Friday, Nov. 24
Dominion Energy Gardenfest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
It’s getting dark so early these days, maybe that’s why Richmond loves its sparkling night light events. An annual tradition of millions of lights, botanical decorations, with fires and hot chocolate, can help keep the winter blues at bay. The theme this year’s fest is the rhythms of nature. Check out the website for all the attractions. Gardenfest is open nightly 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. but take note: Advance tickets are required and available online only. Through Dec. 14 are value nights and cost $17 for nonmember adults and $8 for ages 3 through 12. Peak nights run from Dec. 15 through Jan. 7, 2024 and cost $20 and $12, respectively.
Butcher Brown and Ohbliv at The Broadberry
A nice double bill featuring two beloved artists from Richmond whose music is well-known and respected outside of the River City. Increasingly in-demand Butcher Brown is known for its adventurous mixture of jazz and hip-hop, while kindred spirit producer Ohbliv has earned raves in Pitchfork and been revered in certain underground beat tape circles for many years now. Doors at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. $20. You can get tickets here: https://bit.ly/ButcherBrown11-24
Human Thurma, Hex Machine, and Delicate Whip at Bandito’s
Dust off that too-tight T-shirt with the weird stains from a few decades ago. I’m thinking old school RVA heads will be out for this one. Last time I saw Richmond “math-wrath” noise rockers, Human Thurma, was in the mid-1990s in Chico, Ca., where they were playing a wood-paneled sports bar with Melt Banana and The Hellworms (ex-Victim’s Family). It was an awesome night of wild, metal-punk mania; I seem to remember meeting producer Kramer (Bongwater, Half Japanese, Ween) at that gig. Also, shout-out to guitarist Sean Elliott Harris from Richmond; he lives in New York now, still a great musician. Fans of his frenetic band will be stoked to learn that Human Thurma has a new CD/LP titled “Savage” featuring older tracks recorded in San Francisco, probably around the same time I saw them; I heard ex-Nation of Ulysses guitarist Tim Green produced a few. It’s nice to see this band getting some recognition, even decades after the fact. Check out their bandcamp for more. This Friday should be another killer night, as the similarly heavy Hex Machine and Delicate Whip are also on the bill. How did that “Portlandia” song go? “The dream of the ‘90s is alive [in Richmond].” Did it ever really go away? Show at 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25
The 46th annual Model Railroad Show at the Science Museum (Nov. 24-26)
A family-friendly tradition is rolling back into town. Grab the kids, or Neil Young, and work off all that holiday stuffing by exploring an entire room of elaborate train displays with “various scaled locomotives riding through intricate landscapes and miniature cities.” Of course, there will be live steam engine demos, a LEGO train display and plenty other stuff, including a screening of “The Polar Express” in the Dome (three showtimes each day). For the full event page and to reserve your tickets now, please visit their website: https://smv.org/explore/things-to-do/model-railroad-show/
Modern Groove Syndicate vinyl release party with Ben White and his band at The Camel
From music writer Davy Jones (for Style): “During the 2000s, Modern Groove Syndicate released a trio of adventurous albums that treated funk as a gravitational center while sending songs on ranging orbits shaped by proficient jazz chops, winning a 2005 Independent Music Award for best jazz song in connection with their second album, ‘Vessel.’ Yet just before the release party for its follow-up, 2007’s ‘Ms. Popular,’ keyboardist Daniel Clarke was pulled away from the Syndicate’s orbit, having been called to accompany Grammy-winning artist k.d. lang … Those who missed seeing Modern Groove Syndicate’s initial run are in luck; the ‘Ms. Popular’ lineup is set to play a reissue release event on Saturday at the Camel. For [bassist] Todd Herrington, the show feels even more momentous than the group’s 2010 reunion, given the passage of time, members’ individual travels — Herrington, Clarke and Kuhl are some of Richmond’s most sought-after instrumentalists — and the trials of the pandemic. Herrington hopes to reclaim some of the closeness the band found. ‘I just can’t wait to hang out with those guys again,’ he says.” Doors at 8 p.m. music at 9 p.m. $15 in advance, $18 at the door.
