Music & Culture

Richmond is a city of surprises. It’s the capital of a state where agriculture is the top industry, but also a thriving metropolitan area with more than 1,000,000 people from all walks of life. From roller derby to farmers markets, marathon training to band practice, Richmonders are all about getting out of the house to meet up with like-minded folks.

Richmond is home to the Science Museum of Virginia, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Historical Society, and the Virginia Holocaust Museum, which educate and entertain Richmonders through full calendars of events and exhibitions.

The greater Richmond area includes a number of ethnic groups that form significant minority communities. Throughout the year, events like the Armenian, Lebanese, and Greek food festivals, the Festival of India, and Que Pasa—a festival celebrating Hispanic cultures—bring together Richmonders from all backgrounds.

Another reason Richmonders come together is to celebrate music. Richmonders love music—at times it seems like everyone in Richmond is in a band of some sort or another. Jazz, bluegrass, and indie are among the most popular styles for local groups, though the varied sounds coming out of the city are beyond categorization. To get a real taste, download the Sounds of Richmond No. 2, the latest free compilation of local music put together by the alternative newspaper Style Weekly.

Among the biggest music events during the year is the Second Street Festival, a jazz and R&B festival in Jackson Ward. During summer months, Richmonders flock to downtown’s Brown’s Island for Friday Cheers, a free concert series featuring regional favorites and national touring acts. In October, the Richmond Folk Festival takes over the river front.

Other major summer music series include Innsbrook Afterhours and Groovin’ in the Garden (at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden). Both feature an impressive list of musicians—the Indigo Girls, Blues Traveler, and Willie Nelson all took the stage this summer.

The newest live music venue downtown is the Hat Factory (located on the canal), though it has serious competition in some of Richmond’s other venues—like The National, Alley Katz, the Canal Club, and the downtown music hall at Capital Ale House.

Visit Richmond.com’s music and nightlife section to find out about upcoming shows.

Festivals

Fall
Richmond Folk Festival
State Fair
Festival of India
Second Street Festival
GardenFest of Lights (Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden)

Winter
French Film Festival
Capital City Kwanzaa Festival

Spring
Easter on Parade
Earth Day Festival
Arts in the Park
Lebanese Food Festival
Greek Festival

Summer
¿Qué Pasa?
Armenian Festival
Watermelon Festival
Richmond Vegetarian Festival
Hanover Tomato Festival
Carib Fest