The days of having to leave town to find worthy entertainment are long gone, the most recent example being last weekend's Dominion Riverrock extravaganza on Brown's Island with extreme biking, boating and people watching in our singular spot wedged between towering skyline and wilderness river. It's a wondrous place put to proper use for an event like this, comfortably accommodating thousands with much to see, do and hear...much like our maturing Richmond Folk Festival returning October 8-10. Another nod to taskmaster Stephen Lecky of Venture Richmond for making it all look 
easy and scoring top talent like the electric Grace Potter & the Nocturnals and Robert Randolph & the Family Band as headliners. It was a very big time and another colorful feather in our town's increasingly festive cap. And then there was the terrific Tuesday night show
at the National with Dierks Bentley and the Travelin' McCourys. Dierks was obviously having a blast sharing the stage with these seasoned bluegrassers and hearing the adoring shrieks from his female fanbase packing the old Broad Street theater. He spent the better part of an hour after the show to shake and sign. His Jon Randall-produced Up On The Ridge CD will be out next month with a host of guesting luminaries.
But that was last week...let's dive into what's ahead and there's a lot. Tonight, back on Brown's Island, Friday Cheers continues with the creative and long-running string band Railroad Earth. Bring enough to cover the 
more-than-fair $2 admission and a few brews and it should be another sweet night by the river, no doubt punctuated by a well-timed CSX coal train on the high trestle. I love when that happens. And you might save a little strength to catch 
the last set at Shenanigans tonight with big Brad Spivey and his Honky Tonk Experience. These guys have real country down pat. Yet another option would be mandolin prodigy Harper Speagle Price and her band at Ellwood's Cafe on Thompson from 7-9p...no cover. Or how about the veteran Texas singer/songwriter Tish Hinojosa at Ashland Coffee & Tea...wow. Friday Night in America. Not a night to sit home.
And here's something for your June calendar...the CD release concert for Samson Trinh's long-anticipated Abbey Road Project on June 11 at Dogwood Dell. Samson and his Upper East Side Big Band have been recording, mixing and tweaking this ambitious homage to the Beatles at In Your Ear Recording for the past few years and you'll want to sample the formidable fruits of their labors. The CD's out but you'll want to hear it performed live, for free, at the Dell. And
the next night, you can take a look at Todd Herrington's paintings at the Camel. I had no idea...the busy bass master will show off yet another side of his gifted self and then join one of the many top bands he's part of, the Big Payback for a sweaty night of James Brown hits a
s hot as the originals. These guys can cook. As can all of Todd's other ensembles including the DJ Williams Projekt and Modern Groove Syndicate. The boy went through the talent line a few extra times.
Hope to see you somewhere around town tonight.
TT
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