Buds, bands, and other fun stuff

We’ve already given you the lowdown on what Best Friends Day is all about. Now let’s take a look at what you can expect from this weekend’s festivities. NOTE: It includes nachos. A great big plate of ’em.

August 20, 2009; 12:00 PM • by Sean Patrick Rhorer

For those unfamiliar with Richmond’s annual Best Friends Day, this year’s posters might have you fearful that a franchised South of The Border might be coming to town. Don’t worry (too much) as Best Friends Day just seems to be channeling all the campy fun of everyone’s favorite roadside destination into this year’s event.

Originating in 2001 amongst a group of friends celebrating the summer they’d spent together, Best Friends Day has expanded into a weekend-long, multi-venue festival of music and activities for the rouge set. Attracting visitors from across the country (and reportedly the world), hundreds of music lovers and partiers galore converge on Richmond each year to celebrate their friendships and enjoy each other’s company. With a proclamation of “anyone and everyone is welcome,” Best Friends Day is for old and new friends alike.

For the eighth annual Best Friends Day, affectionately dubbed “The Ocho,” a number of great bands from all across the U.S. will be performing. Shows featuring Young Widows, Torche, Lemuria, None More Black, Off With Their Heads, and Psyched To Die as well as local favorites Strike Anywhere, Ultra Dolphins, Pink Razors, No BS Brass Band, and Wasted Time (plus many more bands) will take place at Plaza Bowl, Hadad’s Lake, Alley Katz, and The Bike Lot over the course of the weekend. The diversity of bands and show line-ups speaks further to the open-minded approach taken by Best Friends Day organizers… not to mention the balance of local performers and those traveling to take part in the event.

Other activities include a scavenger hunt (and this writer must admit to taking part and being tattooed with “BFD” as part of it a few years back), a mammoth lake party at Hadad’s, BMX jump over the world’s largest plate of nachos (hosted by Oderus Urungus of GWAR), and various other debauchery over the four days. Needless to say, those who take part will surely be left with a lot of memories.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening when and lots of useful links and info to help you get your bearings…

Thursday, August 20th

7pm at Plaza Bowl: Show & Bowling featuring…

Plaza Bowl is located at 523 East Southside Plaza. There is an $8 cover for this show.

10pm at The Camel: Official Guidebook Release Party featuring…

  • Cherry Bomb: Richmond’s All-Girl DJ Collective

The Camel is located at 1621 W. Broad Street. There is an $3 cover for this show.

Friday, August 21st

11:30am at Vinyl Conflict: Scavenger Hunt

  • Sign-ups and the official start will take place here.

Vinly Conflict is located at 324 S. Pine Street. There is no charge to take part in the scavenger hunt.

6pm at Alley Katz: Show featuring…

Alley Katz is located at 10 Walnut Alley. There is an $12 cover for this show.

Saturday, August 22nd

11am at Fine Food Parking Lot: Show featuring…

Fine Food is located at 700 Idlewood Avenue. This show is free!.

12pm Hadad’s Lake: Massive Party & Shows featuring…

Hadad’s is located at 1140 Mill Road. Admission is $18.

Sunday August 23rd

1pm at The Bike Lot: BMX Jump & Show featuring…

The location of this show is under wraps for various mysterious reasons. BFD organizers are instructing people to “Ask someone!” But, good news, it’s free!

For more information on Best Friends day, check out our story from earlier this week, or visit www.bestfriendsday.net and www.myspace.com/bestfriendsday. To get a preview of the music lined up for this weekend, stop by and see our friends over at RVAMag and take a listen to their compilation podcast, The Music of Best Friends Day “The Ocho.”

(Image courtesy of www.bestfriendsday.net)

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Sean Patrick Rhorer

August 20, 2009 12:00 PM 13

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