What a great year it has been for music fans in Richmond, Virginia! The beloved amphitheater, Virginia Credit Union LIVE! provided concert-goers with a great line-up! The open-air venue, which can hold up to 6,000 fans! Providing a more intimate setting for major artists, Virginia Credit Union LIVE! is perfect for music enthusiasts who are not keen on gathering with massive crowds! Hence, with less foot traffic, the venue boasts smoother entry and exit points compared to other more enormous amphitheaters. Although it pales in size, the Virginia Credit Union Live! remains one of the most in-demand outdoor venues in the city! For the year 2023 alone, it has attracted a plethora of fantastic A-list performers! The spring and summer seasons were an absolute thrill for all types of listeners, from rock to pop, country, soul, and many more! Here’s a review of the most exciting shows that came to the Virginia Credit Union LIVE! in 2023!
The seasoned opened with an epic debauchery as Mastodon and Gojira brought their headlining tour to the venue. The Mega Monsters Tour was definitely not for the faint of heart, but still thousands of fans from Virginia and beyond gathered here on Tuesday, 9th May! The Grammy-nominated quartet Mastodon delivered their signature sludge metal staples, including “The Wolf is Loose,” “Megalodon,” “Blood and Thunder,” and many more! Meanwhile, Gojira brought their outstanding progressive death metal fan favorites to the night’s fully-packed crowd! It was an intensely impressive start to Virginia Credit Union LIVE! concert season, and music fans wouldn’t have it any other way!
The following month, the venue hosted another heavy metal powerhouse, Falling in Reverse. Currently, one of the most sought-after live acts in the headbang circuit, Falling in Reverse, came into town to promote their latest EP, Neon Zombie. Titled the Popular MonsTOUR, the trek was the talk of many hard rock and metal fans thanks to the band’s viral hits, “Watch the World Burn,” “Last Resort,” “Voices in My Head,” and “Zombified.” On show day, Tuesday, 27th June, music fans were given an epic performance packed with iconic hits and fan favorites. The extravaganza started with a supporting performance from Ice Nine Kills and Slaughter to Prevail and ended with a massive celebration of hard rock, pop, death metal, and electronic fusion from Falling in Reverse.
summer concert season
The month of June featured more thrilling performances from deathbyromy, Catch Your Breath. The Used, Pierced the Viel, and Don Broco. These acts definitely gave music fans a night to remember as they brought the house down with their unique staples. But let’s not forget to mention the touring giant that came into town before the month ended. On Thursday, 29th June, the sensational live act and veteran touring group Tedeschi Trucks Band brought their highly coveted summer tour to Virginia Credit Union LIVE! The show, which also featured special guest Ziggy Marley, featured a great setlist comprising fantastic covers and originals. That night, the band performed many great singles from Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Jerry Garcia, The Rolling Stones, and more. Thousands of fans gathered that day to witness the exhilarating live act.
August was an eventful month, thanks to performances by Alter Bridge and Sevendust. The Pawns and Kings Tour promoted Alter Bridge’s latest album, which made waves on the U.S. and international charts. The night was filled with incredible hard rock staples as Alter Bridge demonstrated amazing vocals and fantastic musicianship! Meanwhile, Sevendust conquered the night with their unique brand of alternative metal. The Atlanta-based outfit was also promoting their latest album, Truth Killer! So imagine the fans’ excitement when both performers delivered brand new hits to the highly-pumped crowd!
Some of the other standout shows in August were performed by highly acclaimed artists, such as The O’Jays, Charley Crockett, Marcus King, and Molly Tuttle. Meanwhile, pop-rock sensation Train came into town to promote their brand new effort, AM Gold. The band performed incredible career-spanning songs to a full house on Saturday, 12th August. It was definitely a night to remember!
Before summer came to a close, Virginia Credit Union Live! made sure that music fans get the best line-up of exciting acts! The venue did its assignment with the arrival of The String Cheese Incident on Sunday, 10th September! The celebrated jam band brought their signature extended jams on stage, improvs, and harmonized infusion of diverse genres. That night, fans were treated to rock, electronic, bluegrass, progressive, reggae, and many more. It was one of the most memorable shows of the season after the band delivered approximately 20 songs!
If you think The String Cheese Incident was the most exciting spectacle that month, you better think again! Other sensational performers in September included Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Squeeze, and The Psychedelic Furs!
After the summer season had ended, the venue continued to provide music fans with iconic performances. In October, country rock superstar Cody Johnson conquered Virginia Credit Union Live! on Friday, 13th October, with his support act, Jake Worthington. The Cody Johnson & Friends Tour was one of the more high-profile country music treks of 2023 and lucky fans in Virginia got to experience the superstar’s latest set at the venue.
The beloved venue has provided fans with their much-needed live concert fix since opening in 1991. It is a significant part of the community, as well as the local entertainment scene. Rod. D from North Carolina expressed his delight in visiting the venue this year. “Lots of easy-to-access parking. The whole facility was remarkably clean before and during the show, with solid beverage and food options. Plenty of assorted staff on hand, most were very friendly and helpful. The sound was pretty good too, loud but clear and, of course, amble bass.” Moreover, a previous concertgoer complimented the venue for having plenty of concessionaires. “The best part was having a lot of drink stands and food stands. There wasn’t really a wait for those. They even had vendors with bags random spots with drinks and iPads to pay right there,” said Abby R. from Florida. She also sent props to the venue’s highly trained team. “The staff was friendly who were out making sure everyone was listening or if they needed help finding their spot.
The year 2023 was undoubtedly a great time to be alive in Virginia! The Virginia Credit Union Live! Provided just the right amount of entertainment. The venue provided fans with top-tier music, state-of-the-art lights and sound, excellent guest services, and most importantly, a good time! If you’re keen on seeing your favorite acts at the Virginia Credit Union Live!, you should check out the venue’s 2024 line-up! Score your tickets now and see the venue for yourself!
