I’m sure by now, you’ve been bombarded by information on this weekend’s big music festival – the RVA Music Fest. It’s safe to say that Shockoe Bottom is going to be insanely crowded and lots of good music will be heard.
The festival has been in the works for quite some time and if successful, could lead to an annual event of showing off some of the best music Richmond has to offer.
Just look at everything included in the two-day festival.
RVA Music Fest Showcases – Saturday, Sept. 10
- Audra the Rapper, Nickelus F, Noah O, Artik Phreeze, Swordplay, Cain McCoy, Just Plain Ant, Ohbliv – The Camel
- Club Luv featuring DJ EPOC – New York Deli
- Dead Fame, Canary Oh Canary, League of Space Pirates – Balliceaux
- Heavy Grinder, Nint3ndo, Ameera – Hat Factory
- Long Arms, Loren Ipsum, No Dice -The Republic
- Long Jawns – Bellytimber
- Miniature Tigers, Baby Help Me Forget, Fire Bison, Marionette – Strange Matter
- Downbeat Switch, The Kindling Kind, Mulle – Cafe Diem
The Main Event – Sunday, Sept. 11
- Stage 1 – Girl Talk, Best Coast, the Trillions, the Diamond Center, White Laces, the Silent Age, Climbers
- Stage 2 – No BS Brass Band, Goldrush, Black Girls, Antero, Luggage, Proverbial
- DJ Tent – Doddie, Long Jawns and Bobby LaBeat of Audio Ammo; Mr. Jennings and Akasha of PLF; Shugadadde, JMungz and Rometti of Euphoria; M.A.S.S. FX and Skywalk3r of NLP; Jesse Split and Joanna O of Turnstyle
The After Party – Sunday, Sept. 11
- The Men, Flechette, Caves Caverns – Strange Matter
Now, as awesome as this event is, all the acts playing are seriously focused on one particular scene. It’s completely catering to the indie rock and underground crowds – which is the typical crowd who reads RVA Magazine (the event’s sponsor). Don’t get me wrong, all the local bands participating are incredible and there is some amazing talent taking the stage, but Richmond’s folk, jazz and pop rock scenes are completely ignored. I wouldn’t get so worked up if the festival wasn’t touted as “The music festival of Richmond” and “showing off the best of local music” because it’s not. It’s only one small part of an even more amazing bigger scene.
And I’m surprised that Richmond’s two biggest music venues – The National and the Canal Club – are not included in the showcase evening (maybe because they are not advertisers in RVA Magazine, but I could be wrong on this). While they’re not on the official RVA Music Fest bill, The National and Canal Club are also hosting local acts the same evening.
- The Canary Promise, East Coast Secondaries, Empire, Gandhi’s Gunmen, Others May Fall, The Weakest – The National
- Seraph, Beyond The Victory, This Mountain is Man, Artifice, Silence is a Burden – The Canal Club
Hopefully if this festival becomes a yearly event, groups in other genres can be included in the lineup which would create a more diverse selection of artists and by doing so, bring in a lot more people.
In any case, the RVA Music Fest will be the place to be this weekend. Go and enjoy live local music.
