Phase2RVA Makes Its Debut as Richmond’s Electronic Scene Continues to Expand
By Kayla Putman · July 13, 2026 · 4 min read read
Category: Music
Phase II hosts their debut show in Downtown featuring Canadian DJ IDHS, adding to the growing creative community within the Richmond electronic scene.
RICHMOND, Va. — Some shows announce themselves with giant marquees and flashing lights. Others send you down an alleyway behind a restaurant, stamp your hand, hand you a Pokémon card and point you toward a fire escape.
That was my introduction to Phase II.
On Saturday, July 11, Richmond’s newest electronic music collective officially launched its first event inside 360ism Studios, in downtown Richmond near the Virginia State Capitol.
The entrance was unconventional. From the street, it almost looked like attendees had arrived at Capitol Waffle Shop by mistake. Instead, guests were guided through an alley before climbing a fire escape into what felt like someone’s creative studio.
Inside, RVA Soundsystems delivered a wall of low-end frequencies that shook the room with Richmond’s signature 140 bass sound. Local artists A# Sharpe and KKMG warmed up the crowd before Canadian producer IDHS closed out the night. Between filming clips for KaylaOnTheGround and taking notes, I found myself constantly putting my camera down just to dance.
The crowd did the same.
The energy reminded me of local club nights from years ago, when the focus wasn’t bottle service or VIP sections. It felt like a neighborhood gathering where everyone knew someone, newcomers were welcomed and the music remained the center of attention.
But Phase2 wasn’t created overnight.
For co-founder Connor Freche,it began after a difficult chapter in his personal life. Following his divorce, he purchased DJ equipment as a hobby. His goal wasn’t to headline major festivals or chase fame. He simply wanted to mix music alongside friends in the city he calls home.
Those casual sessions eventually turned into regular meetups before evolving into livestreams known as “The Homie Throwdown.” As more local DJs joined the sessions and audiences continued to grow, the group realized they had built something larger than a living room gathering.
That momentum became “A Threat of a Good Time,” Phase II’s inaugural event.
Today, Phase II is led by Freche alongside Jeremy McKenzie and Ronie Dror. The trio has also received guidance from Michael of Flower Patch Productions and Hunter of High Class Degens while developing the collective’s vision.
That vision extends well beyond hosting shows.
Along with livestreams and live events, Phase2 plans to expand into artist management and music distribution. One of its first projects includes releasing an upcoming EP from Richmond artist Cab Please later this year.
“We’re going to drop that and try to expand things a little bit more to really put artists in the forefront,” Freche said. “Art is extremely important to me.”
When I asked what comes next, Freche smiled but remained careful not to reveal too much.
The group’s second event is already in the works and expected to be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, The Homie Throwdown will continue, providing another platform for local artists to perform, experiment and introduce themselves to new audiences.
That commitment reflects the mission Phase2 has built its organization around.
The collective describes its purpose as fostering community through art, performance and shared experiences. Its mission emphasizes supporting artists, creating welcoming environments for performers and prioritizing collaboration over competition.
As I continue covering Richmond’s underground electronic music scene, I’ve started noticing something.
The same volunteers, photographers, promoters and artists continue showing up across different events, helping build spaces where creativity can thrive. The faces may change positions from event to event, but the commitment to supporting one another remains consistent.
That may be Richmond’s greatest strength.
In larger music markets, creative communities can become crowded with competition. Here, the underground feels more collaborative than territorial. Artists celebrate each other’s wins, promoters share resources and audiences continue supporting new ideas simply because someone cared enough to build them.
Phase II may be Richmond’s newest promotion team, but it already feels connected to a larger movement happening across the city.
The growth of Richmond’s electronic music scene is not being defined only by bigger venues or larger lineups. It is being shaped by the people creating opportunities, building communities and taking chances on new ideas.
Overall, new creatives have entered the chat, adding to the growing and healthy creative community that we have here in Central Virginia.
To learn more about Phase2RVA, upcoming events and The Homie Throwdown livestreams, follow @phase2rva on Instagram.
Next up on the lineup: Big Dub Music Festival returns to Southern PA June 21-25, 2026, followed by Allianz Amphitheatre’s first EDM show featuring Tape B and Levity on July 31.