Finally! Arbor Day Concert at Pumphouse Park

Trees, bands, and pumphouses. It’s finally all happening, and we will not be rained out again! WE WILL NOT!

July 8, 2015; 2:51 PM • by Prabir Mehta

Update #2 — July 8, 2015; 2:47 PM

Rescheduled from many moons ago (2.5 moons, to be exact), the Arbor Day concert is finally happening. We can still love trees, even if it’s in July. Here’s Prabir Mehta with all the reasons why you should (and all the musical reasons why you should come out this Saturday, July 11th. Same time, same place!).

— ∮∮∮ —

Original — April 24, 2015

Prabir Mehta is one of the busiest people we know, and also one of the most responsive! We asked him for some information about the upcoming Arbor Day Benefit Concert at Pumphouse Park. He’s helping to put it on, AND he’s performing, AND he’s helping to promote. Here’s more about the fest, Arbor Day, and what you need to know, in his words.

Around 400 million years ago, our planet was gifted with some of the most remarkable and resilient living things ever, trees. In their short time on Earth (keep in mind the Earth is nearly 4.5 billion years old) they’ve made quite the noticeable impact by physically putting oxygen in our atmosphere, being the home for billions of species, inspiring all kinds of cool fictional characters, and, right here in Richmond, they provide shade and beauty for our everyday lives.

All that seems like a worthwhile reason to have a party, right? On April 25th, there’s going to be an awesome Arbor Day concert at Pumphouse Park!

Benjamin Shepherd, a local singer songwriter, will kick off the afternoon with his beautifully crafted, soul-gripping tunes. Following that will be the psychedelic songs of RVA’s super rock quintet, Avers. Closing off the event will be cover band Full Moon Fever, a group of Richmond’s most battle-hardened rockers that happen to elfin’ love the crud out of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Plus in typical RVA festival style, there will be plenty of craft brews and food and people watching.

Access all of the above for just a $5 donation to the James River Parks Foundation, who not only keeps the river awesome but has to keep all those trees along the river at their healthiest and prettiest for our Instagram photos. This will be the first concert ever held at Pumphouse Park, so be there to celebrate the river, the park, the city’s awesome conservationists, and, duh, trees!

About them bands!

Avers

Psychedelic pop. Blistering garage rock. Fuzzed-out shoegaze. Free-formed throwback jams. With their amps cranked high and their voices doused in reverb, Avers brew up their own kind of spacey swirl. It’s a sound that keeps one foot in the past and the other in the present, like some kind of 1960s time capsule unearthed by a group of 21st century indie kids.

Full Moon Fever

Members of Goldrush, Long Arms, Horsehead, and several other musical projects in the RVA area come together to give props and love to one of America’s greatest bands, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers! This group of Richmond musicians absolutely loves every opportunity to play, and they understand that the waiting is the hardest part. April 25th, wait no more!

Benjamin Shepherd

This local songwriter is known for his guitar stylings and his sharp wit.

The details again

• Saturday, July 11th, 12:00 – 4:00 PM
• Pumphouse Park, 1708 Pump House Dr.
• $5 donation to the James River Park System

Photo by: jimmy_ray

July 8, 2015 2:51 PM · in Fan of the Fan, Hills and Heights, and more 1 1 update