(RICHMOND, VA) – City and corporate leaders announced the inaugural Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont, featuring some of the biggest names in local, national and international jazz. The festival will be held August 14-15 at the 100-acre Maymont park and museum in Richmond, Virginia.

The two-day, multi-stage event, with Altria Group serving as the presenting sponsor, will feature more than 25 artists representing mostly jazz, as well as other diverse music genres. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Maymont Foundation, the Richmond Jazz Society and Educational Learning Opportunities. Artists scheduled to perform include Chaka Khan, Boney James, Poncho Sanchez, Norman Brown, Stanley Clarke, Ledisi, Chuck Mangione, Rick Braun and Richard Elliott, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Alex Bugnon, and many more. Local performers include Sharon Rae North and Plunky and Oneness.

The festival offers an experience unlike any other in the Richmond region, according to Jennifer Hunter, Altria Client Services’ Vice President of Corporate Affairs.  Along with high-caliber music, concert-goers will enjoy wine tastings from Altria Group’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, watch chef demonstrations, take self-guided tours of the Maymont grounds and meet the Festival’s musicians, she said.

“Altria Group has been a strong supporter of the arts for more than 50 years,” Hunter said. “We believe that cultural events such as the Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont help make our headquarters community vibrant and engaging for our employees, their families and neighbors.  We are pleased to be a part of this exciting, new event for the region.”

The festival will be held from noon to 10 p.m. on August 14 and from noon to 9 p.m. on August 15. Pre-sale tickets, bought in advance, are $25 for one day or $40 for a two-day pass. Also, tickets will be sold at the gate, during the event, for $30 for one day, or $50 for a two-day pass.  Maymont will be open only to festival ticket holders during the two-day event. Indoor exhibits will be closed.

In addition to being presented by Altria Group, the Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont has Verizon and Dominion as stage sponsors, and also Richmond BMW, the Virginia Lottery, NBC12 and WCVE Public Radio as sponsors. For more information, visit www.jazzatmaymont.com.

– The information above was provided by Angela L. Flagg at Maymont.