We're coming to the end of 2008 and are reflecting on what a great year The Atkinsons have had! We've been honored to have been able to play some great new venues and festivals and grateful to have been asked back to many others.
Cafe Diem - We continued our 'Every Second Saturday Each Month' stint at Cafe Diem; one of the most fun places to hangout in Richmond! They have great food, a great staff, awesome music and never a cover. We love playing there and have appreciated all the folks that come out each month to see us. We're looking forward to continuing our monthly gigs there in 2009.
Toad's Place - We were asked to open for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in March of 2008; our first time playing there. We had an awesome show and were able to play to lots of new faces who seemed to really like what we do. We also played Highwater Restaurant at Toad's twice; once for their Wednesdays on the Water series and the next time as an early show before the Reverend Horton Heat/Reckless Kelly/Nashville Pussy show. We're excited to come back to Toad's in Jan. 2009 opening for Cross Canadian Ragweed!
The National - ATK was thrilled to get a chance to play The National! We were asked along with four other bands from Richmond and Charlottesville to play in October. We played with Grinding Stone, The Silverbacks, Black Rose and South29. Our friend Forest came out and took some really cool videos that we were able to upload for all to see and thanks also to our friend Christen for taking some great pictures.
Festivals - We made a return appearance at several great festivals again this year including the annual Irish Festival in Church Hill, the annual Carytown Watermelon Festival at Babe's, and Beaverdam Heritage Days. New festivals we played this year were the annual Brunswick Stew Festival at 17th Street Farmer's Market and Glen Allen Day with The Taters. We also played the Rhythm, Bets & Brews Festival at Colonial Downs with Last Train Home. It was a blast although it poured rain soon after LTH started.
Events - We were asked to play the annual auction at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church for the first time, which was a blast! And were asked back for Massey Alliance's annual Swinetangle BBQ fundraising event, which we love to be a part of. We also came back to play the annual Bark in the Park event at Deep Run Park benefitting Henrico Humane Society.
Other venues - The Atkinsons also played several other great venues in Richmond besides Cafe Diem including Poe's Pub, Cary St. Cafe, The Triple and the new Grandpa Eddie's BBQ in the west end. We also were able to play Cabo's twice before it's demise.
Concert series - We were honored to play twice at Pocahontas State Park for the Pocahontas Premieres summer concert series. We played with Blue Line Highway first and then were asked back just two weeks later for Page Wilson's Out O' The Blue Stage Revue with the Sara Arthur Band. And the awesome PBS show The Music Seen that we filmed two years ago at The Canal Club in Richmond spread its wings this year to other PBS markets around the U.S. The show has been airing in Chicago, Detroit, Charlotte, Raleigh, Greenville, Birmingham, Buffalo, Huntsville, Montgomery and Wilmington and even in New Jersey.
The Atkinsons Gig Calendar 2008:
1/12 - Cafe Diem
1/25 - Poe's Pub w/Glitter Boot
2/02 - St. Thomas' Episcopal Church annual auction
2/09 - Cafe Diem
2/15 - Cary St. Cafe w/The Ex-Patriots and Alan and Matt from Mozely Rose
3/05 - Toads Place with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Benevento/Russo Duo
3/08 - Cafe Diem
3/30 - Irish Festival in Church Hill
4/12 - Cafe Diem
4/26 - Grandpa Eddie's BBQ
5/10 - Cafe Diem
5/23 - Dickie Wood solo at Grandpa Eddie's BBQ
5/24 - Cafe Diem
6/07 - Cabos Corner Bistro
6/14 - Cafe Diem
6/21 - Colonial Downs Rhythm Bets & Brews w/Last Train Home
7/05 - private party
7/12 - Cafe Diem
7/26 - Cabos Corner Bistro
8/09 - Pocahontas Premiers w/Blue Line Highway
8/09 - Cafe Diem
8/10 - Watermelon Festival at Babes
8/23 - Page Wilson's Out O' the Blue Stage Revue, Pocahontas w/Sara Arthur Band
9/10 - Wednesdays on the Water, Toad's Place
9/13 - Bark in the Park
9/13 - Cafe Diem
9/20 - Glen Allen Day w/The Taters
9/21 - Massey Alliance's Swinetangle BBQ
10/10 - The National w/Grinding Stone, The Silverbacks, South29 and Black Rose
10/11 - Beaverdam Heritage Days
10/11 - Cafe Diem
10/24 - Poe's Pub w/Workhorse Blue & The Dirty Truth
11/01 - Brunswick Stew Festival, 17th Street Farmers Market w/Son Quatro
11/07 - Highwater Restaurant before Rev. Horton Heat and Reckless Kelly
11/08 - Cafe Diem
11/22 - The Triple
12/06 - private party
12/13 - Cafe Diem