Gavin DeGraw in Richmond

About Gavin DeGraw

Gavin DeGraw is a singer-songwriter who broke through in the mid-2000s with an unapologetic blend of soul, rock, and pop sensibilities. He's best known for "I Don't Want to Be," which became the theme song for One Tree Hill and basically defined a generation's soundtrack to high school drama. His music centers on emotional directness—he's not interested in obscuring what he's feeling. Songs like "Chariot" and "Follow Through" showcase his ability to build from intimate verses into anthemic choruses that hit harder than you'd expect from someone working in such a straightforward idiom. DeGraw's lived a genuinely interesting life: he busked in New York for years before getting signed, dealt with a serious bicycle accident that sidelined him for a while, and just kept writing. He's maintained a steady touring schedule and recording career without ever becoming the kind of overexposed pop star that burns out. His appeal is durable because there's no pretense to it—just a guy with a strong voice and actual things to say about love, loss, and trying to figure out who you are.

DeGraw puts real energy into live shows without relying on production gimmicks. Crowds sing along hard on the hits, but he actually holds attention during deeper cuts because his voice and guitar work are substantial. People genuinely connect with what he's doing onstage.

Known for I Don't Want to Be, Chariot, Follow Through, Belief, In Love with a Girl

Gavin DeGraw + Richmond

Gavin DeGraw played SERVPRO Richmond Pavilion on September 5, 2018, with a 14-song set that mixed catalog staples with deeper material. Candy and Relative were pulls from the later albums that gave the set dimension, and She Holds a Key is the kind of deep cut that rewards the people who showed up early. The Elton John cover Take Me to the Pilot was a welcome surprise, and She Sets the City on Fire proved the newer singles could hold their own next to Chariot and Follow Through. The set closed with Not Over You and I Don't Want to Be. Richmond got a solid night.

Gavin DeGraw in Richmond News

• O.A.R. Plans Celebratory 2026 Three Decades Tour JamBase · Oct 30, 2025
• O.A.R. Plots ‘Three Decades’ Tour for 2026, ft. Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb, KT Tunstall + Phantom Planet Rock Cellar Magazine · Oct 30, 2025
• O.A.R. Announces Three Decades Tour with Special Guests Gavin DeGraw, Phantom Planet, Lisa Loeb and KT Tunstall antiMusic · Oct 30, 2025
• O.A.R. Announces Spring Fling Tour 2020 JamBase · Nov 6, 2019
• Innsbrook After Hours kicks off 2014 season Thursday RVANews · May 13, 2014

Live Music in Richmond

Richmond's music scene has always had room for artists who blur genre lines — the city respects craft and authenticity over trends. DeGraw's brand of soulful rock and pop sensibility should fit well here, where venues ranging from small clubs to larger theaters support artists doing their own songwriting. The city's got a decent history with singer-songwriters and artists who aren't afraid to get personal.

Richmond road trip to see Gavin DeGraw?

Stay in the Fan District, Richmond's most elegant neighborhood, where tree-lined streets and historic brownstones offer genuine character. Book a table at Mama J's or Edo's Squid, both understated and excellent. Spend your non-show hours at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture or wandering Maymont Park's formal gardens and James River views. The James River itself is worth a walk along Belle Isle. Post-show, grab drinks at The Bogart, a solid cocktail bar in a historic building near The National venue.