Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage

The Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage returns this year with another scintillating lineup of some of the finest traditional artists from across the Commonwealth and beyond. Joining our good friends at the Virginia Folklife Program at Virginia Humanities in their theme of “Riverlore,” we will christen our new home in the brand new Allianz Amphitheater with plenty of favorites from the River City.  Look out for a host of Richmond’s own including the explosive horns of the No BS! Brass Band, the soulful sounds of Rodney Stith, the infectiously danceable bomba y plena of Kadencia, and of course our beloved Sunday closers, the Legendary Ingramettes.

In addition we’re excited to welcome back some friends who have graced our stage through the years. We’ll revel in the Appalachian and Brazilian stylings of Danny Knicely, Cesar Garabini, and Fernanda Bravo and Virginia’s legendary bluegrass stalwarts the Lonesome River Band. We will also be treated to a few newcomers to our stage, including the gifted Americana artist Anya Hinkle and roots mountain music rising stars from Floyd, Virginia, the Alum Ridge Boys and Ashlee.

And in a very special Sunday set, the Richmond music community will come out in a show of support and love for one of our favorite artists, Justin Golden.

2025 has brought a big change for the Cultural Vibrancy Stage as our location has changed (and grown!), but the vibe and soul we’ve brought for more than two decades remains the same. Can’t wait to see you there!

Featured
Alum Ridge Boys and Ashlee
Alum Ridge Boys and Ashlee

classic bluegrass and country
Floyd, Virginia

Mining the fertile common ground between bluegrass, early country music, and traditional mountain music, The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee are one of Virginia’s torchbearers of the old time sound. Featuring the classic quintet of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, and bass, the band comprises five masterful musicians and singers who have immersed themselves in the dance music traditions of the Blue Ridge region and developed a deeply rooted old time and bluegrass sound.

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Anya Hinkle
Anya Hinkle

Ashville, NC
Americana

Anya Hinkle is a distinguished American singer-songwriter whose music captivates with its blend of Appalachian roots and contemporary folk influences. Known for her soul-stirring voice and evocative songwriting, Anya has carved out a significant niche in the Americana and folk music scenes. With a career that spans more than a decade, her artistry reflects a deep appreciation for tradition while pushing the boundaries of the genre.

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Danny Knicely, Cesar Garabini, and Fernanda Bravo
Danny Knicely, Cesar Garabini, and Fernanda Bravo

Appalachian and Brazilian traditions
Virginia and Brazil

If there’s one thing you can count on at the Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage, it is the presence of multi-instrumentalist and musical genius Danny Knicely. You can also be sure he’ll be up to something new. Danny has the uncanny ability to thrive in and elevate most any musical situation, and often melds the Appalachian folk music of his youth with the expansive types of music he has encountered in the diverse cultural communities of the U.S. and the world.

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Kadencia
Kadencia

Bomba y Plena
Richmond, VA 

Bomba y Plena are two distinct, yet often mentioned together, Afro-Puerto Rican musical traditions. They both express Puerto Rican resistance, resilience, and cultural identity, but have different origins, instruments, and rhythms. 

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The Legendary Ingramettes
The Legendary Ingramettes

Gospel
Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia, has long been celebrated as a “Gospel town” for its legacy of vibrant Black gospel groups and choirs. Among the city’s generations of countless groups, the Legendary Ingramettes have become widely considered the city’s “First Family of Gospel,” uplifting audiences for more than six decades while becoming beloved cultural icons in the community. Music is one of many forms of ministry they have practiced, and the one they are most famous for.

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Lonesome River Band
Lonesome River Band

Bluegrass
Meadows of Dan, Virginia

From the mid-1970s through early 1990s, bluegrass experienced a musical evolution. The high lonesome mountain vocals and deep country sound of first-generation bluegrass bands were augmented by a rock and roll energy and attitude. Bands like J.D. Crowe & the New South, Boone Creek, and, of course, the Lonesome River Band were key in creating this new sound.

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No BS! Brass Band
No BS! Brass Band

Brass Band
Richmond, Virginia

While most people associate funk-infused brass bands with New Orleans, the No BS! Brass Band has soundly put Richmond on the genre’s map. Founders Reggie Pace and Lance Koehler formed this 11-piece powerhouse band in which nearly every member has had conservatory training, holding various degrees in music. In putting together the compositions and arrangements, the “b.s.” has been stripped to give the audience something solid, unique, organic, real, and powerful.

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Rodney Stith
Rodney Stith

Classic Soul
Petersburg, Virginia

Born and raised in nearby Petersburg, Virginia, Rodney Stith has quickly become one of Virginia’s most beloved classic soul and R&B artists. Petersburg has traditionally been better known for gospel music than soul or R&B, although local Petersburg record shop owner Ben Allen recorded several local doo-wop and R&B groups in the late 1950s for his Nu-Kat Record label, including The Velvatones, The Five Roses and, most prominently,  the Continental Five. Still, the musical heartbeat of Petersburg’s African American community remained in the church.

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RVA Jams for Justin Golden
RVA Jams for Justin Golden

Richmond, Virginia

Join us for a very special set on Sunday afternoon as members of Richmond’s musical community come together in support of and love for one of the city’s favorite sons.

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Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage SCHEDULE

Saturday, October 11

  • 12:30-1:15               Anya Hinkle (Americana)

  • 1:45-2:45                 Kadencia (bomba y plena)

  • 3:15- 4:00                Danny Knicely, Cesar Garabini, and Fernanda Bravo (Appalachian/Brazilian)

  • 4:30- 5:15                Rodney Stith (classic soul)

  • 5:45-6:45                 No BS! Brass Band (brass band)

Sunday, October 12:

  • 12:15-1:00               Alum Ridge Boys and Ashlee (classic bluegrass and country)

  • 1:30- 2:45                RVA Jams for Justin Golden (blues and roots)

  • 3:00-4:00                 Lonesome River Band (bluegrass)

  • 4:30-5:30                 Legendary Ingramettes (gospel)

FAQ’s for the Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage at Allianz Amphitheater

ENTRY

  • 5th Street and on Brown’s Island Way

BAG POLICY:

  • Allow only clear plastic, vinyl, or pvc bags (maximum size 12" x 6" x 12") OR small clutch bags that don't need to be clear (maximum size 6" x 9"). All bags are subject to search upon entry.

  • The festival will provide a very limited number of clear plastic bags for temporary use.

  • There will be a bag check/valet option for those with full size bags at each entry.

  • Bag check hours: Saturday, October 11 from 11:30am-7:00pm and Sunday, October 12 from 11:30am-6:30pm

NOT PERMITTED:

  • No outside alcoholic beverages can be brought in or out. Drinks available for purchase in the venue.

  • No lawn chairs.

PERMITTED:

  • Strollers

  • Small blankets or beach towels

  • Up to 1 gallon of water can be carried in a factory sealed or empty bottle (no metal or glass water bottles).

ABOUT The Center for Cultural Vibrancy

The Center for Cultural Vibrancy creates and cultivates opportunities for cultural connections to support living traditions and energize communities. CCV contributes to a more empathetic world—one where people respect and celebrate one another’s cultural expressions—through sharing traditional arts, customs, and lore that promote cultural exchange, understanding, and honor artistic mastery. To learn more, visit CulturalVibrancy.org.

The Richmond Folk Festival Virginia Folklife Area is co-presented by the Virginia Folklife Program and the Center for Cultural Vibrancy