Richmond Live Music Picks | New Year’s Eve Edition

Editor’s Note: We have our full list of New Years events posted HERE.

This week is all about New Year’s Eve. We got a ton of insane local talent at nearly every venue in town, anywhere you look you got something. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at [email protected].

 
Celler Dwellers, Bucko, Back Up Kid
NEw Year’s Eve | Wednesday, December 31st
The Camel

Another Celler Dwellers year! Jeez, I love this band. If you are not familiar, Cellar Dwellers are one of Richmond’s preeminent indie rock outfits. They capture an amazingly colorful sound that makes you feel like the star of your own coming-of-age movie. You start the night dancing like crazy to songs like “Apologizing” or “Sweet Emotion,” fueled by the light and life pouring out of the guitars, and end it with a sweet slow dance to “Taste,” looking back on everything you pulled off this year. This is the kind of band that can tell you it will all be okay, and you believe it. Pure, earnest, sweet.

We also have two of our best in support, Bucko and Back Up Kid.

Bucko has quickly become a cornerstone of Richmond music. You could casually call them a country band, but they are much more than that. Their shows swing from huge moments of blaring guitar, sometimes even trumpet, to intimate ballads and classic honky-tonk rock. I have never regretted seeing a Bucko show. They leave me with the same ear-to-ear grin every time.

Back Up Kid is another legendary local group. They skirt the edge of emo but land firmly in a driving, alternative rock sound. Their shows are intense, powered by strong vocals and a full wall of sound they lean into without hesitation. The songs are anthemic, and before you know it, you are caught up in the swell they create.

Main photo of Celler Dwellers by Nick Oukolov

“9th Annual Disco Ball” with Three Sheets to the Wind
NEw Year’s Eve | Wednesday, December 31st
The Broadberry

Three Sheets to the Wind have moved past the point of tradition and into legacy. This world-renowned yacht rock cover group is back for its ninth year at the Broadberry on New Year’s Eve.

These guys are the real deal, playing all your favorites. We are talking Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Hall and Oates. If you like yacht rock, they can play it. The group is made up of heavy-hitting musicians who fully commit to the bit and consistently put on a fantastic show.

New Years Eve 1973
NEw Year’s Eve | Wednesday, December 31st
Get Tight Lounge

Sticking with the vintage theme, we have Get Tight Lounge’s New Year’s Eve 1973. It is an insane lineup of cover sets. We are talking Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Kinks, Merle Haggard, Steely Dan, Herbie Hancock, plus DJ sets from Hip-Hop Henry.

I do not have a full breakdown of which local bands are covering which ’70s acts, but I know Marshall Family Values and Cassidy Snider and the Wranglers are both part of the action. If that does not sell it, I am not sure what will. As a bonus, the first 25 people through the door will receive Lyft gift cards for a safe, sober ride home.

Rattlemouth and Zarove
NEw Year’s Eve | Wednesday, December 31st
Gallery 5

A nice, jazzy New Year’s Eve at Gallery 5 this year.

Rattlemouth is a more than capable local group that has been putting out music for nearly two decades. They are defined by a highly expressive saxophone that cuts through a misty blend of dance-forward rhythms. Each piece feels like a small symphony, with distinct movements that give different instruments a chance to step forward and speak.

Zarove rounds out the bill with a truly unique and intriguing sound, drawing from a more Middle Eastern approach to the broad world of jazz. Their instrumentation is tight and deeply personal. Every instrument has its own character, seemingly in conversation with the rest of the band, unfolding a different story for each listener. This is a genuinely beautiful way to close out the year.

Box Factory, Snake Mountain Revival, Dropheads
Friday, January 2nd
The Camel

Our last show on this already extensive list is also the first night of Box Factory’s 2026 residency at The Camel. The Factory has been on a serious upward trajectory for a while now, and they are rightfully taking over the first Friday of every month at the venue this year.

Their shows are pure mayhem. Lights flashing, smoke hanging in the air, a dozen instruments on stage, and the whole room smelling like champagne. This residency is shaping up to be an insane run, and there is no doubt the opening night will be one of the wildest. This is a local band you should catch now so you can brag about it later.

Joining the kickoff is Snake Mountain Revival from Virginia Beach. Heavy, heavy psychedelia here. They are drenched in reverb and loaded with every effect you could want. Seeing SMR feels like entering a dark cave, hands brushing the walls, until you emerge into a bright, mystical cavern full of unfamiliar gems.

Rounding out the night are DROPHEADS, a local group that had a fantastic year and is starting the next one just as strong. They are always a blast live, and you can count on the crowd losing it when their 2025 hit “Best Girl” kicks in.

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