RVA Shows You Must See This Week: June 24 – June 30
FEATURED SHOW
Friday, June 26, 8 PM
Reveler Cabaret: Rodeo Edition, feat. Qing Blaze, Martha Spencer & The Wonderland Country Band @ Reveler Experiences – $35 (order tickets HERE)
As Pride Month 2026 draws to a close, it’s been good to see that the culture around the LGBTQ community continues to grow and diversify. Sure, you still get the big Pride festivals headlined by a disco singer who had a big gay club hit back in the 80s — gotta make the Gen X guys wanna shake their booties. But there’s just a lot more going on than that these days, and it’s spreading out in every direction in the music world, from indie-punk bands to pop singers to metallic hardcore. And it’s even going country, as seen in the establishment of the monthly Queer Country nights organized by Acelia and Johanna Wacker at The Camel… and this Pride month edition of the Reveler Cabaret at what is perhaps the most interesting venue in the city, Reveler Experiences in Carytown. Called “Pride goes country” in the promotional material, this evening’s entertainment mixes queer burlesque and performance art of the sort that you might expect at an evening like this with some classic old-school country. And I’m sure there are just as many queers in Richmond who will be excited about this as there would be who’d want to dance to “Funkytown” or “Show Me Love” one more time — perhaps more!
The country music on the evening’s program is provided by country singer-songwriter Martha Spencer and her Wonderland Country Band. Spencer comes from the Blue Ridge Mountains in western Virginia and grew up in a musical family, where she learned several instruments — guitar, fiddle, banjo, and more. She released her first solo album in 2018, and her most recent is Out In La La Land, an album of classic Nashville sounds that could have been recorded by Chet Atkins or Owen Bradley back in RCA Studio A when my mom was still a kid. Vocally, she’s at times a dead ringer for Brenda Lee, and at other times reminds me of Patsy Cline. Her songs all have an upbeat shuffling energy that’s great for dancing with your sweetheart on a Friday night in Carytown. I’m sure a fair few couples of all genders will cut a rug during Martha Spencer’s set on this fine evening.
The rest of the evening will feature all sorts of different performances in the realm of burlesque, all under the control of the evening’s master of ceremonies, the redoubtable Qing Blaze. This hometown hero’s drag/burlesque performances push the boundaries of stage performance as they are typically understood, in order to captivate audiences with gender-bending grandeur and brilliance. As the ringleader of this whole evening, he’ll command the attention of the crowd and wow all comers with his stage presence. Expect plenty of entertainment from the other burlesque, vaudeville, and variety-show sorts of acts on this bill as well. This evening will be a festival for the senses, a country-queer extravaganza, and a great way to wrap up the last weekend of Pride Month 2026. It’d be a shame if you missed it. So hey — don’t.
Wednesday, June 24, 7 PM
Weird Nightmare, Cor De Lux, Jupiter Shrines @ Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House – $24.22 (order tickets HERE)
If you ever checked out Canadian noise-rock trio METZ during their two decades or so of activity, I’m sure you came away thinking of them as a less than melodic project. It’s fair — their records hit hard, go heavy on the distortion, and are full of yelled vocals with no melody to them at all. However, the same cannot be said for METZ guitarist/vocalist Alex Edkins’ new band, Weird Nightmare. On their new album, Hoopla, this Toronto-based ensemble brings us a delightful power-pop sound that is filled with charming melodies and jangly guitars of the sort you could expect from Paisley Underground bands of the 80s (think Rain Parade or Dream Syndicate), as well as the more power-pop adjacent bands of the post-Nirvana era, especially Teenage Fanclub, The Posies, and Velvet Crush. There are even classic 60s pop-rock vibes here at times — the Beatles and Brian Wilson are not far-fetched references by any means.
So maybe this isn’t what you expect from the METZ guy. But let me tell you, it’s great — and what’s more, even if you loved the noise-rock stuff his previous band did, you’re not gonna be dissatisfied by Alex Edkins’ more melodic turn. The guitars still crunch and the riffs still tangle, even as the lovely vocal harmonies add a new element to the proceedings. Very little of what METZ was is lost here — but so much more is gained. It’s really delightful… especially for something called Weird Nightmare. Outer Banks quartet Cor De Lux are also on the bill, and their sound has a bit more of a postpunk twist to it, but should vibe well for those who love the noisier, more off-kilter stuff without losing the melody lovers in any way shape or form. Richmond newcomers Jupiter Shrines open this one up with some lo-fi three-chord jangle punk. Have fun and rock out, kids.
Thursday, June 25, 6 PM
Richmond Community Legal Fund First Anniversary Black Out Party, feat. Artschool, Girlspit, The Disco Cat @ Studio Two Three – $5-$100 donations requested (Order tickets HERE)
There’s just no way to ignore it in this era of the second Trump Administration — last time as tragedy, this time as darkest-of-dark farce — our civil rights are at risk. The people running this country want it to work for them and only them. And for those of us who have little money, an insecure position in society, or both, the refuge the law is supposed to provide can often feel completely inaccessible. This is why organizations like Richmond Community Legal Fund exist — and why they need to keep existing. Amazingly enough, RCLF have only been in existence for one year, but they’ve gotten a lot of positive work done in this city, covering almost half a million dollars in legal fees for folks dealing with immigration and civil rights cases — paying bonds, finding legal representation for those without, and helping families left without other means of support.
This Black Out Party for RCLF’s first anniversary is happening so that we, the community, can help RCLF keep things going and get even more done in the fight for civil rights and justice. And it’s being run in a manner that respects the fact that some can give more than others. If you’re really hurting for cash, you can get in for $5, or even for free. But if you have the ability to contribute more heavily to the cause, you can contribute up to $100 to the cause in order to make your good time have an impact beyond just rocking out on a Thursday night. And by the way, let’s be clear: you will rock out. Local political punk sensations Artschool are riding high off their amazing new album, Nuclear Sons, and their set is guaranteed to make you fall in love with their memorable mix of a variety of moods and sounds. And of course, feminist synth-punk heroes Girlspit will rock us all with killer grooves, banging beats, and amazing anthems. Local turntable junkie, WRIR DJ, and crate-digger extraordinaire The Disco Cat will round out the evening with an expert selection of killer tunes for a good cause. Pay what you can, and dance all you want, because Richmond Community Legal Fund is here to fight for you, and if that’s not a cause for celebration, I don’t know what is.
Friday, June 26, 8 PM
Dark Thoughts, Gnostics, Service Weapon, Subversas @ Bandito’s – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Richmond is a vibrant city with plenty of lovely neighborhoods and beautiful places to spend your time, and as a result, it has become a place where music of all kinds thrives. But I got to this city over 30 years ago, and back then, not gonna lie, it was kinda rough. And at that time, only the kinds of music that thrive in the rougher places were really making much of a place for themselves here. That’s why the soundtrack for my first five or so years in Richmond was pretty much all hardcore and punk rock. Bandito’s is hardly the sort of grotty club or sleazy dive bar those bands would play in back then, but it’s the closest this city really has left now that Strange Matter has been gone for eight fucking years. And of course, it’s one of the most reliable venues in this city for returning Richmond to its roots and putting on a straight-up classic hardcore punk show. This Friday night, they’re doing exactly that. And I for one am stoked.
The evening is headlined by Philadelphia ragers Dark Thoughts, who know how to put the pedal to the metal and crank out some classic high-speed hardcore punk. On their album Highway To The End, they tear through 11 songs in 16 minutes without ever making any of them feel underdeveloped or less than fully realized. The guitars slash and snarl, the vocals carry a strong melodic undercurrent, and the drummer keeps the pace accelerated like Tommy Ramone pounding out “Blitzkrieg Bop.” Things go to a decidedly darker place with Richmonders Gnostics, a trio that cranks out some grungy, grotty dungeon crust riffage with snarling vocals and an ambience that makes you feel like you’ve crawled into a cave with a not-quite-human tour guide. I still haven’t managed to see local hardcore punk crew Service Weapon, so I’m not really sure what they’ve got to add to the proceedings, since they have no recordings online, but I’m expecting tough, powerful hardcore punk. And of course, Subversas will open things up with some snarling angry three-chord old-school punk that mixes Discharge and Naked Aggression into a classic Scandinavian hardcore stew. Get ready to start a pit at this one — or for someone else to. Because it’s happening.
Saturday, June 27, 8 PM
Dusty Rug, Charm Offensive, Artschool, Heavy Friends @ The Camel – $12 in advance, $15 day of show (order tickets HERE)
Here’s a good rule for understanding the Richmond music scene circa 2026: there’s always a lot more going on than you think or see. If you’ve found some good shows, a good scene, some cool sounds… guaranteed there’s 10 times as much more out there still to discover. And I talk about that in the column regularly, because no one’s been paying more attention to this city’s music scene over the past 30 years than I have, and still sometimes bands and even entire scenes come out of nowhere and slap me across the face with their obvious brilliance. Take Dusty Rug, a band I’ve barely heard of before the announcement of their just-released third album, Sweet Release. OK, I have a legitimate excuse for not noticing them until they were three albums in — they moved to Richmond from all the way out in Flagstaff, Arizona between the release of their second and third albums. But now that they’re here, we need to all recognize that the high southwest desert’s loss is our gain. Because this band rules.
Dusty Rug’s Sweet Release is a great encapsulation of what they do best, mixing stoner-adjacent psychedelia a la Monster Magnet with crunchier guitars and moody alt-rock riffage that lands closer to Queens of the Stone Age at times and early Tame Impala at others. There are even elements of The Wipers stirred in here, which I imagine were filtered down to these guys through Nirvana — but hey, good enough. Sweet Release is a great listen if you love evocative rock n’ roll energy that pushes past the usual confines of genre to take things in a unique direction. At The Camel this Saturday night, Dusty Rug will show us all exactly why we should be glad they’ve made Richmond their home. You should definitely be there and find out firsthand. The show will feature a support set from powerful Richmond indie-rock combo Charm Offensive, whose recent singles are sharper than knives and just as pretty. Artschool will make their second column appearance of the week, bringing a melange of political punk styles to the Camel with aplomb. And Heavy Friends will set the mood with their punchy rock n’ roll force. Get stoked for this one.
Sunday, June 28, 7 PM
Drastic Plastic, Gleex, Shagg Carpet, Morpha Too @ Cobra Cabana – $12
Cap off your weekend with an evening of frantic punk at Cobra Cabana, as Lawrence Kansas quintet Drastic Plastic comes through town with a killer synth-driven sound that is sorta like that modern post-Devo “egg punk” vibe but at other times makes me think of the Screamers or even weird early 80s new wave types like Thomas Dolby… only hyped up on speed. This band’s debut EP is a speed-demon ripper of a fun time, and despite the synths leaving an unmistakable impression on the music as a whole, guitars and drums are what really drives things for Drastic Plastic, meaning they’ll get all but the most closed-minded of punks excited to pogo around like maniacs.
The rest of this show will get everyone pretty hyped too, thanks to the presence of three Richmond-based punk bands fueled by a brilliant sort of nervousness. First of all, there’s Gleex, the lo-fi punk phenomenon full of synth squiggles and tape hiss, whose side of their recent split tape with Gusher has definitely caught some ears locally. Then there’s Shagg Carpet, whose mix of programmed beats and jackhammering guitars makes you simultaneously want to do a disco dance and go hard in the pit. Reconcile those conflicting notions however you want, but rest assured, your feet will be moving during this band’s set. Finally, there’s Morpha Too, who get points from me despite never having heard their music because they named themselves after one of the lesser-known highlights of Big Star’s amazing catalogue. So yeah, come to Cobra Cabana for this and burn off your nervous energy before you’ve gotta get back to work Monday morning. Trust me, you need it.
Monday, June 29, 7 PM
Teiku @ Reveler Experiences – $15 (order tickets HERE)
Props as always to Secret Planet, a local booking organization who find artists from all over the world who specialize in international forms of music that don’t usually appear in Richmond at all… and recruits them to come to Reveler and delight us all with their sounds from around the world. Their latest discovery, Teiku, is actually not from another part of the world at all, having originated in Brooklyn. However, this quartet created by pianist Josh Harlow and drummer Jonathan Baharal certainly brings in other forms of music from a completely different part of the world. Harlow and Baharal both come from Jewish-Ukrainian families who sang unique melodies each year at Passover that neither ever heard anywhere else. When the two of them met, they decided to do a group together that could capture those melodies and bring them to the world in a new way.
Thus, Teiku was born, a band with origins in multiple wartorn cultures, and a strong consciousness of where they come from. Recruiting bassist Jaribu Shahid and bass clarinetist Jason Stein, the quartet began adapting classic Jewish folk melodies through a prism of jazz, ritual, and musical improvisation, to create a sound that changes with every piece but is always fascinating. Their most recent album, Klang, finds them veering from classic post-Dave Brubeck odd time signature-jazz into foreboding moments of atmosphere and then back into a whole different take on jazz. How this will all be framed live is anyone’s guess, but there’s no doubt that this performance by Teiku will be both eye-opening and mind-cleansing. Prepare yourself.
Tuesday, June 30, 7:30 PM
Rosette @ Shockoe Sessions Live – $20 (order tickets HERE)
I’m on record as really appreciating the mission of local string quartet Rosette, who have made it their mission to take the music of modern classical composers from the dusty lecture halls into the sorts of places normal people go to enjoy music. Combining members of local pop bands with folks who’ve performed with the Richmond Symphony, not only are Rosette making it clear that the sound of a string quartet doesn’t need to be regarded as weird by anyone without season tickets to the symphony, but also that excellent music can still be brought forth from the classical music medium.
The most recent composer featured in their ongoing …So Hot Right Now series was Derrick Skye, whose music Rosette brought to life in various settings around Richmond with six concerts in the month of November 2025. They’ll be returning for an encore presentation to Shockoe Sessions live this Tuesday night, meaning that they will bring back guest double bassist Ayça Kartari to expand their lineup once more and present the full Derrick Skye Is… So Hot Right Now program one more time for posterity on Shockoe Sessions Live. I definitely told you to go to at least one of those shows last fall, but if you didn’t make it to any of them, now’s your time to rectify that error and see what this group really has to offer this entire city’s music scene. Sure, you could stay home and watch the livestream on YouTube, but like… why? Why wouldn’t you want to be in the room yourself, soaking up all the vibes with nothing between you and the music? Why indeed. Shell out the necessary duckets and report to In Your Ear studios this Tuesday, and experience it for yourself, up close and personal.
Email me if you’ve got any tips for me about upcoming shows (that take place after the week this column covers -– this week’s column has obviously already been written): rvamustseeshows@gmail.com
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