Old Dominion, New Beats: The Rise of Electronic Dance in Virginia

Over the past few years, however, Viginia’s electronic dance scene has been steadily growing, particularly in places such as Richmond and Virginia Beach which have begun to draw in music lovers from all across the state and beyond.

We take a look at the newly thriving electronic dance music scene in Virginia and how to get access to some exciting new sounds.

Radio and Streaming Platforms

Virginia is home to several radio stations and platforms that feature all kinds of dance music. Energy 93 has a constant stream of some of the best Euro Dance around.

Additionally, many college radio stations such as Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion University also feature some dance music programming, with regular slots dedicated to the genre.

Do be aware that a lot of streaming platforms and stations from Virginia are geo-locked meaning you won’t be able to listen without a virtual private network (VPN). A Virginia VPN works by masking your actual IP address and replacing it with one from Viginia therefore allowing you to gain access to all of the state’s channels and platforms.

This will also provide fast streaming and avoid buffering by bypassing throttling, meaning you can stick in the AirPods Pro and enjoy the music whilst you explore Virginia!

The Autumn Revival Festival

There have been plenty of folk and hip-hop festivals going on in Virginia over the years but the dance music scene has remained pretty quiet. Filling a gap in the musical market is Richmond-based bass music group Rhythm City Collective, who recently established the Autumn Revival Festival.

The festival platforms a huge line-up of both established artists and well as up-and-coming acts and offerings are always eclectic.

Like most dance festivals, tickets get snapped up pretty quickly, so you’ll need to keep your finger on the pulse if you don’t want to miss out. Consider downloading an app such as Edmtrain on GooglePlay which will give you access to presales for festivals and allow you to see which DJs and acts are touring across the U.S.

The app will also provide you with links to the artists you’ll be going to see and give you directions to the venue.

The club scene VA style

Richmond has a pretty awesome dance scene if you know where to look! Venues are popping up across the city under bridges, up on rooftops and in abandoned warehouses on a monthly basis. Kabana Rooftop is a great place to start- particularly if you’re into your trance music.

For something a little easier to locate, head straight to Virginia Beach and hit Peabody’s Nightclub which constantly delivers an impressive lineup of internationally renowned artists as well as local DJs. The atmosphere is as electric as the music and it’s well worth a look.

Virginia certainly seems to be shaking off its reputation for being all about gentle folksy sounds or retro hip-hop beats and is making some room to fully embrace the dance music scene.

Whether it’s an underground club in Richmond, a late-night session on Virginia Beach or simply streaming new sounds from one of the many up-and-coming local acts, Virginia is certainly beginning to broaden its musical horizons.