Richmond-based fingerstyle guitarist Justin Golden may not be having his most active year, counting by songs released or gigs played. But no musician has been more present in the local music scene. “I’ve been here over 10 years now,” Golden says. “One of the things I felt early was ‘This is an incredible, unique place for a musician to set up shop.’”
In February, the singer-songwriter sent shockwaves through the city’s music community by announcing he’d been diagnosed with a rare form of stage 4 cancer. The heartbreaking news arrived at a time when Golden had built serious momentum as a performer. In 2022, he released “Hard Times and a Woman,” a meticulously crafted album that unlocked new touring possibilities and earned the attention of national outlets like NPR Music. In late 2023, he sped up further, partnering with local roots group Devil’s Coattails on a series of “Golden Country” albums consisting of lightning-in-a-bottle takes on lesser-known compositions spotlighting the role of blues music in the genesis of country and bluegrass.
Preservation is a passion of Golden’s; his teaching experience includes instruction at Augusta Heritage Center’s Blues Week, and he founded the Richmond chapter of the Rhapsody Project, which facilitates in-school music workshops. He’s also participated in the Ethno USA intercultural music exchange.
Two volumes of “Golden Country” landed before Golden’s diagnosis; the third was put on hold, as were his planned gigs. But a different type of momentum picked up where his left off: a flurry of benefit shows organized by friends and colleagues, dubbed Golden Fest. The response was swift and has yet to abate. “It’s pretty common and expected for a lot of people [to be] behind you at the beginning of something like this and then it wanes,” he says. “But I really haven’t felt that from my community.”
Supporters have raised more than $100,000 via Golden’s GoFundMe to cover lost revenue. Golden has managed a few performances in 2025, including a June matinee at the Camel and an October stop at Earthfolk. He also played a special Richmond Folk Festival set fronting both Devil’s Coattails and previous backing band, The Come Up. “It was a great moment for me to see everybody just coming together and having a good time,” he says.
Golden has provided glimpses of his progress, posting updates to Instagram at the start of each round of chemotherapy and sharing memes in keeping with his self-designation as “Meme Dealer.” He’s also been writing. “I definitely have felt renewed sense of purpose,” he says. “I’ve had a lot more ideas for songs and been able to push those a little further, and still always working on transcribing older music.”
Speaking of bygone sounds, Golden has identified a set of live recordings that he’d like to release soon. If he doesn’t make it into the studio in 2025, that live album is his backup plan. “I very much intend to put out new music by the end of the year.”
