She is an award-winning singer/songwriter from the foothills of Appalachia in Fincastle, VA, now based in Richmond, VA. Her music is pound cake-folk that's equal parts sweet, delicate, rich, and warm, built on a foundation of bluegrass and thoughtful Blue Ridge Mountain storytelling that showcases her self-styled guitar, banjo, and keyboard melodies.
Erin is an accomplished writer. Just last year, she was a semi-finalist in the Songwriters Guild of America Country Song Contest for her song "Rhinestones." She's also a titan of voice: her vocals have been described as soulful, expressive, and downright heavenly, and her effortless versatility has drawn comparisons to Chris Stapleton, YEBBA, and Susan Tedeschi.
Lunsford is best known for her 15-year career with indie-pop soul band Erin & The Wildfire, and she aims to be a rising voice in folk music. Her sophomore album, Rhinestones, set for release on June 26th, explores the journey of an unyielding artist: the painful rejections, the hopeful dreams, and the quiet resilience of staying the course.
When she's not making music, you might find Erin in the boxing gym, on the couch with a dog (or two), or crocheting blankets and scarves for friends and their new babies.
This week, Erin is here to share her love for this place we all love to call home.
Take it away, Erin...
Make Space at Gallery 5
Gallery5 is opening Make Space, a new exhibition, this Friday, June 5th, and the celebration runs all night. Doors open at 5 PM, with live music, drag performances, and a DJ set kicking off at 7 PM. Performing live are Erin Lunsford, Logan From The Internet, and Ducttape Jesus. Drag performances by You'neek Nu'york and Alayla Armon. DJ Spurweezy, courtesy of WRIR 97.3 FM, keeps the night going. Free and open to the public.
Vitals: Make Space Opening / Friday, June 5, 5 – 11 PM (music + drag 7 – 11 PM) / Gallery5 / 200 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA
Carytown Pride: Market and Chalk Event
Head to Carytown on Sunday for Carytown Pride: Market and Chalk Event, hosted by TransJamRVA. Spread messages of LGBTQ+ pride, kindness, and joy by chalking up the sidewalks, then browse and shop with over 30 local LGBTQ+ artists. Eddie Rose Coffee, Petty's Pastries, and Twisted Lemon Bev Co. will be on hand for tasty eats and treats. Free and open to the public.
Flowerama House is hosting a Songwriters In The Round evening on Tuesday, June 9th. Erin Lunsford, Genna Matthew, and Meredith Rounsley share the round, with an opening set from Annie Stirling. It's an intimate house show, so DM Erin Lunsford on Instagram for the address.
My sophomore album, Rhinestones, drops June 26th, and I could not be more ready to share it with the world. It's a love letter to my Appalachian roots while also honoring my creative identity outside of bluegrass. Where my previous work found me searching for myself and wondering what was out there, this record is one of confidence in my journey, sitting with the painful rejections, the hopeful dreams, and the quiet resilience of staying the course.
It covers a lot of ground: family dysfunction, friendship, mental health, career disappointments, massive heartbreak, romantic achievements, and the complexities of growing up and moving away from your small hometown. It feels simultaneously like a wholesome return voyage and an adventurous path forward.
To celebrate the release, I'm throwing an album party at The Camel on Friday, July 31st, and I am so excited about the lineup I've put together. I'll be performing with a unique 6-piece band. I had the chance to play with this group last year and the chemistry is truly special. It's more women than I usually get to share a stage with, and the energy when we play together is just buzzing. I'm so honored to have this powerhouse group with me for the release show.
The evening will be opened by my sweet and incredibly talented friend Sasha Landon of Palmyra. Tickets are $15, and I'll have some exclusive merch at the show too. Come celebrate with us!
Find Your TrailExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 308 / Find Your Trail
Meet this week’s guest editor, James Moffitt. He is the founder of TrailHead Creative and an avid outdoorsman whose work lives at the intersection of food, the outdoors, sustainability, stewardship, and storytelling. Working with brands ranging from startups to Fortune 200 companies has given him a unique perspective that he brings to every client and project.
James launched TrailHead Creative to merge his passion for storytelling with his love of outdoor adventure. Adding another creative layer to the agency’s Northside headquarters, James also co-founded HomeFire Gallery, an independent art and exhibition space dedicated to creativity and community.
He says the best part about his work is learning from so many different people and walks of life. James is an Eagle Scout, a published author, and a partner in The Fleming Preserve, an upland hunting preserve based in Amelia County, Virginia.
When he’s not working, he’s often spending time with his daughter, tying flies, pursuing wild game, or generally tinkerin’.
This week, James is here to share his tips for exploring and celebrating this place we all love to call home.
Take it away, James ...
Beyond Boundaries R.I.M.B.Y Festival
TrailHead had the honor of partnering with Beyond Boundaries for several years, and their mission resonates closely with our own. R.I.M.B.Y. Festival (Right In My BackYard) is one of their signature annual events. Free and open to the public, it celebrates many of the things that make Richmond special.
RVA RIMBY Festival, hosted on June 7, is a free outdoor festival highlighting the incredible and unique outdoor activities found right here in Richmond’s backyard. The festival features food, drinks, music, games, and prizes, with proceeds supporting outdoor adventure and environmental education opportunities for individuals with disabilities, underserved youth, veterans, and recovery programs.
We’ll be vending at this year’s Fledge Fest. I love that Triple Crossing Beer has doubled down on building community around the outdoors while actively supporting both the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and broader conservation efforts.
Triple Crossing is one of those Richmond brands that could easily have gotten “too big” to stay closely connected to the community, but instead, they’ve continued to invest in giving back and supporting the people and organizations around them. Fledge Fest will include a kids’ station with face painting and crafts, falcon cam footage on the big screen, a chance to meet a few feathered friends, exclusive event merch, and a brand-new collaboration beer.
Brent Stubblefield has been a longtime friend, mentor, and partner, and Join or Die Knives is one of those iconic Richmond brands that serves as a steadfast reminder of why I love it here and love working with local businesses.
They offer knifemaking classes year-round — a must-attend experience for just about anyone. It’s hard work, but there’s something deeply rewarding about creating something as timeless as a knife with your own hands. The classes are beginner-friendly, and Brent and his team bring an incredible depth of knowledge and craftsmanship to the experience.
Fun fact: Brent and I actually worked together to make the knife I used to cut my daughter’s umbilical cord. I carry one of his knives every day, and when she’s old enough, my daughter will receive the knife I made for her.
TrailHead was founded in 2020 to combine my passion for the outdoors with my career in content marketing. I wanted to step away from the corporate agency grind and build something rooted in fairness, meaningful work, and the places and communities I care about most.
A big part of TrailHead’s identity comes from wanting to tell outdoor stories differently. So much of the industry focuses on the West, while states like Virginia offer incredible hunting, fishing, mountains, rivers, and coastline right in our backyard. We try to bring that perspective into every campaign and piece of content we create.
Our agency is built around three values: craft, community, and conservation. We believe in creating thoughtful work that lasts, supporting the communities around us, and using our platform to encourage sustainability and stewardship wherever possible.
Most importantly, none of this would exist without the people who have supported us along the way. Thank you to everyone who has supported TrailHead over the years, and especially to Millie Whitmore, Summer Markham, Daisy Norman, and Madeline Guzzo for the work they put in every day.
Something Worth Barking AboutExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 306 / Something Worth Barking About
Meet this week’s guest editor, Tamsen Kingry. Tamsen is the CEO of the Richmond SPCA, a nonprofit, no-kill humane society that saves the lives of 4,000 homeless animals each year. The organization also delivers a wide range of safety-net programs — including a pet pantry, behavior helpline, high-volume spay and neuter services, crisis boarding, low-cost and full-service veterinary care, youth education, and training — reaching tens of thousands of pets and the people who love them across the region.
If you had told Tamsen during her senior year at VCU that her internship would turn into a 24-year career, she might have asked what you were feeding the animals. But that’s exactly what happened. In 2002, thanks to some serendipitous timing (and a departing communications manager), she stepped into her first full-time role at the Richmond SPCA.
Over the last two decades, she has had a front-row seat to the organization’s evolution and growth, working in communications, development, and operations before becoming CEO in 2019. Along the way, she has adopted three dogs and two cats, fostered many others, and happily played matchmaker for countless friends looking for a new companion. Outside Richmond, she serves on Best Friends Animal Society’s Network Strategy Council, collaborating with shelter and rescue leaders across the country to strengthen the future of animal welfare.
Tamsen has called Richmond home since 1999 and shares her home with her husband, daughter, and adopted dog and cat. When she’s not at the humane center, you can find Tamsen — often joined by her dog Bart — at some of her favorite spots in the Fan, including Jardin, Susie’s, Celladora, and Blanchard’s. She’s also a frequent flier at the Broad Street Lowe’s, where she never misses the chance to say hello to the one-and-only Francine.
Take it away, Tamsen …
Bark in the Park
Bart isn’t the only one in my family angling for a game of fetch. When we’re not at my daughter’s softball games, we enjoy cheering on our local baseball team, the Richmond Flying Squirrels. I was fortunate to get a sneak peek of CarMax Park (a neighbor of the Richmond SPCA) before it opened and cannot wait to catch up with Nutsy and Nutasha at the first dog-friendly game the team hosts this season.
The Flying Squirrels return home against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Tuesday, May 19. Bark in the Park takes place every Wednesday home game from now through September 9, so grab your furry friend and head to the ballpark. During Bark in the Park games, presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, a portion of proceeds from the Squirrel Chaser specialty cocktail will be donated to the Richmond SPCA.
Vitals: Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Tuesday, May 19 / Bark in the Park, every Wednesday home game through September 9 / CarMax Park, 1771 Encore Avenue
Sharp's Island
Now I’m letting you in on a well-kept secret. There’s a private island full of fascinating history near the Mayo Bridge called Sharp’s Island. The only way to access it is by kayak or canoe, which is part of the charm and adventure — and very Richmond. It’s an excellent place to access the James River and camp, offering the only legal camping within Richmond city limits.
Hollywood Cemetery is a great place to walk while taking in breathtaking views of downtown Richmond and the James River. Not many cities give you high-rises, train crossings, bridges, and rapids all in a single glance. It’s one of the things that makes Richmond unique, and I like to take advantage of that whenever possible.
I also recommend joining a History Hounds tour, a partnership between the Richmond SPCA and The Valentine Museum. You can explore the history of some of Richmond’s most iconic neighborhoods, including Church Hill and the Museum District, with your dog at your side. You’ll even get to meet a dog available for adoption.
Want to take your exploration of Richmond to the next level? Join the Richmond SPCA for our Amazing Tails Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, May 30.
Think you have what it takes to race, solve, and strategize like a pro? Inspired by The Amazing Race, this interactive scavenger hunt is your chance to compete for a cause. Gather a team and hit the streets of Carytown, tackling clues and connecting with local businesses along the way. Every step supports the lifesaving work of the Richmond SPCA — and your team could take home a prize.
Registration closes on May 20, and only 20 teams can compete, so secure your spot now. Keep tabs on all upcoming events, classes, and more at the Richmond SPCA!
Go
