Thursday, Feb. 1
Book release party for “Memory Orchards” at Candela Gallery
Come celebrate the release of a new book from Candela Gallery featuring a survey of 61 contemporary photographers and photographic artists whose principal subject is their own families. For this event, they’ll have 12-14 artists and one of the curators who wrote for the project in the house. Plus, as an added bonus, the back half of the evening will feature karaoke. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 214 W. Broad St. Free to attend but they ask that you RSVP via this link.
Guest pick: Living Colour at the National
Who says a Black band can’t play rock? Probably someone who’s never witnessed Living Colour, the four-piece New York-based outfit that debuted in 1988 with “Vivid.” That record featured the hit, “Cult of Personality,” a song about the appeal of political and popular figures that remains relevant today. After two more albums, the group disbanded in 1995 – but members found their way to the same stage for a few songs at CBGB in 2000 and have been making colorful noise together since. The band is working on material for its seventh album and the stop at the National on Thursday at 7 p.m. is a solo vacation from their recently extended tour with heavy metal band Extreme. All ages. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $28.50. thenationalva.com. – Craig Belcher
Friday, Feb. 2
Hamid Rahmanian’s “Song of the North” at Alice Jepson Theater, University of Richmond
An Iranian-American artist, filmmaker and graphic designer, Rahmanian is known for his award-winning documentary film, “The Glass House,” while his live work “explores themes of identity, culture and history, often drawing inspiration from Persian mythology and literature.” This presentation of “Song of the North” tells the story of a courageous heroine from ancient Persia through an epic love story employing a cast of 500 handmade puppets, projected animation and an ensemble of nine actors and puppeteers – which should be amazing; it earned a critic’s pick from The New York Times while Le Monde raved, describing it as ”breathtaking fireworks of creativity.” Starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $10 for students/youth to $50 and are available here.
Written by Hamid Rahmanian and Melissa Hibbard. Original Music by Ramin Torkian and Azam Ali. Puppet design by Saba Niknam and Hamid Rahmanian. Digital animation by Hoda Ramy. Puppets made by Neda Kazemifar. Photograph: © 2021 RICHARD TERMINE
Guest pick: Kendall Street Company’s Kendall Street Is for Lovers Concert Series at the Broadberry
We already know Virginia is for lovers. But it’s becoming clearer just how much affection Kendall Street Company has for the commonwealth’s capital city. As part of the annual Kendall Street Is for Lovers regional gig sprint, the Charlottesville-based jam band will bring its bright and immersive blend of versatility and good vibes to Richmond each Friday in February. On Feb. 2, 9 and 16, the Broadberry will play host. The lovefest then heads to the Camel on Feb. 23. Tickets are $15. The group’s most recent LP, “Separation 95,” was released in September; read about it in this Style Weekly Q&A. For more information about start times and other stops around Virginia in the Kendall Street Is for Lovers series, visit kendallstreetcompany.com.—Davy Jones
Saturday, Feb. 3
Capital City Classic: Richmond Spiders at the VCU Rams’ Stuart C. Siegel Center
Hoop Town, rejoice! Time for one of the great crosstown rivalries in all of college basketball. The surprising Richmond Spiders men’s basketball team has confounded expectations after recently beating then #16 Dayton to sit atop the A10 conference (after being picked in the preseason to finish 11th). Meanwhile, the VCU Rams feature new faces and a team that has been steadily gelling throughout the season, though they lost their last game on the road. Both teams’ overall records aren’t that far apart, so it should be a competitive game as the Spiders hop the bus to the nearby Siegel Center and what is sure to be a loud AF building of Ram fanatics. Overall, VCU leads the all-time series 59 wins to 32. This weekend’s game starts early at 4 p.m. and is viewable on ESPNU.
Reggaelizit: An eight-piece ensemble of RVA reggae all-stars at Reveler Experiences
As President Obama once said: “Greetings massive: Wah Gwaan Jamaica!” It’s time for a night of crucial, rocking sensations when vocalist Bobby “Olu” Taylor leads an eight-piece, multi-generational ensemble of local reggae veterans including members of Youth Rockers, Olu and the Future, Crown of Honor, Jah Revelations and Unity Sound to name a few. Tickets are $12. Music from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.
Sunday, Feb. 4
Afrikana Film Festival presents a free screening of “Origin” at Cinema Café Chester
A free screening of the acclaimed new movie, “Origin,” written and directed by Ava DuVernay, is being hosted by Richmond’s Afrikana Film Festival with partners VPM and The Richmond Forum. The organizers are not announcing the time of the screening but ask that people pre-register at the Afrikana Film Festival site starting Thursday, Feb. 1 and follow them on Instagram and Facebook for updates. Read more here.
