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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260314T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260314T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T091343
CREATED:20260313T034826Z
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SUMMARY:JOSHUA JENKINS QUARTET
DESCRIPTION:featuring STEEL DRUMS\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWith explosive energy and rhythms that you can’t help but dance to\, this unique quartet places steel drums in the center of mesmerizing fusion of Latin and African music traditions. \n\n\n\nDeeply rooted in the American jazz tradition\, but never ceasing to innovate and experiment\, pianist Joshua Jenkins leans on influences from Brazil\, Cuba\, West Africa and the French Caribbean\, among others. The group will perform original compositions\, as well as unique arrangements of jazz standards and Congolese soukous songs. \n\n\n\nThis special show heavily features the steel pan (also known as steel drum)\, the backbone sound of the iconic Caribbean music from Trinidad and Tobago. Modern steel drums are made from large industrial metal barrels. Some musicians use four pansticks\, holding two in each hand. This grew out of Trinidad and Tobago’s early 20th-century Carnival percussion groups known as tamboo bamboo. The 55-gallon oil drum was used to make steelpans from around 1947. The Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO)\, formed to attend the Festival of Britain in 1951\, was the first steelband whose instruments were all made from oil drums. \n\n\n\nChosen as one of six artists to participate in Strathmore’s Artist in Residence program in 2022-2023\, Joshua has been an active and innovative part of DC’s jazz scene since 2019. With explosive energy and a penchant for performing the music of Latin America and the African diaspora\, Joshua has been playing the piano since he was seven years old\, and began performing in public at the age of twelve. A proud alum of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington\, D.C.\, he holds a Bachelor’s of Music from Temple University\, where he studied classical Piano Performance and Spanish. Alongside fellow Ellington students\, he performed on stage at the Kennedy Center and Strathmore Music Center with artists such as Ledisi\, Patti LaBelle\, and Sting. \n\n\n\nJoshua was the Jazz Ensemble Director of CAAPA (the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts) from 2018 to 2020. He has a keen interest in Afro-Cuban drumming\, and has visited Cuba several times to conduct research and take lessons. As a graduate of the Strathmore Artist in Residence (AIR) program\, he continues to have a strong relationship with that institution and its stunning array of talent. Most recently\, in both May 2025 and February 2026\, Joshua headlined performances at the historic Blues Alley jazz club in Washington\, D.C. \n\n\n\nBeginning in 2023\, Joshua has been the keyboardist for Downtown Tumbao\, a Latin jazz ensemble that mixes contemporary Brazilian\, Afro-Cuban\, and other Pan-American sounds to create a unique fusion.
URL:https://theculturalcurrent.com/event/joshua-jenkins-quartet/
LOCATION:Révéler Experiences\, 3108 W Cary St\, Richmond\, VA\, 23221\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://theculturalcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Joshua-Jenkins.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260314T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260314T220000
DTSTAMP:20260607T091343
CREATED:20260314T013447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260314T013833Z
UID:10000013-1773518400-1773525600@theculturalcurrent.com
SUMMARY:MEKONG XPRESS + THE GET FRESH HORNS
DESCRIPTION:The legendary Richmond supergroup emerges from deep space to bring y’all a galaxy-sized hunk of funk and soul. \n\n\n\nRVA Mag writes: “Mekong Xpress and the Get Fresh Horns are one of Richmond’s grooviest collectives. They’ve bottled all the beauty and funk of the ’70s\, strapped it to a rocket\, and taken us along for the ride. Smooth and drifty\, they make you feel like you’re cruising past stars with the windows down.” \n\n\n\nStyle Weekly writes: “The overall sound has a classic mid-’70s feel\, somewhere in a sonic landscape where early Hall and Oates\, Earth Wind and Fire\, and The Headhunters overlap.” \n\n\n\nThe seven-piece ensemble features all-star players who have shaped the sound of too many iconic groups to mention. This group includes Andrew Rapisarda (guitar\, vocals); Todd Herrington (bass\, vocals); Kelli Strawbridge (drums\, vocals); Ben White (keys\, vocals); Bob Miller (trumpet\, percussion) JC Kuhl (sax); and Toby Whitaker (trombone).
URL:https://theculturalcurrent.com/event/mekong-xpress-the-get-fresh-horns/
LOCATION:Révéler Experiences\, 3108 W Cary St\, Richmond\, VA\, 23221\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://theculturalcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MEKONG-XPRESS-THE-GET-FRESH-HORNS.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260315T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260315T220000
DTSTAMP:20260607T091343
CREATED:20260314T014603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260314T014606Z
UID:10000014-1773601200-1773612000@theculturalcurrent.com
SUMMARY:JAZZ WORKSHOP
DESCRIPTION:A JAM SESSION with MIKE HAWKINS\, DR. WELDON HILL\, and KARL TIETZE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBassist Mike Hawkins leads an inclusive and vibrant jam session that spotlights jazz standards and classics. \n\n\n\nThere are no wrong notes; some are just more right than others.” – Thelonius Monk. \n\n\n\nHosted by jazz bassist\, music educator\, bandleader\, and OMP-member Mike Hawkins\, this is not a “traditional open mic” – but rather a hosted experience curated by OMP. Players of all levels are welcome. The OMP team curates ensembles as the night unfolds – so the bands are different every song and every week! From standards\, to free-form improv\, to vocal classics\, the showcase is a parade of extraordinary performances. \n\n\n\nInstruments provided: drums\, bass and amp\, baby grand piano\, guitar amps. Real Books and music stands are provided. Sound and lights are exceptional. Audience participation is encouraged\, whether you’re dancing in your seat or on your feet. Play some bongos\, have a beer\, and jam with the band. \n\n\n\nMike Hawkins has performed with jazz legends saxophonists Jimmy Heath\, Eric Alexander\, Gary Bartz\, Donald Harrison; pianists Bruce Barth\, Eric Reed\, Mulgrew Miller\, CyrusChestnut\, John Hicks; vocalists Vanessa Rubin\, Leon Thomas\, Carla Cook; vibraharpist Stefon Harris; guitarist Mark Whitfield\, Mark Elf and Russell Malone; drummers Carl Allen\, Ralph Peterson\, Cindy Blackmon; and the trombone and seashells of Steve Turre. Also toured abroad in Japan\, Russia\, Ukraine\, China\, Germany\, Italy\, Canada and Scandinavia.
URL:https://theculturalcurrent.com/event/jazz-workshop/
LOCATION:Révéler Experiences\, 3108 W Cary St\, Richmond\, VA\, 23221\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://theculturalcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mik-Hawkins.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T220000
DTSTAMP:20260607T091343
CREATED:20260314T030408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260314T030410Z
UID:10000015-1773864000-1773871200@theculturalcurrent.com
SUMMARY:FUNK + SOUL PARTY!
DESCRIPTION:A JAM SESSION featuring THEROCHELLE & SIGN ‘O’ THE TIMES\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA weekly jam session celebrating funk\, soul\, and R&B classics hosted by Orbital Music Park\, featuring THEROCHELLE MOORE and her fab band SIGN ‘O’ THE TIMES. \n\n\n\nGet up\, get into it\, and get involved! This weekly show begins with a short set of funk and soul classics. Next up is a jam session\, where players of all levels and instruments are formed into bands that perform their unrehearsed version of a tune pulled at random from a playlist of funk classics and deep cuts. The experience is part show\, part jam session\, and a wall-to-wall dance party. \n\n\n\nPlayers of all levels and instruments are welcome. The OMP team curates ensembles as the night unfolds – so the bands are different every song and every week! Favorite artists include: Prince\, Parliament / Funkadelic\, The Meters\, James Brown\, Aretha Franklin\, The Temptations\, Stevie Wonder\, and Etta James. Instruments provided: drums\, bass and amp\, baby grand piano\, guitar amps\, Hammond organ\, percussion\, and much more. \n\n\n\nAudience participation is encouraged\, whether you’re dancing in your seat or on your feet. Play some bongos\, have a beer\, and jam with the band.
URL:https://theculturalcurrent.com/event/funk-soul-party/
LOCATION:Révéler Experiences\, 3108 W Cary St\, Richmond\, VA\, 23221\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert,Open Mic
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://theculturalcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Therocelle-Sign-O-The-Times.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260321T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260321T170000
DTSTAMP:20260607T091343
CREATED:20260315T180436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260315T180438Z
UID:10000016-1774105200-1774112400@theculturalcurrent.com
SUMMARY:JUSTIN GOLDEN'S RICHMOND RESIDENCY
DESCRIPTION:featuring THE DEVIL’S COATTAILS; R.O. SHAPIRO (San Francisco); and ASHLEY VIRGINIA (NC)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe series is curated by Justin Golden\, an American roots\, Piedmont blues\, and Americana artist based in Richmond. Justin has spent years building a career rooted in traditional blues\, folk\, and country while actively mentoring younger musicians and supporting local arts initiatives. \n\n\n\nJustin Golden’s origins are deeply vested in the blues\, with roots in the Mississippi Delta\, Chicago and the Piedmont of Virginia. Golden has carefully studied country blues\, with influences ranging from Blind Boy Fuller to Taj Mahal to indie guitar. And as a traditional roots music stalwart\, he’s passing the inspiration to youth by teaching them to play as well. His training as an archaeologist has taught him to view music through a historical lens. Studying historic cemetery sites throughout Virginia\, he noted that old burial grounds could be lost within a generation\, which made him realize that the historic memory of music should also be preserved. Since 2016\, Justin has been an instructor of Piedmont Blues Guitar at Augusta Heritage Center’s Blues and Swing Week at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia. While he is keenly versed in traditional styles\, he has an extremely diverse musical palette and brings new ideas to traditional blues forms. \n\n\n\nJustin performs with his Virginia supergroup DEVIL’S COATTAILS\, featuring Trey Burnart Hall (mandolin\, tenor banjo\, electric guitar)\, Chris Gatens (upright bass\, clawhammer banjo) and Drew Barnocky (drums and washboard). Golden has created a sound where country\, blues and bluegrass converge. Together the group has just released Golden Country: Volume 1 to rave reviews. \n\n\n\nIn early 2025\, Justin received a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis\, which significantly limited his ability to tour full-time or maintain a consistent out-of-town performance schedule. Rather than stepping away from music\, Justin redirected his energy into building this concert series — creating space for collaboration\, bringing musical peers to RVA\, and continuing to serve the community through live performance. \n\n\n\nAlso performing: \n\n\n\nR.O. (Raphael Odell) SHAPIRO is a purveyor of original Americana music\, carefully crafted and soulfully sung. He was born in Brooklyn\, NY and grew up in Sag Harbor\, an old whaling town at the very eastern end of Long Island. He started performing at an early age\, first with dance and then musical theater\, before picking up guitar at the end of high school. He attended Yale University\, still focusing on theater\, but spent a lot of his evenings singing with a cappella groups\, a rock band\, and a choral folk ensemble called Tangled Up In Blue\, or TUIB. After graduating he moved to New York City to pursue acting\, but also started picking up some small venue gigs. When he realized that he was more excited about playing dive bars than Broadway\, he packed up and headed out west to California to team up with fellow TUIB alum\, Jenner Fox\, forming the band Odell Fox. They started touring almost immediately\, cultivating an energetic and intimate live show experience that R.O. has continued to build upon as a solo artist. They moved to Austin\, TX\, where they released two records\, the “Moon Shiner EP\,” in 2016\, and “Thank You\,” in 2017. When the band parted ways at the end of 2017\, R.O. stayed in Austin\, gigging regularly in the hallowed venues of that world famous music scene. It was then he developed the full-band\, electrified sound that you can hear on 2021’s “King Electric Sessions\,” his first release since leaving Odell Fox. In recent years he has typically played solo\, touring regularly in the Northeast\, California\, and Pacific Northwest including Alaska and Vancouver Island. R.O. has drawn comparisons to Ray LaMontagne\, Josh Ritter\, and Nathaniel Rateliff. He is a winner of the 2022 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk songwriting contest\, and recently recorded with producer/instrumentalist Phil Cook (Bon Iver\, Hiss Golden Messenger.) He is currently based in Northern California\, and always on the lookout for new communities and stages where he can share his authentic warmth and wit. \n\n\n\nASHLEY VIRGINIA is a North Carolina–based singer-songwriter\, multi-instrumentalist\, producer\, educator\, and organizer whose work centers grassroots community building\, radical listening spaces\, and folk traditions as living culture. Her impact reaches far beyond the stage. Her songwriting has been praised by Americana Highways as “raw\, contemporary angst\,” and her sound has been likened to the spiritual daughter of Linda Ronstadt and Paul McCartney; drifting between ’70s country cool\, West Coast cosmic Americana\, and ’60s rock ’n’ roll. As a queer and neurodivergent artist\, Ashley’s work centers vulnerability\, collective care\, and liberation. Her songwriting explores healing\, resilience\, social justice\, and shared humanity; functioning both as personal medicine and a call to connection. In 2026\, she will serve as a panelist at Folk Alliance International on “Tracing and Reclaiming Feminist Rhetoric in Folk Protest Music.” Whether building songwriter ecosystems\, producing records alone in a treehouse\, or inviting rooms of strangers into shared breath and song\, Ashley Virginia is cultivating a living folk culture one voice\, one story\, and one listening space at a time.
URL:https://theculturalcurrent.com/event/justin-goldens-richmond-residency/
LOCATION:Révéler Experiences\, 3108 W Cary St\, Richmond\, VA\, 23221\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://theculturalcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Justin-Golden.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260323T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260323T213000
DTSTAMP:20260607T091343
CREATED:20260323T040823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T040825Z
UID:10000103-1774296000-1774301400@theculturalcurrent.com
SUMMARY:The Fabulous Thunderbirds: A Tribute to Chicago Blues
DESCRIPTION:The Fabulous Thunderbirds appearing at The Tin Pan in Richmond\, VA\n\n\nBox Office: The Tin Pan charges lower fees for box office versus online sales. Our box office is open Tues-Sat 12PM-5PM. Please visit us during those hours or call 804-447-8189. \nSeating: We assign seats in order of when you purchase your tickets. All reservations are subject to a food and drink minimum of $15 per guest. Gratuity of 20% is automatically added to all food and beverage purchases. \n \n\n\nThe Fabulous Thunderbirds\nWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter \n\n\n\nHarmonica Master Returns to His Musical Roots \nKim Wilson\, the legendary harmonica virtuoso and frontman of The Fabulous Thunderbirds\, is preparing for what may be his most personally meaningful tour yet. The upcoming “A Tribute to Chicago Blues” tour represents a homecoming of sorts for Wilson\, who cut his teeth playing alongside the very architects of the Chicago blues sound during the genre’s golden era. \n“That’s where I live\,” Wilson says about Chicago blues. “This is what I love. It’s what I’ve always loved. Everything else that I do\, I try and put that mojo on it.” \nEarly Immersion in the Scene \nWilson’s connection to Chicago blues runs deep\, stretching back to his teenage years when he was fortunate enough to witness and learn from the masters themselves. “I was probably about 16 years old\, maybe even 15\,” Wilson recalls about when he first became aware of the Chicago blues scene. “All my friends were listening to that stuff and all those guys were coming in and playing live everywhere you can imagine.” \nThe young Wilson saw legends like Johnny Shines\, Muddy Waters\, George “Harmonica” Smith\, and Jimmy Reed perform live. More remarkably\, he got to play with them. “I played with Eddie Taylor when I was 18 or 19 years old. That’s about as Chicago blues as you can get\,” he notes.  \nThe Sound  \nWhat set Chicago blues apart from other regional styles was its distinctive mood and power. “Something about Chicago blues\, those guys really knew how to set a mood\,” Wilson explains. The migration of blues musicians from the rural South to Chicago created a unique fusion. “They take their district\, their region\, and they bring it to another city. And it morphs into a combination of a couple of things\,” Wilson observes. \nThe urban environment demanded amplification\, which fundamentally changed the sound. “These musicians performed in a lot of other places before they got to Chicago. They soaked up the different scenes across the country\,” Wilson says. “Then they put those sounds through an amplifier. Because they were playing in bars. You can’t be heard otherwise.” \nChicago blues was also distinguished by its harmonica-driven sound\, featuring legends like Little Walter\, James Cotton\, and Big Walter. “A lot of Chicago blues was built around the harmonica\,” Wilson notes\, explaining his natural gravitation toward the genre. \nThe Human Element \nOne aspect Wilson emphasizes about the Chicago blues masters is their approachability despite their legendary status. “They were just regular people. That was the thing\,” he reflects. “People like Jimmy Rogers\, I worked with him\, and I love covering his stuff. But he was just a normal guy… with a lot of talent. The same with Muddy Waters\, the originator of electric Chicago blues. I would go out to eat with him after a show and no one knew exactly who he was\, but they knew he was somebody important. Even the king carried himself like a normal human being.” \nThis down-to-earth quality extended throughout the blues community. “Big stars\, people like B.B. King\, people like Bobby Blue Bland\, they were still very normal people. That’s because they came from normal backgrounds. They came from having nothing to having a bit of something.” \nA Musical Ecosystem \nWilson describes the Chicago blues scene as a thriving ecosystem where hundreds of clubs supported a vibrant community of musicians. “A lot of those guys rarely left the city. They were all playing clubs in Chicago. There were hundreds of them.” This concentration created an environment where musicians constantly pushed each other to excel. \nThe personal connections Wilson forged during this era remain vivid. “Literally it was like playing basketball with Michael Jordan every single time\,” he says. “You’re playing with all your heroes. It was an incredible time to be alive.” \nThe Upcoming Tour \nThe “Tribute to Chicago Blues” tour will feature a mix of classic chestnuts and deeper cuts from the Chicago blues catalog. “There will be a lot more traditional songs in the set\,” Wilson explains. “We haven’t decided exactly how we’re going to mix it up yet\, but I’m hoping I can do this for a little while\, to be honest with you.” \nHowever\, Wilson will maintain his traditional approach of not using set lists. “I prefer to let the energy of the crowd and the performance dictate the evening’s direction.” \nAuthenticity and Individual Voice \nWilson emphasizes the importance of individual expression within the blues tradition. “You have to do your own thing\,” he insists. “When people come see me and they see this band\, they know that they’re going to get something unique\, even if it’s in that genre.” \nThis philosophy reflects something he learned from the masters themselves. “One great thing about these guys\, that does not happen today very often\, is they all have their own personality. They all have their own style. They all have their own delivery. They were all unique inside that musical genre.” \nLooking Forward \nAs Wilson prepares to take audiences on this musical journey\, he hopes fans will dig deeper into the music’s origins. “When you hear us doing stuff\, certain songs\, dig back to where the original came from. Find out who did it. You will probably end up owning everything they ever did\, like I do.” \nThe “Tribute to Chicago Blues” tour promises to be more than just a series of concerts — it’s a master class in authenticity\, delivered by someone who learned from the source and has spent decades perfecting his craft while maintaining his own distinctive voice within the tradition.
URL:https://theculturalcurrent.com/event/the-fabulous-thunderbirds-a-tribute-to-chicago-blues/
LOCATION:The Tin Pan\, 8982 Quioccasin Road\, Richmond\, VA\, 23229\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://theculturalcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/82d756eff44fca93a0128d8ffc44eefa.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260331T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260331T213000
DTSTAMP:20260607T091343
CREATED:20260329T041514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260329T041613Z
UID:10000134-1774983600-1774992600@theculturalcurrent.com
SUMMARY:SAY LESS BRASS BAND
DESCRIPTION:Six-piece brass ensemble features tuba\, sax\, trumpet\, trombones\, and drums. Super funky. \n\n\n\nBringing the party where ever they go\, the Say Less Brass Band combines both modern day pop music with a touch of New Orleans to bring a unique musical atmosphere to any location they find themselves\, wether it’s on the streets or in the clubs. Be prepared for an exciting afternoon of funk\, soul\, rock\, hip-hop\, and many more genres all portrayed through the sounds of brass and drums. \n\n\n\nMembers: Chris Sclafani (saxophone); Josh Murrell (trumpet); Zach Taylor (trombone); Kwasi Terkper (bass trombone); Andre Mollineau (tuba); Aaron Zarrow (drums).
URL:https://theculturalcurrent.com/event/say-less-brass-band/
LOCATION:Révéler Experiences\, 3108 W Cary St\, Richmond\, VA\, 23221\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://theculturalcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Say-Less-Brass-Band.webp
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