City Guide
Richmond
Where Punk Never Died
Richmond's music scene doesn't follow trends—it creates them and then burns them down. From the chaos of GWAR to the grit of Strike Anywhere, this is where punk, metal, and DIY culture thrive without apology. The city that birthed some of hardcore's most uncompromising acts remains fiercely independent, proudly weird, and utterly essential.
What makes Richmond special isn't just the bands—it's the infrastructure. Decades of basement shows, legendary venues like The Broadberry and Strange Matter, and record stores like Steady Sounds have built a self-sustaining ecosystem. Richmond doesn't need validation from coastal cities. It's too busy making the music that will influence those cities in five years.
The Music Scene
Richmond punches way above its weight class in American music. For a mid-sized Southern city, it's produced an absurd roster: GWAR, Lamb of God, Municipal Waste, Strike Anywhere, Avail, Carbon Leaf, and D'Angelo. That range—from neo-soul genius to thrash metal legends—shows Richmond's refusal to be pigeonholed.
The punk and hardcore scene is the city's beating heart. Richmond hardcore isn't nostalgic—it's current, vital, and constantly regenerating. Bands like Pg. 99 and Majority Rule pioneered screamo and chaotic hardcore that influenced an entire generation. The legacy continues with newer acts keeping the basements packed.
Metal runs deep here. Lamb of God became one of the biggest metal bands in the world without compromising Richmond's edge. Municipal Waste brought thrash back when nobody asked for it. The city's metal scene is blue-collar, unpretentious, and ferociously talented.
But Richmond isn't all aggression. D'Angelo's Voodoo, recorded partly in Richmond, remains one of neo-soul's masterpieces. Matthew E. White and his Spacebomb Records brought lush, orchestral soul-pop that sounds nothing like the punk scene but somehow makes perfect sense here. Lucy Dacus emerged from Richmond's indie scene to critical acclaim.
The DIY ethos is non-negotiable. House shows, all-ages venues, artist-run spaces—Richmond builds its own stages when mainstream venues won't have it. This keeps the scene accessible, diverse, and constantly feeding new talent into the ecosystem.
Record Stores
Richmond's record stores reflect the city's independent streak—curated, opinionated, and essential.
Plan 9 Music (multiple locations) is a Richmond institution since 1981. Massive selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, and local band merchandise. The Carytown location is the main hub—plan to spend hours.
Deep Groove Records in Carytown focuses on soul, funk, jazz, and hip-hop. If you're digging for breaks or searching for rare groove, this is your spot.
Crossroads Records offers a curated selection across genres. Great for finding local Richmond bands and underground releases.
For hardcore and punk specifically, hit the merch tables at shows—Richmond bands press vinyl and cassettes that disappear fast. The stores carry local stuff, but direct from the source is how you find the rare pressings.
Records & Relics RVA
2704 E Marshall St
Deep Groove Records
317 N Robinson St
Vinyl Conflict Record Store
300 E Grace St
Wax Moon Vinyl and Video
1310 Altamont Ave
Audio Exchange
6007 W Broad St
Crossroads Records
9200 Stony Point Pkwy STE 191
Live Music Venues
Richmond's venues range from legendary clubs to basement DIY spaces, all essential to the ecosystem.
The Broadberry on West Broad Street is the city's premier mid-sized venue (capacity ~500). National touring acts stop here—indie, punk, metal, hip-hop. Formerly known as The National, it's been hosting shows since the early 2000s under various names.
Strange Matter (now closed but legendary) was Richmond's dive bar venue for punk and indie. Shows were sweaty, packed, and unforgettable. Its spirit lives on in newer DIY spaces.
The Camel on West Broad brings indie rock, folk, and Americana to an intimate room. Low-key vibe, great sound, local and touring acts.
The Capitol and Altria Theater handle larger productions—big national tours, legacy acts, and events needing serious capacity.
The DIY basement and warehouse scene is where the magic happens. Venues come and go by necessity, but the network is strong. Follow local bands on social media to find shows—addresses posted day-of, cash at the door, BYOB. This is where Richmond's future legends cut their teeth.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and other breweries host regular live music—more relaxed than the clubs, but still showcasing local talent.
Music History & Legends
Richmond's music history is a story of doing it yourself when nobody else would. In the 1980s, GWAR formed as an art collective and became a global phenomenon through sheer absurdity and work ethic. They built their legacy from Richmond basements, not industry support.
The 1990s hardcore explosion put Richmond on the map for punk. Avail, Inquisition, and Denali toured relentlessly, building a national reputation for Richmond hardcore. Labels like Jade Tree Records and Dischord released Richmond bands, connecting the city to the broader punk underground.
2000s chaos brought Pg. 99, Majority Rule, and the "screamo" movement. These bands were abrasive, experimental, and emotionally raw—Richmond at its most uncompromising. The influence on modern post-hardcore is undeniable.
Metal's rise happened in parallel. Lamb of God went from Richmond clubs to headlining international festivals. Municipal Waste brought thrash back with tongue-in-cheek fury. Both bands stayed connected to Richmond even as they conquered the world.
Meanwhile, Spacebomb Records emerged in the 2010s with a completely different vision—lush, orchestral soul and pop. Matthew E. White's Big Inner and later work with Natalie Prass showed Richmond could do sophisticated, beautiful music alongside the chaos.
D'Angelo recorded much of Voodoo at Richmond's former Sound of Music studio, cementing the city's connection to neo-soul's peak era.
Neighborhoods for Music Lovers
The Fan District is Richmond's cultural heart. Victorian rowhouses, dive bars, coffee shops, and a walkable grid. Strange Matter was here (RIP), and the neighborhood still pulses with music-adjacent nightlife. Great for staying central to the action.
Carytown is the commercial strip—Plan 9 Music, Deep Groove Records, vintage shops, restaurants, and bars. It's the spot for afternoon record shopping before a show. Parking can be tight on weekends.
Scott's Addition is the brewery district. Hardywood, The Veil, and others host live music alongside craft beer. It's gentrified quickly but remains a hub for shows and hanging out.
Jackson Ward is historically Black and culturally rich. The Hippodrome Theater anchors the neighborhood. It's where Richmond's soul and R&B history lives, though gentrification is an ongoing tension.
Church Hill offers a more residential vibe with killer views of downtown. Less music infrastructure but close enough to everything by bike or car.
The Perfect Music Day
Morning: Start at Plan 9 Music in Carytown. Dig through vinyl for an hour—grab local band releases while you're at it.
Afternoon: Head to Carytown and spend time browsing Deep Groove Records. Grab lunch at one of the neighborhood spots, then check out Crossroads Records nearby.
Late Afternoon: If it's nice out, grab a beer at Hardywood or The Veil in Scott's Addition. Check if there's live music on the patio.
Evening: Catch a show at The Broadberry or The Camel—check schedules in advance. If there's a DIY show happening, follow the band's social for details and show up with cash.
Pro tip: Richmond's music scene is friendly but no-nonsense. Show up, buy merch, support the bands. The city respects those who put in.
Your Route
Practical Info
Best time to visit: Spring and fall for comfortable weather. Summer gets hot and humid, but outdoor brewery shows are great. Winter is quieter but venues stay active.
Getting around: Car is easiest for hitting multiple neighborhoods. The Fan and Carytown are walkable once you're there. Street parking is free in most areas but watch for permit zones.
Where to stay: The Graduate Richmond (formerly The Jefferson Hotel annex) is walkable to The Fan. Airbnbs in The Fan or Carytown put you in the middle of the action.
Local tip: Richmond's food scene rivals its music scene—don't skip meals. And if you see a basement show advertised, go. That's where Richmond's future is happening right now.