Fourteen additional artists announced for 2018 Richmond Folk Festival

Venture Richmond today announced 14 additional artists who will be performing at the 2018 Richmond Folk Festival on the weekend of October 12th – 14th, joining the previously announced lineup of acts.

This year’s program includes a group of diverse musicians and dancers from around the world; six of these artists carry on cultural traditions that have never been featured at the festival before.

In addition to previously announced artists, including gospel, soul, and rhythm and blues icon Mavis Staples and award-winning Irish musician Jarlath Henderson, New Orleans bounce music pioneer Ricky B will perform, as will Chinese wind and percussion masters, the Zhou Family Band, rising jazz star Brianna Thomas, and many more.

With talented performers on seven stages, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The Richmond Folk Festival’s dedication to opening eyes, ears, and hearts to cultural traditions from all over the world has helped it become the largest festival of its kind in the country. And, thanks to the support of community sponsors and individual donors, the three-day festival remains completely free to the public.

“It’s incredibly special to watch Richmonders gather each year to discover and celebrate these rich cultural traditions,” Venture Richmond executive director Lisa Sims said. “We are so grateful to the community for keeping the festival going strong all of these years. It has become a Richmond tradition all its own.”

Today’s announced performers

Brianna Thomas (jazz)
New York, New York

Cora Harvey Armstrong (gospel)
Richmond, Virginia

Jeff Little Trio (Blue Ridge piano trio)
Boone, Virginia

Larry Bland & the Volunteer Choir (gospel choir)
Richmond, Virginia

Linda Gail Lewis (rockabilly)Austin, Texas

The New York Crimean Tatar Ensemble (Crimean Tatar)
Brooklyn, New York

Pan Franek, Zosia & the Polka Towners (polka)
Muskegon, Michigan

Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus (reggae)
Los Angeles, California

Ricky B (New Orleans bounce)
New Orleans, Louisiana

Sona Jobarteh (Manding griot)
Kartong, The Gambia

Tribu Baharú (Afro-Colombian champeta)
Bogotá, Colombia

Vishtèn (Acadian)
Prince Edward Island and Magdalen Islands, Québec

Zhou Family Band (traditional wind and percussion music from central-eastern China)

Anhui Province, China

Zuni Olla Maidens (Zuni dance and song)
Zuni, New Mexico

Previously announced performers

Bounxeung Synanonh (Laotian khaen)
Fresno, California

Claire Lynch (bluegrass)
Nashville, Tennessee

Farah Yasmeen Shaikh (Kathak dance)
San Francisco, California

Jarlath Henderson (Irish)
County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (blues and boogie-woogie piano)
Vancouver, British Columbia

Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners (zydeco)
Elton, Louisiana

Lulo Reinhardt (Gypsy jazz)
Koblenz, Germany

Mavis Staples (gospel, soul, rhythm and blues)
Chicago, Illinois

Orquesta el Macabeo (salsa)
Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico

Tamburaški Sastav Ponoć (tamburitza)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania