After a long break, music festival season is coming back and many big-name musicians will be performing at festivals and venues around Virginia during the month of May. From major country acts to the biggest names in rock and pop, catch your favorite artists and discover new ones all over the Commonwealth.
NOTE: This is not a complete list of shows and certain schedules may change. Please check with the individual venues for the most up to date details.
VIRGINIA MUSIC FESTIVALS
April 28-May 1, the Virginia Arts Festival presents the Virginia International Tattoo, which pays tribute to the United States Military. Presented in the grand tradition of the world’s oldest tattoos, this Tattoo is an all-American show of patriotism and pride – one international sensation.
Richmond’s outdoor sports and music festival Dominion Riverrock will brings thousands to the riverside Brown’s Island on May 20-22 with live music performances from Suggesting Rhythm, Dead Billionaires, E 33rd, Devil’s Coattails, Delvin Lamarr Organ Trio, Sierra Ferrell, Futurebirds, Tre. Charles, Mekong Xpress and Leon III.
Dr. Ralph Stanley’s Hills of Home Music Festival is located in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia at Dr. Ralph Stanley’s “home place” in McClure. The three day festival, taking place May 25-28, is a great opportunity to see traditional bluegrass bands.
The Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival will feature nearly 50 bands just outside of Martinsville May 26-29. The lineup includes Grace Potter, Moon Taxi, Little Feat, Lettuce, Big Something, The War and Treaty, Tab Benoit, Andy Frasco & The U.N., Sammy Rae & The Friends, Fruition, Brandon ‘Taz’ Niederauer, The Nude Party, Yarn, and many more.
The Patriotic Festival celebrates the military at the Scope Arena in Norfolk May 27-29 and features country music performances from Jon Pardi, Kane Brown, and Morgan Wallen.
RICHMOND CONCERTS
photo credit: Joey Wharton @joey_wharton
Richmond’s summer concert series, Friday Cheers, brings some of the nation’s hottest touring acts, along with some regional favorites to Brown’s Island every Friday night in May.
- May 6 – Japanese Breakfast with Abby Huston
- May 13 – Cory Wong with Pharoah Sistare
- May 27 – RVA Music Night with Matthew E. White, Benét and The Last Real Circus
At The National
Photo Credit: Jonathan Piques, @jpinspace
- May 5 – PUP
- May 12 – Jimmie Allan
- May 20 – Colt Ford
- May 23 – Sylvan Esso
- May 28 – T-Pain
At the Altria Theater
- May 10 – Leon Bridges
- May 20 – Needtobreathe
At the Dominion Energy Center
- May 10 – Gordon Lightfoot
- May 21-22 – Richmond Symphony presents Beethoven’s Ninth
Photo Credit: Glenn Woodell
- May 10 – Built to Spill
- May 13 – Foxy Shazam
CHARLOTTESVILLE CONCERTS
At the John Paul Jones Arena
- May 3 – Casting Crowns and We The Kingdom
At the Ting Pavilion
- May 4 – Whiskey Myers
- May 11- Leon Bridges
- May 28 – The War On Drugs
At the Jefferson Theater
- May 9 – Gogol Bordello
- May 17 – Dark Star Orchestra
CENTRAL VIRGINIA CONCERTS
At the Beacon Theatre in Hopewell
- May 11 – Lit
- May 15 – Cowboy Junkies
- May 20 – The 5th Dimension
HAMPTON ROADS CONCERTS
Throughout May, the Virginia Arts Festival will be bringing hundreds of world-class performing arts in venues throughout Hampton Roads. Major performances include Renée Elise Goldsberry (May 6), Cowboy Junkies (May 12), Samantha Fish (May 19), Renee Fleming and Kristin Chenoweth (May 21), The War and Treaty (May 26), and many more.
At the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
- May 20 – FM99 Lunatic Luau 22: Disturbed, The Pretty Reckless, Dirty Honey, Bad Wolves & more
- May 27 – Nick Cannon Presents: MTV Wild N Out Live
At the Portsmouth Pavilion in Portsmouth
- May 14 – Chicago
- May 24 – Smashing Pumpkins
- May 27 – Chaka Khan
At the Norva in Norfolk
- May 7 – Japanese Breakfast
- May 12 – Aly & AJ
- May 13 – Jimmie Allan
- May 24 – The Struts
- May 30 – The War On Drugs
At the Chartway Arena in Norfolk
- May 3 – Limp Bizkit
- May 10 – Isley Brothers
SHENANDOAH VALLEY CONCERTS
At the Golden Pony in Harrisonburg
- May 12 – Valkyrie, Black Tusk, Crab Action
At the Bright Box Theater in Winchester
- May 1 – Christian Lopez w/ Justin Trawick
- May 3 – Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
- May 14 – The Four Horsemen: The Ultimate Metallica Tribute
At the Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington
Photo Credit: Keith Lanpher
- May 21 – Aoife O’Donovan
CONCERTS IN VIRGINIA’S MOUNTAINS
At the Berglund Center in Roanoke
- May 4 – Limp Bizkit
- May 12 – Patti LaBelle
- May 15 – Blue Man Group
At the Salem Civic Center in Salem
- May 1 – for King & Country
- May 5 – Whiskey Myers
At the Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount
- May 5 – Victor Wooten
- May 6 – Jade Bird & Katie Pruitt
- May 13 & 14 – The Steeldrivers
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA CONCERTS
At the Cameo Theater in Bristol
- May 20 – The Bellamy Brothers
May 27 – Firefall & Atlanta Rhythm Section
At the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol
- May 15 – Scotty McCreery
May 20 – Get the Led Out: A Led Zeppelin Tribute
At the Lincoln Theatre in Marion
Photo Credit: Earl Neikirk, @neikirkimage
- May 7 – “Songs of the Mountains” featuring Robin & Linda Williams and Redd Volkaert
May 21 – M.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio
At the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons
- May 7 – Twin Creeks Stringband
May 14 – Jeff Little Trio
May 21 – Whitetop Mountain Band
May 28 – Crooked Road Ramblers
NORTHERN VIRGINIA CONCERTS
Photo Credit: Cameron Davidson
At Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts in Vienna
- May 7 – The Quebe Sisters
- May 28 – Big Tony and Trouble Funk
At Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow
- May 28 – Tim McGraw & Russell Dickerson
At The Birchmere in Alexandria
- May 5 – Warren Zeiders
- May 7 – Caitlyn Smith
- May 16 – John 5
- May 19 – Michael W. Smith
- May 25 – Bodeans
At the State Theatre in Falls Church
- May 7 – The Legwarmers: DC’s Biggest 80’s Retro Dance Party
- May 13 – Almost Queen – A Tribute to Queen
At the Tally Ho Theatre in Leesburg
- May 6 – The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
- May 14 – Buckcherry
- May 20 – Jackyl
- May 28 – Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience
