Richmond Counterculture / Shockoe Sessions
Richmond Counterculture/Shockoe Sessions: Episode 5
Shockoe Sessions Live! is a weekly celebration of Richmond’s goldmine of musicianship! Learn more https://www.shockoesessionslive.com/
And today we rock out to Flora & The Fauna, Bucko, and Deau Eyes!
Flora & The Fauna is a 4-piece jangle pop powerhouse with a punk rock edge. Made up of lead singer and guitarist Flora Dapena, keyboardist and saxophonist Valerie Jemison, bassist Leeah Swift, and drummer Alex Almand, their music will have you dancing, falling in love, and contemplating your gender. They first started practicing together in 2023, but their current lineup took shape in March of 2024, followed by their live debut in April. Since then, they’ve made the rounds at local venues like The Camel, Cobra Cabana, and Bandito’s.
Flora & The Fauna playing Shockoe Sessions Live! (Nov 5th 2024)
Bucko is a Richmond-based band blending honky-tonk charm with indie rock irreverence, crafting songs that celebrate the beauty in the absurd and the sentimentality of everyday life. Led by singer Ava Coles alongside bassist Jacob Karona, guitarists Ezra Lapidus and Ben Slone, and drummer Ben Heath, Bucko channels a wide array of influences–ranging from classic country storytellers to the playful chaos of punk–into a sound they affectionately dub “honky-tonk goof rock.”
Their music brims with humor, nostalgia, and offbeat narratives, turning mundane moments like bowling alley collapses, demolition derbies, and riding mowers into reflections on youth, uncertainty, and the universal desire to hold onto joy. With a collaborative songwriting approach and a steadfast belief in playfulness as a survival mechanism, Bucko transforms personal anecdotes and fleeting observations into anthems for the old children of the modern South. As they continue to release new music and captivate crowds, Bucko’s uniquely off-kilter yet deeply resonant voice is carving out a space all its own in Richmond’s crowded scene.
Bucko playing Shockoe Sessions Live! (May 18th 2025)
Deau Eyes is an award-winning singer-songwriter/producer based in Richmond, VA. Whether playing only with her guitar, duo with Charles Owens on saxophone, simultaneously singing and conducting a string quartet, or with her full band, Deau’s high-energy shows and powerhouse vocals have made a prominent mark on the Richmond scene. Within the last year she’s been awarded the Newlin Music Prize for Best Album, listed on NPR- Slingshot’s 2023 Artists to Watch, awarded RVA Mag’s Best Indie Artist, and Style Weekly’s Best of Richmond and Top 40 Under 40. Sparking new RVA traditions, her 3rd Annual Tour de Richmond in September features 10 days of consecutive shows, all varying styles, band members, and venues, encouraging audiences to get out and stamp their passport as a tourist in their own city. Another staple event is their 4th Annual Holiday Party, an immersive festive show experience to look forward to in December. Deau Eyes holds an eclectic roster of collaborations and has released two full-length albums, Let It Leave (2020) and Legacies (2022) both available everywhere you listen to music. She strives to capture the sound of her hometown pulling from influences in indie-rock, pop, Americana, and R&B while rooted in her love for storytelling.
Deau Eyes playing Shockoe Sessions Live! (August 7th 2024)