Elle Cota, Contributing Writer
What is Richmond without live music? Luckily, we won’t have to figure that out anytime soon.
On any given night, Richmond offers something for nearly every kind of listener, from loud punk shows to experimental projects that truly come alive on stage. The hardest part is not finding a show, but choosing which room to be in.
This roundup offers a cross-section of what’s playing across RVA, spanning genres, venues and price points — offering listeners a chance to explore different corners of the city’s music scene.
For fans of alternative and indie, Dials Dials Dials offers a performance built for movement. The two-person project blends what frontman Milo McAdams describes as experimental jungle, pulling from a range of influences that resist easy labels.
“Especially in the Richmond scene, people just like weird stuff,” McAdams said.
That openness is why the project works best consumed live, McAdams said. The focus shifts from categorizing the music to responding to it.
While McAdams does not want to define how audiences should react, he ultimately landed on one expectation.
“It’s dancing. It’s very much dancing. It’s always dancing,” McAdams said.
Dials Dials Dials is scheduled to perform Jan. 25 at the Camel at 8 p.m. for $15. And if that is not enough, line up to another show set for Feb. 4 at Gallery 5 at 8 p.m. for $10.
Those looking for something louder will want to catch Ultra Bleach, a four-piece punk band with high-energy shows, disliking the descriptor egg punk, but embracing it at the same time.
“All these people just moving around, mashing, jumping, dancing, you know, incredible energy. This is the best feeling,” Ultra Bleach guitarist Bobby Barrow said.
Describing the difference between performing live and pre-recorded is like night and day, said Barrow. He said live performances are a shared exchange of energy between the band and the audience, fueled by constant movement.
Barrow hopes audiences come in and leave energized and inspired.
“I just want people to have lots of fun and to feel excited and a little sweaty, because they dance so much, and a little bit scared,” Ultra Bleach’s Grace Smith said, their lead vocalist. She described the band as a labor of fun and love.
Ultra Bleach performs Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Greenhouse. Those interested in attending can reach out to the band or the venue for location details.
For listeners more interested in electronic and DJ-driven performances, Shartchan, more formally known as Maeve Hickey, offers dance-heavy sets built around experimentation and freedom.
Describing her music broadly as dance music, pulling from fast-paced, upbeat tracks while occasionally leaning into harder, more aggressive sounds and playful selections.
Rather than focusing on genre, Hickey’s priority is to create a judgment-free environment where people feel comfortable letting go. Crowd energy often shapes how her sets unfold, according to Hickey.
“I just want people to be able to bounce up and down and just feel really free during the sets,” Hickey said.
Hickey is set to perform Feb. 6 at Odin’s Underground, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Those seeking details can contact her or the venue directly. Along with a show the very next day Feb. 7 at 7515 Brook Rd at 9 p.m. for $8.
Get up, get out and experience these bands along with all your friends!
Upcoming Shows
January
- Jan. 23 — Division of Mind, Eliminators, Lose Sight and No Paradise | The Camel | 9 p.m. | $15
- Jan. 23 — Jazz night with Roger Carroll & many others | Gallery 5 | 7 p.m. | FREE
- Jan. 24 — Destruct, Private Hell, Blazing Tomb, Earth to Heaven and Siphon | Bandito’s Burrito Lounge | 7:30 p.m. | $5
- Jan. 25 — Added Color, Velvet Ruin and Dials Dials Dials | The Camel | 7 p.m. | $12
- Jan. 26 — Slow Degrade, The Missing Peace, and Cheem | The Camel | 7 p.m. | $14
- Jan. 29 — Bad Sleep Well, Back Up Kid and The Francines | Gallery 5 | 7 p.m. | $12
- Jan. 30 — Art School, Ultra Bleach and Molt | The Greenhouse (Reach out to bands or venue) | 7 p.m. | $5
February
- Feb. 6 — Shartchan, Pomegranate Disco, Machete and SLAAT | Odins Underground (Reach out to artists or venue) | 7:30 p.m. | $10 pre-sale $15 DOS
- Feb. 7 — Shartchan, Ozo, Trapcry, Three Brained Robot, This Man May Die and Squish | 7515 Brook Rd | 9 p.m. | $8
Feb. 20 — Dials Dials Dials, Penny Loafer, Roslin and SleepyGoLucky | Gallery 5 | 8 p.m. | $10