Thursday, Nov. 6
Austin Fitch artist open house at Revel Market and Bar
The artist, King Sour guitarist, and longtime friendly local bartender, Austin Fitch, has a big new show with works from three different series. A reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. 6223 Lakeside Ave.
Friday, Nov. 7
Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale at the Main Library (Nov. 7-9)
Literacy rates are declining in America to frightening levels, so maybe a good idea to remember and support the joy of reading a good ‘ole fashioned book – you know, where you get to use your own imagination as you process the words, rather than having manipulative imagery (often advertising-based) fed to you on ever-shortening loops. You’ll find great deals at this weekend sale on books as well as CDs and DVDs; basically, all the physical media that is steadily being phased out by big tech in favor of continually charging you anytime you want to view or do anything, the range of which it will dictate and disseminate, of course. Friday pre-sale (members only) is from 10 a.m. to noon, general public noon to 6 p.m. Saturday is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m. Proceeds benefit Richmond Public Library funding.
Virginia Ukapalooza 2025 at Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Mechanicsville (Nov.7-8)
Performances by nine community uke groups from all around Virginia, with 16 different workshops, open mics, open jams, karaoke and more. Breakout workshops for beginners through advanced. Run by the nonprofit Virginia Ukapalooze with proceeds used to purchase ukuleles for RVA area schools and teach classes. For more info go here.
Destruct, Loud Night, Canaries, Massacre System and Subversas at Studio Two Three
Richmond’s local music scene is having a moment due to its new crop of bands finding support from longer running groups. From there, different points along the genre spectrum commingle for a vibrant and exciting musical ecosystem. Such as this night, when you’ll find healthy doses of D-beat, Richmond’s new wave of British-inspired heavy metal, and even jangly shoegaze across the punk rock gestalt. Importantly, the proceeds benefit the Annandale, Virginia-based Gaza Soup Kitchen to help provide “hot meals and clean water to Palestinians in Gaza facing deliberate starvation.” In addition to an awesome and eclectic selection of music, contributions were kicked in from a veritable ‘who’s who’ of local artists, craft purveyors and small-business folks for a raffle with over $3,000 worth of goods and services. Starts at 7 p.m. sharp, and costs $10.—Tim Abbondelo
The Last Waltz at The Broadberry
An annual Richmond tradition: our very own River City version of one of the great farewell concerts (and concert films) of the 1970s by The Band, featuring RVA musicians. Proceeds will benefit Feed More. 7 p.m. Tickets available here.
Craftsmen’s Christmas Classic Art and Craft Festival at Richmond Raceway Complex (Nov. 7-9)
Hundreds of artists and craftsmen with “thousands of unique choices you can’t find anywhere else” unless you attend another Crafstmen’s Classics event in another town. Learn more here. Friday, Nov. 7 takes place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults are $10 at the door, children 6-12 cost $1, and ages under 6 are free. Tickets.
Saturday, Nov. 8
The Big LeBYRDski at Byrd Theatre
The Byrd Theatre abides. Its annual celebration of the Coen brothers’ 1998 slacker classic “The Big Lebowski” comes complete with a pre-screening “Bathrobe Bar crawl” – white Russians, anyone? — at participating waterholes Babes, Ripple Ray’s, Mellow Mushroom and New York Deli. The Byrd will open one hour before the 7 p.m. screening for a trivia quiz-off and a Lebowski costume contest, and there’s an unofficial afterparty at the New York Deli. Every generation needs its own “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and the LeBYRDski continues to be a fun, loving tribute to a motion picture as ridiculous as it is complicated. You know — “a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.” Runs from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available here.—Don Harrison
Angelica Garcia w/Kenneka Cook and Shera Shi at The Camel
Former Richmond musician and a favorite singer of President Barack Obama returns to RVA to play with old friends at The Camel. Check out our interview with her by Peter McElhinney to learn more about what this Left Coast resident has been up to lately. Doors at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. $24.14.
The William & Mary Middle Eastern Music Ensemble at Richmond Public Library
Founded by Professor Anne Rasmussen, this student group delivers its studied appreciation for traditional music from the Middle East region and arab world through performance and community celebration. Now in its 31st year, the project has fostered student collaborations with scores of scholars and visiting performers from across a large swath of musical traditions and expertise, to enrich William & Mary’s local community along with appearances throughout the mid-Atlantic region and even international tours to Morocco and Oman. This particular matinee will highlight traditional instrumentation from Greece, Lebanon and Egypt with an emphasis on crowd participation. The family fun begins at 2 p.m. at the Main Branch location: 101 E Franklin St. Free and open to the public.—T.A.
Lakecia Benjamin at Camp Concert Hall, University of Richmond’s Modlin Center
Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin contains multitudes. She is at once traditionalist and modern, a master of the harmonic improvisational style of John Coltrane and a master of hard-driving funk. Her education was grounded in the jazz tradition, but she has also played with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Kool and the Gang and others. In a genre still dominated by male players, she’s led all-female bands, noting that this is a format that goes back a century or more. One of the challenges of the modern musical era is, to paraphrase Faulkner, the past is not even past. It is frozen in decades of high-fidelity recordings accessible to everyone with an internet connection. Creating an individual voice standing out from the echoes of the past requires a mix of deep knowledge of what has come before and the capability to expand it into innovative expression. Benjamin, who’s 2020 “Pursuance” reinterpreted the revered 1960s work of John and Alice Coltrane, revealed an artist both deeply appreciative of the past, and unbound by it. 7:30 p.m. $45. There will be a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.—Peter McElhinney
Richmond Symphony presents Beethoven Violin Concerto at Dominion Energy Center’s Carpenter Theatre (Nov.8-9)
Francesca Dego, “who thrilled Richmond audiences in her 2024 debut,” returns for Beethoven’s towering Violin Concerto; the Dallas Morning News raved: “She proved that pianissimos can be as gripping as fortissimos. Her gleaming tone was striking, with commitment, facility and finesse. A rock-star ovation was rewarded.” Per the website: Richmond Symphony’s Valentina Peleggi will also conduct The Richmond Symphony in Charles Ives’ truth-searching meditation “The Unanswered Question” and Dvořák’s broodingly powerful Symphony No. 7.” Saturday, Nov. 8 show is at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 is at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $20.
Richmond Bead Show at Meadow Event Park (Doswell)
Into beads? You might consider traveling north to Doswell for this two-day event featuring many bead enthusiasts. Find your people. $5. Starts at 10 a.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9
The 17th annual Richmond Jewish Food Festival at the Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue (Also on Nov. 10)
A local two-day tradition featuring Jewish food classics like knish, potato latkes and matzo ball soup, as well as live music and vendors. The musical group Klezm’Or’Ami’m (which translates into “klezmer musicians from Congregation Or Ami”) will be celebrating its 31st anniversary this year with performances at 4:45 p.m. on Sunday and 5 p.m. on Monday. You can also check out the food menu here. Runs from noon to 7 p.m. 6300 Patterson Ave.
Hot Water Music and Bane w/Spaced at The Broadberry
The Gainesville, Fla. punk rock band returns to RVA. 6 p.m. doors.
GBH, Slaughterhouse and Main Liners at The Canal Club
There are more original members in the English punk band Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) than Black Flag … just sayin. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show. All ages. $25 in advance.
Monday, Nov. 10
“Empire of the Dawn” with Jay Kristoff and D. Randall Blythe at Fountain Bookstore
The bestselling Australian science fiction author and the Lamb of God frontman and author appear for a 6 p.m. in-store event which is SOLD OUT. There will be a separate after-event signing at 8 p.m. and there may be tickets left for that. Purchase of Kristoff’s “Empire of the Dawn” is required. $37. Go here for more info.
OOYH Second Mondays: AACM 60th with Nicole Mitchell and JoVia Armstrong at ArtSpace
The Association for the Advancement of Creative Music was formed in mid-1960s Chicago and dedicated to “nurturing, performing, and recording serious, original music.” The organization was involved in some of the greatest/most adventurous projects of the late 20th early 21st century. Members include/included Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago, who’s slogan “Great Black Music, Ancient to the Future” was a near-perfect encapsulation of the organization’s mission. This celebration of the 60th anniversary, organized by Richmond-based Out of Your Heads Records principals Adam Hopkins and Scott Clark, takes advantage of the semi-local presence of flutist/ University of Virginia jazz professor Nicole Mitchell and AACM Executive Board member (and UVA Assistant Professor) JoVia Armstrong. The Second Monday series, taking place among the ever-changing paintings, prints, and sculptures of ArtSpace, has the informal vibe and creative energy of a downtown loft. The wine and beer selection is a constant; the music consistently unpredictable.—PM
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Black Flag at Ember Music Hall
Are we having a flashback to mid-1980s at Hard Times (or was it Rockitz) and a young, long-haired Henry Rollins telling us not to touch him because he’s Superman? Nope. Those days are long gone and so is Rollins, though we hear he just recorded some music with Ian MacKaye at the legendary Inner Ear Studios. Founding guitarist Greg Ginn is the only original member of Black Flag left, and the rest of the current touring band – young frontwoman Max Zanelly leads the attack now – probably wasn’t even born yet when Flag reunited for the second or third time. But they’ll be sweatin’ to the oldies for sure. 7 p.m. Tickets range from $34.90 to $61.90. All ages.
The Bad Plus with The Sweet Potatoes at The Broadberry
A top-selling progressive jazz group that has been touring over 20 years returns to Richmond as a quartet featuring founding members Reid Anderson and Dave King alongside guitarist Ben Monder (David Bowie) and tenor saxophonist Chris Speed (Blood Count). The Bad Plus hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota and combine modern jazz with pop and rock influences; they’ve recorded songs by everyone from Bowie and Nirvana to Ornette Coleman, Radiohead and Burt Bacharach. Doors at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Pengame: A Conversation about Writing in Hip-Hop at Virginia State University’s Davis Hall
Join the Virginia Hip Hop Foundation and VSU’s Institute of Hip-Hop and Cultural Studies for this conversation about writing in hip-hop featuring very special guests Madd Skillz and Nickelus F. The event is part of the university’s Hip-Hop History Month celebration. Takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets for the general public are $10. Admission is free for current VSU students. Watch for our related preview feature by Andrew Cothern.
The New Mastersounds with Sidechick at The Broadberry
A British four-piece jazz fusion and funk band from Leeds brings its “Ta-Ta For Now” farewell tour to Richmond for a night of jammy jams. Fans of Medeski, Martin and Wood and other jazz-heavy jam groups might dig it. Richmond’s Sidechick opens. Doors at 7 p.m.
