Meet Erin Lunsford, this week's guest editor! Erin is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist originally from Fincastle, Virginia. She's been making music and teaching voice in RVA since 2018. You might know her as the front woman of Richmond-based Erin & The Wildfire or from her solo residency @ Common House in 2023. Her lyrics embrace body positivity, self love, female empowerment, and inner growth.
Take it away, Erin...
Fuel The Body
Springtime has me in the flow creatively and I love to pair that with some coffee to keep me focused and productive. My favorite coffee spot is Buna Kurs Ethiopian Cafe. Woman owned and operated, this spot is so beautiful and has a perfect little patio in Jackson Ward. My go-to drink is the Honey Cardamom Latte - it's what dreams are made of. This shop also hosts a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony on Saturdays at 2pm as well as different community pop-ups like yoga, zumba, jewelry sales, traditional dinners, and music. The owner, Lily, is so sweet and works hard to bring the community together through her delicious Ethiopian food.
To keep my writing space feeling fresh and inspiring, I like to decorate with plants (like a lot of plants) and I love to listen to music that sparks my imagination. You can find gorgeous curated plants and a great selection of local vinyl at Shades Of Moss - RVA's Neighborhood House Plant & Indie Record Shop. This shop will help you pick out plants to suit your space and style and send you off with an indie record so you can enjoy your plant with the best possible vibes. Check out the Shades Of Moss IG for their plant classes and listening room events too. They also have mugs, totes, stickers, and books if you need some more retail therapy while you're there.
I'm biased, but I'm so excited to invite you to my single release show at The Get Tight Lounge this Saturday April 6th. My song "Lightning So Blue" will drop on all listening platforms Friday and we are hosting a show Saturday night to celebrate! I wrote this song to encourage women to feel good in their sexuality and confident in their ability to talk openly about pleasure. My band Erin & The Wildfire has been making music for over a decade and we are very proud to be a part of the dynamic Richmond music scene. This single release is part of a string of releases that we will compile into an album in 2025. The Get Tight Lounge is a relatively new venue in the RVA scene and they feature all kinds of music almost every night of the week. We are honored to have local jazz soul band Shera Shi opening up the night at 8pm. Doors at 7:30pm.
Erin Lunsford is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, piano) originally from Fincastle, Va and now located in Richmond, Va. Best known as the front-woman, lead vocalist and lyricist in touring indie-pop/soul band Erin & The Wildfire, her vocals have been described as soulful, expressive, and powerhouse and her effortless vocal process has been compared to Chris Stapleton, Eva Cassidy, and Susan Tedeschi.
Erin has a love for personal storytelling - rooted in a deep history of family folk music - that is highlighted by her poignant lyrics and unforgettable vocal prowess, as evidenced in her most recent releases.
The Wildfire’s “Touchy Feely,” was released in April 2022 after a year and a half of virtual songwriting. The lyrics are an exploration of self-love and self-acceptance through body positivity, inner child healing, and letting go of limiting thoughts to make space for growth. Female empowerment, the antithesis of a damsel in distress, is at the heart of Lunsford's music and message, making "The Damsel,” an intentionally ironic title for her solo album. The album takes a deep dive into unrequited love, family forgiveness, and coming-of-age in your 20s, and spans genres spouting from Erin's bluegrass roots and folding into her soulful, R&B vocal tendencies.
Erin & The Wildfire’s first show after 2020’s pandemic hiatus was a sold-out Friday Cheers in Richmond, Va in 2021. The band then made their debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage alongside Amy Helm, Chris Pierce, and Christian Lopez. E&TW has provided direct support for national tours including Sammy Rae & The Friends’ 2022 Follow Me Like the Moon Tour, Maggie Rose’s Summer 2022 Tour, and The Dip’s Fall 2019 Tour. They have shared the stage with other dynamic acts including Oh He Dead, Marcus King Band, Natalie Prass, Jill Scott, Butcher Brown, Mighty Joshua, The Village People, and Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds.
Solo, Lunsford has opened for Darrell Scott, Love Canon, Bruce Hornsby, Carbon Leaf, Love Canon, The Village People, Leon Russel and more, and performed with Keller Williams and Leftover Salmon, the Grammy-award winning newgrass band, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Pimps of Joytime.
