Bringing back Blacksburg hardcore

BLACKSBURG, Va. (Nov. 20, 2025) - Blacksburg Hardcore is an organization dedicated to bringing hardcore music back to Blacksburg and sharing the community that comes with it.

Hardcore is a punk rock subgenre that is generally faster, harder and more aggressive than other subgenres. Lizzy Jacobs, the club’s founder, started working to put the club together in April of 2025. 

“I started going to Roanoke shows last year, ‘cause Roanoke has a big hardcore scene, and I was just kinda like, well, I might as well just start it here,” Jacobs said. “It can’t be that hard.”

Jacobs shared that before coming to Blacksburg, she also frequented hardcore shows in Maryland and D.C. She went to many when she was in high school and felt a sense of belonging with that music community, something she hopes to share with the people of Blacksburg.

The club has hosted four shows thus far, all of which have had high attendance rates. Despite there not being any hardcore shows in Blacksburg for 16 years, their very first show reached capacity before even starting. It remains the favorite show for many members.

Vulture Raid performs "Don't Look Back" at Blacksburg Hardcore's first show on Aug. 8, 2025 at VT Thrift. (Kailey Watson and Lan Krom)

Naiel Habtemichael, secretary and a co-founder of Blacksburg Hardcore, is an active member of numerous music-related organizations that work to host shows of varying genres in the area.

“We’re trying to fulfill a very specific demographic that we feel like is underrepresented in the scene,” Habtemichael said.

There aren’t any hardcore bands from Blacksburg, but the organization hopes Virginia Tech students and Blacksburg residents might be motivated to start some by seeing other bands in the genre play. Groups from as far as New Jersey have come to headline shows at VT Thrift and at houses around town.

Hardcore is not just about the music. The genre is characterized by a welcoming and inclusive community and anti-establishment ideals, similar to those of other punk rock genres. It’s credited with forming the straight edge movement, and shows are often all-ages.

“I have met the majority of my friends through the music scene,” said Sage Miles, a Blacksburg Hardcore photographer. “I really appreciate how a lot of people have similar values or ideals in their personal life too, and it comes out a lot through music.”

Jacobs further describes hardcore as a safe place for people.

Members have already begun to see some of the impacts of the club, with other organizations beginning to book hardcore bands and more bands from further out of town.

“The more people you have contributing and the more variety you have, the more that the audience, or the community in your scene, feels more confident in trying it themselves,” Habtemichael said.

The music scene in Blacksburg has been slowly rebuilding itself after a very quiet period, partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local organizations have worked hard to uplift local artists and community members who want to participate in and attend shows of varying genres. Some of these include OUITHEVILLAGE, WUVT, EDM Club and now Blacksburg Hardcore.

“It takes one person to really believe that there can be more being done, and that person to go for it and try it,” Habtemichael said. “It might be a swing and a miss, but even when you miss, I think even just having the swing can inspire people to help you and can teach you more about how you can improve and what more you can be doing for your community.”

Blacksburg Hardcore has more shows planned for the upcoming year, hoping to continue to inspire others to share and make music they resonate with.