Thursday, Sept. 18
Dimitrije Vasiljević at Révéler Experiences
Virginia Commonwealth University Assistant Professor Dimitrije Vasiljević brings something unique to the Richmond cultural scene. His music is at once an extension of the post-bop jazz vocabulary and deeply informed by classical knowledge and technique. His early training was rigorous but constrained by the conservatism of his native Serbia. He came to the Boston’s Berklee School of Music, at great personal and family sacrifice, for the artistic freedom to play the music to which he was drawn; he still has a large following in his native country. His academic studies culminated with a doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana. Professionally, he has recorded four albums as a leader and played with many jazz luminaries at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations and The Kennedy Center. His enthusiasm and deep knowledge of both the Western and Balkan traditions was evident in the student conversations about his teaching at both his faculty recitals and gigs as a member of Rex Richardson’s band. (Richardson’s arrangement of Vasiljević’s tribute to his mother, “Aurora,” was a standout.) His gig this Thursday at Révéler Experiences is a rare local opportunity to see him as a leader of a first-class ensemble: Trey Pollard on guitar, Emre Katari on drums and Randall Pharr on bass. $15 for reserved seat tickets available at revelerexperiences.com or at the door.—Peter McElhinney
Friday, Sept. 19
Lucy Dacus with Slow Pulp at Altria Theater
Hailing from Mechanicsville, Lucy Dacus is definitely claimed by Richmond as one of the city’s most successful musical talents ever. So far, at a very young age, this Maggie Walker Governor’s School grad is a three-time Grammy-winning pop star who earned critical kudos as a solo artist for her lyrical skill and vocals, then levelled up with her own supergroup Boy Genius that sells out places like Madison Square Garden. She brings her Forever is a Feeling tour to a hometown crowd. 8 p.m.
Whitney Cummings at The National
Born in Washington, DC, stand-up comedian Cummings has had a long and diverse career in television and film; as an actor, writer (“Roseanne”) and roaster. You may know her from her specials on Comedy Central, HBO and Netflix. She has cited Paul Reiser, George Carlin, Dave Attell and Bill Hicks as comedic influences; hey two out of four ain’t bad (that would be Carlin and Hicks, duh). Doors at 6 p.m. show at 7 p.m. All ages.
St. Benedict Oktoberfest at St. Benedict Catholic Church (through Sept. 21)
More beer, bratwurst and Bavarian good times. Get ready for full steins and long lines in the heart of the Museum District. Runs from 4 – 11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. -11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. 300 N. Sheppard St. Free admission and pay as you go.
Afro-Zen Allstars at Révéler Experiences
Richmond’s purveyors of global funk and jazz return to this funky Carytown space. $17.50. Doors at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20
Iron Blossom Festival at Midtown Green (also on Sunday)
One of Richmond’s most popular music fests appeals to young’uns partly by booking viral, up-and-coming bands and this year they’ve got a smorgasbord of talent on two stages both Saturday and Sunday at Midtown Green. Saturday includes Richmond’s own Butcher Brown, as well as headliners Vampire Weekend and Khruangbin, The Teskey Brothers, Dexter and the Moonrocks, Kate Bollinger, Medium Build, Friko and Catie Lausten. Sunday’s performers include: The Lumineers, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Palmyra, Watchhouse, Futurebirds, The 502s, The Paper Kites, Hazlett, Holy Roller and Jack Stepanian. Go visit the website for all your payment and scheduling needs. Both days start at 1:30 p.m. and run until 10:45 p.m.
Bier-Garden at Maymont (Also Sunday, Sept. 21)
Get that fall fest energy going early with locally crafted Bavarian and Polish fare (The Mayor Meats, Capital Ale House, Ryba’s Pierogi), plentiful beer will be flowing (Bingo’s “Fest Friends” is a Maymont collab, plus there will be four classic Paulaner Oktoberfest beers, as well as cider and wine) and there’s live entertainment all day with stein-hosting competitions, Fritz’s Polka Band, the Hirschjäger Bavarian Dancers, plusJonathan the Juggler. Organizers suggest buying your tickets early: Tickets are $10 in advance versus $15 on event day, and all proceeds help support Maymont, one of Richmond’s undeniable jewels. 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Second Annual Richmond International Dance Festival at Deep Run Park
Culture Encounters, a RVA nonprofit dedicated “to making cultural experiences accessible, inclusive and fun for everyone” is partnering with Henrico County’s Office of Outreach and Engagement and BLK RVA to host dancers from around the world and food vendors offering global cuisine. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 9900 Ridgefield Parkway.
Steve Martin and Martin Short at Allianz Amphitheater
Two legendary comedians and Hollywood actors, both having been involved in the golden era of “Saturday Night Live,” as well as the less golden era of “Only Murders in the Building,” return to play music and tell jokes. They’re bringing their Dukes of Funnytown tour which includes special guests Jeff Babko and The Steep Canyon Rangers. 8 p.m.
The 28th annual Virginia Literary Awards at Library of Virginia
Celebrate the Commonwealth’s highest prizes for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s literature and art in literature. There celebration is hosted by award-winning author Adriana Trigiani with a dinner and silent auction raising money for preservation efforts at the library as well as education and research initiatives. 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21
Hannah Berner’s None of Your Business Tour at Altria Theater
You’ve probably seen or heard her on your phone starring in an endless stream of TikToks or reels (you know, all the stuff that will flash before your eyes when you die.) Her video series, Han on the Street, has garnered over 900 trillion views or something (maybe more like 350 million but who’s counting?). Predictably, she’s moving up in the world through podcasts to Netflix specials to TV shows (to probably a Judd Apatow movie any day now) to charging you out the wazoo to see her do her schtick onstage. Her big secret? She has charisma, but you can still relate to her. Woot-woot. 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 22
Eraser with Kitchenette, Vera and Gusher at The Diablo Room at Banditos Lounge
Every year, Richmond garage rock fans and those adjacent rejoice when a parade of the world’s foremost purveyors from afar, leading the charge in subterranean music niches, descend on Memphis, Tennessee for Goner Records’ annual, multi-day music festival, Goner Fest. In the weeks before and after, the River City often finds itself in the path of a cavalcade of traveling bands. Similar, tour-routing phenomena occur during other destination fests throughout the year, such as with Hopscotch in Raleigh or Maryland Deathfest in the spring. Next week, Goner, the label responsible for some of this century’s most influential rock’n’roll (Jay Reatard and Ty Segall, to name but two) will host their 22nd get together, and once again we’re treated to the sweaty runoff.
Hailing from Philadelphia with a debut album released by the venerable Siltbreeze imprint earlier this year, Eraser is rewriting history with its take on no wave. That avant-garde music varietal is typically thought to have peaked in NYC by the early ‘80s, but Eraser offers a fresh and vital take on the plodding, atonal nihilism that’ll make you wanna contort yourself all over this Tex-Mex sports bar’s floor. Simpatico local support acts make for a finely crafted bill. Brian Eno couldn’t produce a better offering with “No Richmond.” Doors are at 7 p.m. and cost $10.—Tim Abbondelo
“Weird Al” Yankovic at Allianz Amphitheater
Like a scientific anomaly, the Big Weird One is back with his Bigger and Weirder Tour and you know he’s got accordion jams for days. Just eat it. 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 23
Mod Lang with Mel Machete & DJ Driftwood at Fuzzy Cactus
It’s no coincidence this relatively new band outta Detroit would take its name from the song “Mod Lang” by Big Star — that mythic ’70s power pop band from Memphis who reinvented Southern rock by embracing the soul and R&B music all around them. Anyone who caught Detroit Cobras last time they were in town will recognize Mod Lang’s singer-guitarist from that band, as well as the support group, Sugar Tradition, who put out an incendiary album for Feel It Records last year. Power pop, bubble gum, glam and garage are all alive and well represented here. Doors are at 9 p.m. and cost $10.—T.A.
“Omaha” at the Byrd Theatre
Writer-producer Preston Lee and director Cole Webley will be on hand for the showing of their new independent feature, the opening film of this year’s Richmond International Film Festival. Starring John Magaro and Molly Belle Wright, “Omaha” garnered early raves at this year’s Sundance Film Festival for its beautiful cinematography and compelling story of a family in crisis — Variety says that the movie is “equal parts heart-wrenching and luminous.” 7 p.m. Free. —Don Harrison
Molly Tuttle with Joshua Ray Walker and Cecilia Castleman at The Beacon Theater (Hopewell)
After two Grammy-winning albums with her band Golden Highway (I think there’s a Grammy theme this week), multi-instrumentalist Molly Tuttle from sunny Palo Alto, CA has proven she’s a major solo talent; not to mention the first woman to win the International Bluegrass Association’s Guitar Player of the Year Award. Her latest album, “So Long Little Miss Sunshine” (Nonesuch Records), stretches into pop without abandoning her bluegrass skills. The cover shows her wearing various wigs due to her lifelong autoimmune condition, alopecia areata, which she’s become a vocal advocate for, helping destigmatize the condition through her insistence on being her authentic self. You go, girl. She says she now owns as many wigs as she does guitars. Doors at 6:30 p.m. and show at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 24
Turnstile with Blood Orange, Speed, Jane Remover at Brown’s Island
Forty-five years later, the kids have discovered crowd surfing and they love it (at least judging from all their videos including a recent stint on NPR’s Tiny Desk). Baltimore’s Turnstile is usually described as hardcore punk, but to people actually around back then, they sound like something else (more akin to Rage Against the Machine) with their juggling of pop, metal and melodic rock. Whatever they’re doing, it’s working; they’re very popular and that means that, yes, Brown’s Island will be rockin’ and yes, they’re already getting Grammy nods as the awards show continues its Grasping for Relevancy Tour. Should be a wild Wednesday by the river. All ages. Doors open at 5 p.m., show at 6 p.m.
Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday celebration at Black Heath Meadery
Everyone should go to at least one Hobbit’s birthday party. RVA Faerie Federation invites you to raise a glass (or three) in honor of the 111th birthday of Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End; they say “dress in your finest waistcoat, Elven crown, or whatever makes you feel most at home in the Shire.” And remember: No admittance, except on party business! 6 – 9 p.m.
