As time goes by, Richmond increasingly is being recognized as a bona fide music town, a destination place for interesting sounds, a place identified by its interesting musicians and its creative vitality.
And with that, our indigenous musicians — inexplicably burdened with restrictive laws on everything from acceptable sound levels to public dancing — serve as some of our most effective ambassadors and pied pipers.
In Style Weekly's annual music issue, we put an ear to the ground to find out more about the rich musical scene. To start, there's our third annual “Sounds of Richmond” CD, which features songs by 19 of the area's brightest musical lights.
We also give you the lowdown on the clubs, tastemakers, wax spinners, backup players and new directors that help to make this music scene the incredible (stealth) success story that it is.
If there's a lesson to be picked up in the stories and sounds that follow, it's that we need to do more than just be resigned to the fact that Richmond's a music town — after all, it's been one of those for years — we need to start embracing it. It can be denied no longer: We've got the music in us. — Don Harrison
Sounds of Richmond, Vol. III
Directions:
1. Download the music and the CD booklet of liner notes.
2. Burn “Sounds of Richmond III” onto a CD-R.
3. Play “Sounds of Richmond III” on your medium of choice.
4. Print out the downloaded booklet of CD liner notes.
5. Use your scissors and follow the folding instructions to make your own “Sounds of Richmond III” booklet.
6. Enjoy!