Sounds of RVA’s Guide to Richmond and Virginia Music Festivals 2013
Usually at this time every year (early February), I immerse myself in all things that have to do with summer. While music festivals aren’t relegated to just summertime, I tend to associate them with summer the most. The camping is comfortable, the nights are long, and the drum circles are constant. Here is Sounds of RVA’s 2013 Guide to Virginia Music Festivals.
Before I begin, let it be known that there are Richmond bands who play at other festivals outside of Virginia. Camp Barefoot, All Good, we’re looking at you. We’ve got to make the cutoff somewhere, though, and everywhere in Virginia is within a day’s worth of driving time. We have also separated the Richmond festivals from the other festivals of Virginia. We will update this list as more festivals/band lineups get added. Please e-mail SoundsofRVA@gmail.com for any additions or changes.
I look at pictures from summers past, I break out the swim suits and pop open a cold one with a Sounds of RVA coozie.
Pizza Freek - Create a Cartoon You
To be completely honest, we’re not totally 100% sure who Pizza Freek is. We’re not even sure if they’re from the right Richmond. But this band has just dropped a pretty cool pop album called Create a Cartoon You. The first song, “Time Proof Spaces,” is pretty infectious and synthy.
If anyone has more info on these guys, please e-mail soundsofrva@gmail.com, comment here, or use my ask button.
Now I’ve got to call Belmont Pizzeria because I am seriously craving some za.
Wrinkle Neck Mules - “Central Daylight Time”
This song might sound familiar if you’ve seen one of the recent Geico commercials. The Gecko does a little two-steppin’ in a country western bar - the background music is none other than RVA’s Wrinkle Neck Mules!
WNM have a new album coming out in February called Apprentice to Ghosts. It looks like they will be playing at least three shows - although none of them in Richmond.
2/24 - The Southern, Charlottesville
2/25 - The Berkeley Cafe, Raleigh
2/26 - Taphouse on Queensway, Hampton
Update from Gull - New Merch Added to Donation Incentives
Loincloth - Iron Balls of Steel
Listen to Loincloth’s new album BEFORE its release (on Southern Lord Records) on 1/17!
NO Hands - “Wild in the Crosshairs”
RVA’s NO Hands are looking for a DRUMMER! The rockers have shared the stage with Lightfields, The Dream Machine, After Nasa, Baby Help Me Forget and The Shooter McGavins. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining, hit them up!
Bryce McCormick - “Faithful, Mindless, Chaos”
Since it’s January, have any of you started one of those 365 projects? Bryce McCormick wanted to write a song a day, every day for a year. From there he narrowed his songs down to the best few, and the album Let It Go came into view. Producer Trey Pollard, who is a very busy bee, engineered the album and contributed various accompaniment (pedal steel, banjo, etc.) and string arrangement.
I chose this track because it’s very reminiscent of Steely Dan, one of my favorite bands in the entire world. Smooth and layered, yet with a driven bass-line and off-kilter time signatures. It’s brilliant even in its short jam near the end of the track. Donald Fagen is jealous he didn’t write this.
You can see/hear Bryce McCormick perform for FREE (21+, 8:30 pm) on Jan. 14 @ Capital Ale House w/ special guest Daniel Clarke.
Carytown, RVA woman playing hammered dulcimer on Christmas eve, 2011
Ear Theory - “Bliss”
Ear Theory (pictured below) just dropped the new single, “Bliss,” from their upcoming album in January. Chill out to this ish. Their album release show is January 19 @ Strange Matter with:
Ghost Owls (RVA psych)
Raintree (Charlottesville emo)
Those Manic Seas (RVA post-rock)
