Thursday, March 27
Georgia Rogers Farmer: Perfect Pair at Richmond Triangle Players (March 27-29)
Yes, she’s back, RTP’s resident cabaret diva and “certified domestic goddess.” Georgia Rogers Farmer brings “great songs, fabulous comedy, prizes and who knows? Maybe some baked good.” 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. $50.
GalaxyCon Richmond at Greater Richmond Convention Center (through March 30)
The Shat man is back, but will Captain Kirk deliver a duet of “Rocket Man” with Weird Al? Only those brave enough to attend can know the truth before YouTube. In addition to William Shatner and Mr. Al Yankovic, Vincent D’Onofrio will be there, and we bet he’s never been asked to make the psycho face from “Full Metal Jacket,” you know, the one just before he blows his brains out. Get your cosplay on, celebrate pop culture, anime, comics, voice actors, and much more. Day passes start at $45 while multi-day tickets will set you back around $140. Go here for much more info.
Friday, March 28
Breakfast Cabaret at Gold Lion Community Café
For years, and well over 100 performances, Barry Bless’s Friday morning Breakfast Cabarets were a weekly fixture at Crossroads Coffee and Tea. That ended with COVID, and it has taken some time, and several venues, for the tradition to reemerge. It is once again a regular event, every last Friday of the month, at the vegan/Indian Gold Lion Community Café. It’s an apt mixture of venue and retro-outsider content—Bless draws on a deep repertoire of Weimar music, Left Bank melodies, and leftist songs, along with a smattering of originals. A birthday song from a Russian cartoon makes frequent appearance, as does a Led Zeppelin quotation. His longtime performing partner Twyla Jane sings and dances more while seated than many do standing up. The band, which performs elsewhere as the Blue Orpheus Orchestra, includes: Kassia Arbabi on violin, C.J. Alicea on percussion, Carter Blough on bass, Jason Scott on clarinet, Martha Cassidy on trombone, and frequently Freddy Lau on guitar. They play with a loose, swinging camaraderie. Every performance seems packed while always having at least one open seat. Regular attendees and the band curate their outfits based on prompts from local fashionista Ronald Lee. It is a welcoming, all ages event—even if most are old enough to remember when Jerry Garcia was alive. It’s worth checking out for the Gold Lion itself: It’s at the most accessible end of Hull Street, more than a bit quirky, and one of the few venues with both healthy food and full stage. Also, it’s free. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 1012 Hull St.—Peter McElhinney
Jazz de Paris: Hot Swing Guitars feat. Hot Club of Baltimore and Django Tango at Reveler Experiences
Here’s a plan: Stop by Can Can for dinner than boogie a few doors down and feel like you’re back in Paris again, swinging to gypsy jazz in a kinder, gentler century. Renowned guitarist Michael Joseph Harris can indeed swing with the best of them, and brings his impressive group’s take on “traditional gypsy jazz, French waltzes, burnin’ be-bop and sublime romantic melodies.” They’ll be joined by Richmond’s own Django Reinhardt-inspired project, Django Tango, formed by Russ Hanchin. Inspiring, brilliantly improvised music that will have those toes tapping. Some may even be moved to dance. 8 p.m. $25.
of Montreal with Strawberry Moon at The Broadberry
The chameleon-like pop project of Kevin Barnes, of Montreal will commemorate the 20th anniversary of its seventh album, “The Sunlandic Twins,” by performing the work in its entirety. Originally formed in Athens, Georgia and tied to the Elephant 6 collective responsible for Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, Apples in Stereo and many others, Barnes mines similar ‘60s psychedelia and avant-pop territory in of Montreal, with a knack for pushing boundaries and weightlessly bounding across genres. Two decades on, “The Sunlandic Twins” is the corner in which of Montreal turned in pursuit of the more electronic and commercial music avenues traversed on a dozen albums since. A special performance that hints at the shape of the band to come. Opening up, Strawberry Moon will make its debut in this Richmond room. The local five-piece, hard-rock powerhouse is poised to benefit from the larger and louder environs, well suited for guitar-forward moves and front-person Katie Bowles’ boffo-belted vocal delivery. Doors are at 7 p.m. and admission costs $25.—Tim Abbondelo
Dave Attell at Funny Bone Comedy Club
The veteran comedian, actor and writer best known for the Comedy Central show, “Insomniac with Dave Attell,” is also known for his many famous friends in Hollywood and the porn industry, and for trying to restart “The Gong Show,” one of the 1970s weirdest TV memories, which would’ve been dope. 21 and up event. $42. Shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and on Saturday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Stomp at Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts’ Carpenter Theatre
Presented by Broadway in Richmond, the 30th anniversary tour of “Stomp” taps, slaps, hammers and sweeps into Richmond. Read our preview by David Timberline. Takes place at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 28, and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. Tickets start at $38.50 plus fees. Tickets: https://www.broadwayinrichmond.com/.
“A Complete Unknown” starring Timmy Chalamet at the Byrd Theatre
Real Dylan fans know this movie is a greatest-hits, condensed fairy tale version of the bard’s entre to New York in the 1960s (where’s the part where he stole everyone’s records?) And that somehow, the Coen Brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” feels more accurate in its depiction of the time. But people enjoy this movie because it’s got good music, good looking, talented young actors, and some very fine impressions of memorable characters. Or as Dylan himself tweeted early on: “I’m sure Timmy [Chalamet is] going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me.” $9. 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 29
King’s Dominion opens its 50th season (Doswell)
Area coaster fans may want to check out the all new Rapterra, billed as the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster, on opening day (you go first.) Riders get launched from 0 to 65 miles per hour in four seconds. Rapterra will be open to the public when the park opens today. The park will remain open every day through April 6 for spring break. Season passholders have an opportunity to ride the new coaster during passholder preview night on Thursday, March 28 from 5 to 10 p.m. Open Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. $42.
Secretariat Day in downtown Ashland (Hanover County)
It might be a little cloudy or rainy this weekend, but that’s no reason not to head up 95 to small-town Ashland and celebrate a fast-as-hell horse that won the Triple Crown of racing. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Visit the website to learn about all the weekend activities.
Ramona & the Holy Smokes, the Wayward Leaves and Charles Latham and the Borrowed Band at Get Tight Lounge
It’s about to get twangy at Get Tight Lounge. On Saturday, the West Main Street venue will host three country-leaning acts, two of which hail from Central Virginia. Charlottesville-based outfit Ramona and the Holy Smokes will bring the throwback honky-tonk vibes to Get Tight, which is just a mile or so down the road from Spacebomb Studios, where the group’s 2024 EP, “Til It’s Over,” was tracked. Speaking of top-notch 2024 albums, Richmond’s own Wayward Leaves will perform as well, fresh off earning a spot on the latest Newlin Music Prize shortlist for its pedal-steel-tinged, full-length debut titled “Thursdays at Six.” Add in the self-described “wry country-rock for weirdos” of Durham’s Charles Latham and the Borrowed Band and you’ve got a bill that’s bound to land a few tears in beers. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $14.55 and can be purchased at gettightrva.com.—Davy Jones
Sunday, March 30
“Impressions of Us” African American Print Fair at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
This print fair celebrates the artistry, culture and heritage of Black creatives through fine art prints; a platform for emerging and established artists to share stories, explore themes of identity and legacy while connecting with the community. Noon to 6 p.m.
Monday, March 31
Keb Mo and Shawn Colvin at Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts
Contemporary blues artist Keb’ Mo’ from Nashville and American singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin perform with special guest Paul Kelly. Doors open at 7 p.m. show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49.50 plus fees.
Tuesday, April 1
Merry Fools Day!
[Text 4MORE to stop receiving classified information related to national defense]
