Thursday, July 25
The Art of Iconography with Sagi Haviv at Branch Museum of Architecture and Design
This evening features a reception and lecture with graphic designer Sagi Haviv, whose branding firm has designed many of the “world’s most iconic logos, including National Geographic, NBC, PBS, Chase Bank and the U.S. Open.” The reception kicks off and celebrates the Branch’s lecture and exhibition series, “Re-Think Design.” Runs from 6 to 8 p.m. General admission: $40. Student admission is $20.
Camo Face w/ Instant Regrets (NC) and Danger Birds at Don’t Look Back
Sports Bar has consistently been the most fun, live home-team punk band for the decade I’ve lived in Richmond. They don’t play too much, but when they do, it’s memorable. Within that span of time, their set has become one-long fan favorite that everyone in attendance seems to know all the words to, or short of that, doesn’t discourage anyone from howling along as if they do. Now, founding members Kemper Blair and Stuart Holt are set to unveil their new project, Camo Face, which promises a skeletal approach of just drums and bass, to their already honed-in, hook-laden rock formula (back to bassics, if you like). They’ll be joined by returning guests from North Carolina, Instant Regrets, along with Danger Birds. 10 p.m. doors. Free.—Tim Abbondelo
Friday, July 26
The Goons with Rise Defy, Armagideon Time, Machine Gun Earl at Tabol Brewing
From 1996 through the summer of ’98, when their first album, “Living In America,” was released on Torque Records, the Goons were me and my closest group of friends’ favorite D.C. punk rock band. My teenage room was plastered in xeroxed fliers for all their shows I’d more often than not fail to attend — owed to the typically entitled plight of suburban adolescence with its tenuous parental supervision, curfews and lack of transportation. When I did conspire to see them, it was formative. That the band has retained its sound and spirit in the intervening years is pure nostalgia unfrozen in time. You won’t typically find hardcore punk shows making their way onto the local brewery circuit, but that’s precisely what’s in store at the mysterious new venture unfolding this Friday at Tabol Brewing a.k.a. Anytime Brewing Company, located near Battery Park at 704 Down St. More on that rebranding as it develops. Doors are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10.—T.A.
Saturday, July 27
The Veil presents Forever Summer at Main Street Station
Head down to the glass portion of Main Street Station, the Shed, for this craft beer lovers event featuring some 45 plus celebrated breweries, with all proceeds going to the local beneficiary, ChildSavers. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. VIP tickets are sold out. General admission tickets are $70 and include a FSF beer glass, festival access from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with unlimited pours from the brewers. The festival will be moving to every other year, so this will be your last chance until 2026. You can purchase tickets here.
Beer, Bourbon and Barbecue Festival at Farm Bureau Center at Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Va.
Boy, you can smell the smoke driftin’ at this one, can’t you? The three Bs aren’t just Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Nor are they the dirty ones from “Bad Santa” (though there is some overlap here). This 14th annual BB&B festival has got over 60 beers, over 40 bourbons, and a whole lotta barbecue coming toward your bellies to party like it’s 1999. The festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. for VIPers and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for ‘erbody else. Admission: $45 to $65. For more information, check out their website here.
Over the James: Avail with The Menzingers, The Suicide Machines, Sheer Mag, Division of Mind and Doll Baby at The National
It’s not exactly over the James, but close enough. One of Richmond’s biggest punk rock parties of the year always brings the old-school heads out; and the lineup is pretty hefty once again featuring bands from Detroit, Philly, Scranton, and Richmond, of course. Doors at 4 p.m. All ages. You can buy tickets here.
SPARC presents New Voices for the Theatre: Festival of New Works at SPARC: School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community
From their website: “SPARC’s nationally acclaimed statewide playwriting competition for Virginia students in grades 9 through 12, celebrates and cultivates young writing talent from across Virginia. Four, original, one-act plays written by youth will be directed by professional theatre directors and feature a mix of student and professional actors. These unique stories will be staged one time only.” Free. Runs from 4 to 5 p.m.
40 Years of “Purple Rain:” A Musical Tribute to Prince at the Hippodrome Theater
Seldom has there been a better match between artist and avatar than Prince Rogers Nelson and RVA singer/actor Anthony Cosby Jr. “I Would Die 4 You” — Cosby’s long-running tribute to the late legend — has been evolving since its first performance in the dark days of the pandemic. The four-decade anniversary of “Purple Rain,” Prince’s most popular album, offers an opportunity to catch the latest iteration of the project in a theatrical setting. While it’s worth going just to hear the full album performed by a tight local band and Keith Walker’s stunning recreations of Prince’s most iconic outfits, what really sets this production apart from mere reenactment is Cosby’s onstage charisma. It is definitely the Artist’s music, but there is a unique RVA-scene camaraderie between the players, and a self-aware yet deeply committed central performance. Prince died in 2016, but his music lives, breathes and stretches out with a touch of humor in Cosby’s individualistic reincarnation. 8 to 10:30 p.m. Admission is $40 to $60.—Peter McElhinney
Richmond Flying Squirrels vrs. The Binghamton Rumble Ponies
It’s military appreciation night and in-your-face fireworks. These two minor league baseball teams have been playing each other all week, but here’s your Saturday night game, when the rain should hopefully have cleared out. 6:35 p.m. Go here for tickets and more info.
Sunday, July 28
The Linda Lindas with Bacchae @ the Camel (Update: SOLD OUT)
Even before their debut album, Growing Up (released on Epitaph Records in ‘22) The Linda Linda’s CV was charmed, and saw them catapulted to the national stage, as children. The band, comprised of a pair of sisters, their cousin and a friend got their start performing with Dum Dum Girls’ Kristin Kontrol in ‘18 as Kristin & the Kidz; an opening spot for Bikini Kill in ‘19 nabbed them soundtrack work for Amy Poehler’s film Moxie in ‘21; fast forward to the Saturday before last, on July 13 they opened for The Rolling Stones at Sofi Stadium, just outside of their hometown in Los Angeles. I’m not sure exactly when tickets sold out for their show this weekend—after I started writing this. But if you missed your chance at those and you’re determined to see the shape of punk to come—now, on the rise—The Linda Lindas open for Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid the next day at Nationals Park in D.C. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $80 (plus service charges).—T.A.
“The Fall Guy” movie at the Byrd Theatre
You best believe that Ryan Gosling is looking over his shoulder for Gwar after the intergalactic shock rockers from RVA laid beautiful waste to his “Barbie” soundtrack song, “I’m Just Ken,” at the Onion AV Club. Plenty of humans feel the same tingly way about Gosling as beloved brother Blothar. This weekend, those folks can sit in the dark and intently watch Gosling in his latest action flick. 7 p.m. $9.
Lamb of God, Mastodon, Kerry King and Malevolence at Virginia Credit Union Live!
Monsters of metal unite for a big tour to commemorate Lamb of God’s classic album, “Ashes of the Wake,” and Mastodon’s “Leviathan.” Reviews are saying that both bands sound “reinvigorated,” and if that weren’t enough for metal heads, Slayer guitarist Kerry King opens the night with a brief but furious set sure to rain blood. 6 p.m.
