Scum (whose Style interview lives here) and Canaries, a newer outfit whose demo cassette from last fall is a must for even the most casual My Bloody Valentine listener. Doors are at 8 p.m. and sounds at 9 p.m. Cost is $10 (cash only). 18+.—Tim Abbondelo

 

Saturday, Jan. 18

 

A Celebration of Black Music in Film featuring Butcher Brown and the Richmond Symphony at Dominion Energy Center

Arguably the most exciting musical event this weekend, this night sounds amazing. Take a trip through the rich heritage of Black music in cinema, from Luther Vandross’ work on “The Wiz,” through the funk of Isaac Hayes (“Shaft”) and others including the movies “Get Out,” “Superfly,” “Purple Rain,” Spike Lee joints “Crookyn” and “Do the Right Thing,” “Dream Girls” and more. Produced by James Crump-Wallace, co-founder and Creative Director of The Spot RVA, Richmond’s own talented Naima Burrs conducts and Butcher Brown joins in on the fun with the Richmond Symphony. Read our longer preview feature by Peter McElhinney. Also, there’s a free pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. Tickets are on-sale now for the show at 8 p.m. and range from $22 to $86.

Richmond’s Butcher Brown. Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff.

The Richmond Record Riot at Stony Point Fashion Park

Over 15,000 albums for sale at this crate diggers’ fest featuring 40 tables of LPs and CDs right next to Crossroads Records. Early admission is $5 at 10 a.m. or early birds can pay $15 and go in at 9 a.m. Runs to 5 p.m.

Edgar’s Sweet 216th B-Day Bash featuring The Embalmers at Poe’s Birthday bash at Poe Museum (UPDATE: SOLD OUT)

Come celebrate one of Richmond’s most legendary claims to literary fame (Edgar Allan Poe) on his 216th birthday at our local Poe museum. And always remember what he so wisely wrote: “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” UPDATE: Tickets are sold out. Runs from 6 to 10 p.m. (Embalmers play at 8 p.m.)

 

The Poe party don’t stop this weekend, y’all.

 

Los Hermanos Alacranes @ Révéler Experiences

A night of local rock and roll and honky tonk in English and Español. Admission is $15. Doors at 7 p.m. and music from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. No reserved seating.

Los Hermanos Alacranes at Shockoe Sessions Live. Photo by Dave Parrish

 

Sunday, Jan. 19

 

The ghoul-haunted woodland: A Poe-themed tour of St. John’s Graveyard @ historic St. John’s Church

Tick-tock, this weekend the Poe Poe party don’t stop, y’all. Runs from 2 to 3 p.m. Reserve tickets are $9 to $12. 2401 E. Broad St.

Celebrate MLK with the Richmond Symphony @ The Carpenter Theatre

A chamber concert for all ages honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. If you’re under 18, you can get in free. Old heads need to cop a ticket. 3 p.m.

Gallery5 at 200 W. Marshall St.

 

The Listening Room @ Gallery5

This spirited local series occurs every other month and joins literary readings with improvised musical scores. Committee member Trey Burnart Hall says: “This is an event for people who love literature and music, in hope of bringing those worlds together.” The multi-disciplinary experience is organized into two distinct parts; the first will pair readings from Jake Ziemba and Jesse Lacy with musical accompaniment by Eli Owens, followed by writers Dustin King and Camryn Claude joined by Remoraorta. This installment also commemorates the birth month of Richmond’s preeminent local author Edgar Allan Poe with a halftime show to remember by Dean Knight. Doors are at 6 p.m. and this event is free to the public — donations encouraged!—T.A

Mackenzie Roark @ Main Line Brewery

Keep it going this weekend Mackenzie, a self-professed lover of sweet hotpants and a veteran performer of East Coast stages who brings fierce original tunes and a big, lovely voice. Influenced by legendary songwriters from Townes Van Zandt and John Prine to Emmylou, Roark also told Style recently that the very first cover her band ever played was Richard and Linda Thompson’s “I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight.” If you know, you know. 3 to 6 p.m. 1603 Ownby Lane.

Talented singer-songwriter Mackenzie Roark. Photo credit: Gabriel Van Cleave

 

Monday, Jan. 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

 

 

Corey Fonville performing at Révéler Experiences. Photo by Peter McElhinney

Corey Fonville Quintet at Révéler Experiences

Based on a poster for the show, Grammy-nominated drummer Corey Fonville’s upcoming gig at Révéler Experiences is almost a stealth Butcher Brown show. Every member of the band is slated to appear. But based on Fonville’s last show in the space, the music will skew toward straight jazz rather than the 21st century funk/hip-hop/jazz fusion of his breakout band. The timing, no doubt, owes much to the fact that Butcher Brown is featured in the weekend’s Richmond Symphony performance focusing on the music of Black films. So, they will be performing within two days in one of the city’s grandest halls and one of its most compact. All of the players are incredibly capable, no matter what style of music they are performing. Marcus Tenney doubles on trumpet and saxophone and is an accomplished rapper. Morgan Burrs has perfected a unique voice on electric guitar. Andrew Randazzo is a master of tying everything together at the bottom of the mix. Devonne Harris (DJ Harrison) is a pitch-perfect, multi-instrumental genius. As leader, Fonville brings vast experience playing with a who’s who of world-class musicians –including  his bandmates – and phenomenal skills that balance a torrent of ideas with a deep respect for musicality that prevents brilliance from collapsing into showmanship. There are two shows at 7:30 and 9 p.m. Buy tickets early. $20-$30.—P.M.

 

The Honorable Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go out into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism and militarism.

With this powerful commitment, we shall boldly challenge the status quo and unjust mores, and thereby speed the day when “every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.”

(from “Beyond Vietnam,” a Martin Luther King, Jr. speech against militarism and the Vietnam War delivered on April 4, 1967 at Riverside Church in New York City. It received major backlash from both parties as well as major media such as The New York Times and Washington Post and he was even accused of treason by Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater. Here is a link to five lesser-known speeches by King).

 

 

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