Thursday, Oct. 23
Peni Candra Rini at Reveler Experiences
Every one of the local performances of world-traveling Javanese singer/composer Peni Candra Rini is a special event. As an artist, she contains multitudes. In a traditional gamelan context, her voice can soar with the beauty, control, and power of an operatic soprano, floating through the high notes with nuanced clarity. With the East-West fusion group Rumput, her voice elevates the stringed folk-tinged accompaniment. As an experimental artist, she is a force of nature, arcing from growls to daring altissimo runs with limitless charisma. While the poetry of the words is obscured by the Javanese language, there is no question about the depth of the underlying message, or the range of her talents. Regularly playing in the great cities of the world, notably with the famed Kronos Quartet (with whom she played in RVA last year) she is an artist on a global scale. The city is incredibly fortunate that Candra Rini has such deep ties to the University of Richmond through its music department head Andy McGraw. For her performance Thursday night, she appears with McGraw’s Gamelan Raga Kusuma, a community-based tradition group using bespoke percussive instruments tuned uniquely to each other. Part of the program is a “sound bath,” a layered rhythmic maze of bells and gongs. It is music to get lost in. You will be glad you found it.—Peter McElhinney
Minibeast with Luxury Weapons at Cobra Cabana
Seven years in and this popular Carver neighborhood bar and plein-air venue is the work horse Richmond has needed since we lost Strange Matter (aka The Back Door, Twisters, Nancy Raygun and others depending on your laps around the sun). Minibeast has been around for several of those iterations and returns with a new album, “The Maze Of Now.” Students of rock music will be excited to learn the band features drummer Peter Prescott of seminal Boston punk band, Mission of Burma (later covered by Moby) as well as Volcano Suns and Kustomized. Meanwhile, congregants of his current, captivating Providence, RI-based, noise-rock concern — for which Prescott handles guitar and vocal duties — will thrill at this latest offering. Three years since its previous album, Minibeast remains propulsive and surefooted with workouts that will appeal to listeners who take their rock tunes with a slice of math, post or kraut sounds.
Local support act, Luxury Weapons, enters the ring swinging with not only its live show debut, but also the record release party to match. How many bands can say that? It’s no surprise given the trio’s pedigree featuring principal songwriter and recent Richmond-transplant, Bill Badgley of Federation X (Bellingham, Wa.) along with a rhythm section comprised of Trevere Thomas and Erik Josephson, who’ve been cranking out a maelstrom of sound around town in Hex Machine, Human Thurma, Joyburner and Hewolf among others. Their album “The Light in a Low Place” is a hammer – nine tracks hit on a fresh blend of stoner rock loaded up on melody and ethereal atmosphere. Doors are at 7 p.m. and cost $15. .—Tim Abbondelo
“Blackbird, Fly” at University of Richmond’s Camp Concert Hall, Modlin Center
This interdisciplinary performance features a duet of sorts between a renowned pair of artists, both children of Haitian immigrants. Composer and violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain’s collaboration with arts activist and spoken-word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph presents a thought-provoking bricolage of movement, storytelling and music through the lens of Haitian folklore and hip-hop aesthetics. DBR’s award-winning work has included solo, chamber, orchestral and operatic compositions. Likewise, MBJ’s accomplishments span various fields to include spoken-word poetry, playwriting, dance and theatre. “Blackbird, Fly” has gripped audiences since its first run in 2016, and its themes of identity, tolerance and inclusion remain pressing today. Doors at 7:30 p.m. General admission and pay-what-you-will tickets are available here.—T.A.
Friday, Oct. 24
Prabir “Yoga” vinyl release at Triple Crossing Fulton
One of Richmond’s busiest musical talents, Prabir Mehta has pulled together the “ultimate Antaheen orchestra,” featuring wonderful local musicians, to celebrate the vinyl release of his “Yoga, Meditation and the Rest of Life,” which he describes online as “a guitar-based exploration of various ancient raags” which has been curated for yoga and meditation practices. Sounds good to us. It’s a busy season: Calm and rejuvenate yourself through this spiritual music. Namaste. 6 to 8 p.m.
Djangofest feat. Michael Joseph Harris and Hot Club of Baltimore plus Django Tango at Reveler Experiences
A fluid night celebrating one of the greatest guitarists ever, the Belgian-born Romani jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Oh, how we love him. From the organizers: “Experience a wide range of music including traditional Romani jazz, virtuosic French waltzes, burnin’ be-bop tunes and sublime romantic melodies. The ensemble includes Joe Bussey (bass), Connor Holdridge (rhythm guitar), and Dallas Vietty (accordion). Also playing is Richmond’s own premiere swing jazz guitar ensemble, Django Tango, was formed by Russ Hanchin and includes Allen Burris (clarinet/sax), Freddy Lau (guitar), James Carrington Beard (guitar) and Carter Blough (acoustic bass). Check the venue website for more info. $20-$30. Doors at 7 p.m. and music runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Pre-show specials from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are available here.
Richmond Shakespeare’s “Witch” A wicked comedy by Jen Silverman at Virginia Rep Theatre Gym
Opens this week: Read our preview by Rich Griset. From the organizers’ description: “A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes … an inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama, this sharp, subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by.” Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Runs through Nov. 9. 114 W. Broad St.
Saturday, Oct. 25
Community Fall Festival at Dorey Park Farmers Market
Get in the spirit of fall with the last market day of the season. Family fun with live music, hayrides, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, fresh produce, fall flowers, all the good stuff. Free. 9 a.m. to noon.
Scott’s Addition Pumpkin Festival at Midtown Green
This annual fall event will be held this year at Midtown Green off Leigh Street and will feature live music, food and drinks, a popular costume contest presented by Goodwill, and more. Noon to 6 p.m. For more specifics, drop by their website.
Jeff Tweedy and Liam Kazar at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
On the heels of a well-received new triple album, the Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy returns to Richmond with his family band, featuring his two sons, Sammy and Spencer, as well as Liam Kazar, Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart. Should be a good one, here’s hoping the weather holds. Read our brief interview with the friendly Tweedy here.
Windhand and VOSH at The Broadberry
Richmond’s best known doom metal band, featuring great frontwoman Dorthia Cottrell, performs for the ‘ole hometown after releasing a collection of outtakes, “Songs from the Satan House” last year. Support from VOSH, an industrial punk/metal group from Washington, DC that formed out of a love Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy and early Ministry. Doors at 7 p.m.
Richmond Symphony: Minsoo Sohn plays Chopin at Carpenter Theatre
If you’re looking for some beautiful piano music this weekend, here you go: The masterful pianist Minsoo Sohn will appear with RSO Music Director Valentina Peleggi as a replacement for Emanuel Ax, who could not appear due to a scheduling conflict. The program will remain unchanged, featuring Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor with Sohn as soloist, alongside works by Mascagni and Rachmaninoff. Sohn has been described by The New York Times as “a genuine artist, with a thoughtful and poetic interpretation.” The concert of great romantics also features Rachmaninoff’s ravishing Second Symphony. 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets start at $20. Free for 18 and under.
Mackenzie Roark and the Hotpants at Ripple Ray’s
One of RVA’s hardest working performers, Roark makes her debut at Ripple Ray’s with this free show. Always a good time. 9 p.m. 3123 W. Cary St.
Sunday, Oct. 26
WRIR 97.3 FM turns 20 with the Monster Mashquerade Gala at Studio Two Three
Can you remember when RVA didn’t have WRIR community radio? If you can’t, consider yourself lucky. Community radio is vital in this fractured country we live in, where nobody trusts a damn thing anymore, especially institutions (which doesn’t bode well for the future; as Ralph Nader once told me: “Without institutions, nothing is lasting.”). However, we still have a few here in RVA, and for two decades, WRIR 97.3 has been amplifying voices and providing a unique cultural outlet. This Sunday, you can support them at this all-ages celebration that is not just a great fall party, but it’s a critical fundraiser for the station. All proceeds go toward completing the construction and relocation to their new, ADA-accessible home in Shockoe Bottom. There will be the big costume contest, a photo booth and, of course, live music: League of Space Pirates, Crack Fox and InvictIs; performance art in the form of a dazzling burlesque show hosted by the Nu Rodeo Caldonia collective and a special preview screening of WRIR’s new Capital Campaign video. The theme for this year’s costume contest is “Nowhere to Wear It” (you know what to do, dig deep into that closet, get weird). Food will be provided by the great Mosaic Catering and Events (Hot honey butter chicken skewers, gouda mac and cheese, vegan paella, shrimp and grits, you know it.) The big bash takes place from 6-10 p.m. and tickets cost $30 presale and $35 at the door. Purchase Tickets Here: WRIR.ORG/MONSTER
Peace, Love and Local Market at Main Line Brewery
Says it all, right? Handmade items, vintage and vinyl in a peace and love setting with local artists and makers selling art, jewelry, apparel, you name it. Family friendly, dogs welcome. #shoplocal. 1 to 5 p.m.
Harvestfest at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
A day of live music, food, seasonal crafts like pumpkin painting and petal pounding, plus “educational demos celebrating the bounty of nature.” Admission is included in regular Garden admission. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 27
Nation of Language with Deeper at The Broadberry
A rising synth-pop band from Brooklyn on Sub Pop performs with its labelmate, Deeper, from Chicago. Read our interview and preview of the show by Dash Lewis out later today.
Tuesday, Oct. 28
King Princess at The National
Fresh off two incredibly hot weekends at Austin City Limits — both in temperature and performance — King Princess is heading to Richmond and I couldn’t recommend seeing her more. I caught her fluid blend of modern pop/rock during weekend one of ACL, and it easily landed in my top five sets of the festival. Also an actor, her stage presence commands the crowd’s attention from the first lick to the last note. Her voice holds up to the studio recordings, and in some moments, even surpasses them (her real name is Mikaela Mullaney Straus and she grew up around a music studio, the daughter of recording engineer Oliver Straus Jr. and fashion professional Agnes Mullaney). Personally, I keep going back to my video of her live performance of “1950,” preferring it over the studio version. Another plus? Fans at The National will be among the first to hear her perform her new single, “Cherry,” live. —Macaulay Hammond
Rodney Crowell at The Tin Pan
The legendary songwriter returns with his Airline Highway tour. SOLD OUT.
