The 2026 Richmond Jazz and Music Festival took place this past weekend, August 8 and 9, at Maymont with over 20 performers. It was a hot and humid weekend, with the majority of festivalgoers either camped out in shaded lawn chairs or arriving right before sunset. Amidst the heat, people showed out all weekend long, energized and belting all the classics. And with staggered performances across the two main stages, festivalgoers didn’t have to miss a single thing.
Over the past 16 years, the festival has curated a stunning array of musicality that spans multiple generations, genres, and countries. It’s a festival that brings music lovers of all ages together, and this year was especially multigenerational.
The Virginia is for Lovers Stage was graced with the lyrical potency of Chicago’s old school and new school, Lupe Fiasco and Noname. Later on at the Dominion Energy Stage, the crowd was transported back to the origins of hip-hop with beatbox legend Doug E. Fresh. Down to the Bone and Tiana Major9 brought the UK flair to VA, with Tiana paying homage to Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry on Their Own.” The Blackbyrds and Johnny Gill brought the “oldies” to the stage on Sunday, performing hits like “Fallin’ Like Dominoes” and “That’s My Baby,” respectively.
Another standout was Samara Joy, whose soft, operatic runs leapt from her with poise and grace. The Wooten Brothers were also a weekend highlight, making a new fan out of me
Richmond-bred artists such as Ms. Jaylin Brown, Jay Whit, and Plunky & Oneness brought every last bit of soul to the stage and showed us the immense talent that’s been cultivated right here in Richmond for generations.
And to top it off, Erykah Badu took us on a spaceship ride through her timeless discography and beyond. Utilizing multiple looping and sound machines, she gave new life and texture to her well-loved classics, from “On & On” to “Window Seat.” She had the crowd on their feet, singing, laughing, lighting incense, and completely entranced by her interactive light show. If there ever was an Erykah Badu performance to witness, this was the one!
The festival also featured an array of food, clothing, art, jewelry, and book vendors, from Luxury Lab to Johnalynn Holland to Croaker’s Spot to Literature and Libations.
It was a weekend of music, community, and “taking it easy,” as Ms. Jaylin Brown instructed us through song. A perfect weekend to finish off the summer!
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