Richmond, Virginia is a city with an incredible breadth of creative talent. Within its influential arts community are the musicians, bands, and venues that create inspiring music and put on memorable performances. Although it is a smaller city, Richmond is unique in its wealth of musical talent. And yet, these individuals and groups often struggle to build their brands and be appreciated. Without access to a communal spotlight, it can be difficult for artists to share their music with their neighbors, let alone the world.
You can find all styles and genres of music being played somewhere in Richmond on any given night. The artists in Richmond come from an incredible diversity of backgrounds and bring experiences that make the scene vibrant. There are also many organizations and people who help promote artists’ work. Writers at outlets like The Auricular and HearRVA give us a deeper understanding of the developments in the scene. The performance streaming of Shockoe Sessions gives live audience members and viewers an intimate look into their favorite artists’ music. Organizations like CultureWorks organize and raise awareness for local events that further strengthen Richmond’s music community. Each day we discover a new group bringing more attention to emerging artists.
our work
In late 2023, Small Venue Music joined the efforts to highlight the artists and venues that make the Richmond music scene so special. One of the ways we’ve done this is through our groundbreaking Music Made HereTM campaign. We’ve partnered with dozens of incredible solo artists, bands, and venue owners to build an innovative platform that showcases talent, fosters connections, and further strengthens a unique, tight-knit music community right here in our hometown.
Richmond Artists
To help make that possible, we’ve created inspiring media products and original content while growing our partners’ audience alongside our own. There are so many amazing musicians in Richmond, and we have a desire to help them tell their stories of the incredible music they create. With increased reach, we’ve been able to shine a light on many of the most talented musicians in Richmond. We go to great lengths to ensure that our photoshoots, web designs, and social media products align with the values of our partners and authentically represent their brands and music.
Richmond Venues
Along the way we decided to also highlight the venues that make performances possible. It’s in our name, and we believe that the small venues here in town are essential in fostering creative talent. Richmond has a large quantity of amazing small music venues that enable artists of all genres to express themselves and showcase their work. For a smaller city, Richmond punches well above its weight in the number of local venues that provide necessary infrastructure for performances across genres and styles. Whether you’re new to the music scene or have played in town for decades, Richmond’s venue owners provide opportunities for artists to put their stamp on the local scene.
get involved
Our Music Made HereTM campaign allowed us to build a web and social media presence that distributes original content and insights on the Richmond music scene from our partners. We found that regardless of how long someone has been involved in making music or putting on shows, there is a consistent appreciation for Richmond’s musical strength. Here at Small Venue Music, we feel incredibly fortunate to be able to showcase local talent, elevate the experiences of musicians and venue owners, and share amazing stories with those who are passionate about local culture. If you’re a musician, venue owner, organization or publication, or just fan of Richmond music of any style, please click below to join us in our journey.