Its that busy season in Richmond when it is truly difficult to keep up with everything happening…in addition to the Oregon Hill Fall Festival on Saturday…

Also, Blue Sky Fund Hike…

Its that busy season in Richmond when it is truly difficult to keep up with everything happening…in addition to the Oregon Hill Fall Festival on Saturday…

Also, Blue Sky Fund Hike…



Adam Hopkins
From Richmond Public Library website:
Local jazz legends Adam Hopkins, Scott Clark, and Rinatt Montoya will perform improvised solo sets this Saturday at the Main Library. Hopkins is a bass player with a rare combination of contact and power. He can go yard or back up the middle. His utility player approach has enabled him to work with Tomeka Reid, Henry Threadgill, and a host of heavy hitters. Clark is a drummer who paints the corners. His patient, deliberate approach keeps the listener off balance, unable to guess what’s coming next. Rinatt Montoya is a guitarist in the mold of Frisell and Frith, combining precession technique with glitchy madness. He is a lockdown closer with elite swing and miss stuff. Experience Richmond’s unique independent spirit inside of your favorite local library!
Date:
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time:
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location:
Gellman Room – Main Library

Ricky And The White Boys, outside their practice space at 809 Idlewood Avenue; c 1977.
Pictured are: Boo Smith, Bruce Terrell, Ralph Harper, Richard Buchanan, Craig Thompson, Jennifer (Cherry Bomb).
Some of the following people & bands lived there at one time or another. They were: Rob Reisinger of NY Dux; Jennifer (Cherry Bomb); Richard Buchanan of Ricky and the White Boys; White Cross, Red Cross [the forerunner to White Cross]; Dennis Madigan and Tom Zimmerman “Z” of Crossbreed, which later became X-Breed; John Hall; Bruce Terrell (Ricky And The White Boys/Boys From Skateland); Inquisition lived there from ‘91-‘96 and practiced there; Thomas Barnett (Inquisition/Strike Anywhere); Maurice Garrett (Single Bullet Theory)
The first band to practice in the basement was Crossbreed which later became X-Breed (Richard, Dennis and Z). Ricky and the White Boys followed. The NY Dux rehearsed there too. Other bands that rehearsed there were the original lineup of Hotel X with Julie O, Deke and Neil and Always August (on occasion); KAL-KAN
White Cross was formed in Richmond in 1980, the members were, Richard “Crispy” Cranmer, Mike Rodriguez, Alford Faulkner, and Scotty Price. Other members of the band were, Pen Rollings, Dewey Rowell. The band was together from 1980-1985. The band originally called themselves Red Cross. They changed the name to White Cross after being served a cease-and-desist order from the American Red Cross organization. At the time cheap little speed pills called white crosses were popular with the more enlightened citizenry. So, that’s why the name White Cross was chosen, certainly not for any religious purposes. White Cross played often in and around the Richmond area. Alford Faulkner left the band not long after the name change. He would later play with The Prevaricators. The band released a few records, opened for big-name U.S. and U.K. punk bands, and toured cross-country before its members moved on, joining Unseen Force, Mudd Helmut and GWAR. Reunited in fall 2009 for the Benny-fit show, White Cross then performed with Tommy Rodriguez replacing his brother Mike on guitar, and Greta Brinkman instead of Rowell on bass. Greta became a founding member of the well-known punk bands Unseen Force and Four Walls Falling, and she played bass with Kal Kan, The Hurly Gurlies, and Dead Blind Gone. Sources: Photo: Unknown; Thomas Bailey; Michael Maurice Garrett; Thomas Barnett
(Editor’s note: This was posted by Christopher B. Coleman on the ‘Old Images Of Richmond’ FaceBook group and is reposted here with permission.)


Louisiana band Baby, It’s the 90’s serenaded Oregon Hill yesterday evening at Mocha Mart convenience store parking lot.

Violinist, sound artist, and composer Mia Zabelka is visiting from Austria:
Saturday, April 18 starting at 2pm:
– Downtown Richmond Public Library: Performing with Elka Bong and CillaVee at 2:00 PM as part of their 2026 Spring Tour.
doors 1:30p music 2:00p
2:00p Mia Zabelka, CillaVee
2:20p Al Margolis, Walter Wright
2:40p Mia Zabelka, Al Margolis, Walter Wright, Cilla Vee
From announcement:
Mia Zabelka will be joined by duo ELKA BONG for an immersive afternoon of experimental sound art!
Saturday’s show is led by Austrian violinist, vocalist, and composer Mia Zabelka, whose radically open practice operates at the intersection of improvisation, composition, performance, and electroacoustic sound art. For this special tour date, Zabelka is joined by the U.S.-based experimental sound art duo ELKA BONG (Al Margolis and Walter Wright), whose deep listening-based approach complements and expands her gestural, embodied sonic language.
Working with acoustic and electric violin, voice, electronics, found objects, and noise-based materials, Zabelka’s method of automatic playing bypasses conscious control, allowing sound to emerge from reflex, memory, and physical impulse. In dialogue with ELKA BONG’s attention to texture, space, silence, and sonic micro-events, the performance unfolds as a constantly shifting environment in which composed structures and open-ended improvisation coexist.

It’s a big night for local music- GWAR is at The National, and two of Richmond’s other best music groups are playing right here in Oregon Hill at the Mocha Mart convenience store. Expect a crowd on Idlewood this evening. I will see you on aisle #3…

While Oregon Hill neighbors are organizing caroling for this Saturday evening, the Grace & Holy Trinity Church is hosting caroling in Monroe Park on Sunday.
“The Greater Richmond Children’s Choir, Hood Temple Music Ministry, RVA Street Singers, Grace & Holy Trinity Vocal Ensemble, and a brass quintet will lead Christmas carols for this fifth annual holiday event. There will be a holiday market, food trucks, and fun children’s activities starting at 3:00 p.m. The brass quintet music will begin at 4:15 p.m. with caroling following at 4:30 p.m.”
By the way, if you are not a fan of traditional holiday fare, you may want to check out this playlist by David Byrne, who had a show at the Altria Theater earlier this year-
https://www.davidbyrne.com/radio/david-byrne-radio-presents-christmas
October is a busy month for Oregon Hill…
October 10-12, is the Richmond Folk Festival.
From the website blurb:
The Richmond Folk Festival is one of Virginia’s largest events, drawing visitors from all over the country to downtown Richmond’s historic riverfront. The Festival is a FREE three-day event that got its start as the National Council for the Traditional Arts’ National Folk Festival, held in Richmond from 2005-2007. The Richmond Folk Festival features performing groups representing a diverse array of cultural traditions on six stages.

But also, Richmond Zine Fest, a two-day event.
From website…
On day one, Friday October 10th from 12 PM – 5 PM (note: this is has been changed since the printing of the poster) is ONLY programming aka workshops, presentations, dialogues, and opportunities to learn something new. The programs are held in the basement of the library.
Day two is Saturday, October 11th from 10 AM – 4:30 PM, and this is the big vendor day that is recognizably “zine fest” to the average attendee. We take over multiple spaces on the first floor and the basement levels of the library with exhibitors that have produced zines for purchase and/or trade. Please see our section on zine fest etiquette for tips about how to engage with tablers and what is inappropriate.
Masks are required for all participants in Richmond Zine Fest.
Don’t forget that for Richmond Public Schools, October 13 is Divison-wide Professional Learning Day (Student Holiday) and October 20 is Diwali holiday and RPS are closed.
“An Evening With David Byrne – Who is the Sky tour” is at the Altria Theater on October 14th.
There is supposed to be another No Kings protest march on October 18th but details are hazy at this time. Maybe a march to or from Monroe Park.

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Little Feat are playing the corporate amphitheater on Oct. 21.
Neighborhood block party:

And, Friday, October 31st.. the 20th anniversary edition of the All the Saints Theater Company Halloween Parade through Oregon Hill.