CarMax Park kicks off with a throwback concert featuring Big Daddy Kane, Tone Loc and Steve Earle

Richmond’s CarMax Park will host its first-ever concert on March 26 with the Taking Flight Festival, a lineup that pairs hip-hop icons Big Daddy Kane and Tone Loc with Americana singer-songwriter Steve Earle and Texas-rooted rockers Reckless Kelly.

The festival, presented by 804Live, spans genres from golden-age rap to country storytelling and red-dirt rock. The show is exclusive to Richmond Flying Squirrels Season Membership Holders and has not been made available to the general public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m. Details on season memberships are available at SquirrelsBaseball.com.

“We couldn’t be more excited to officially open CarMax Park with the Taking Flight Festival and welcome fans to experience this incredible new venue for the first time,” said Lou DiBella, Managing General Partner of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. “This concert is just the beginning of what CarMax Park will bring to the Richmond community.”

The lineup spans decades and genres

Big Daddy Kane, the Grammy-winning Brooklyn MC who helped define lyricism in hip-hop during the late ’80s, tops the bill. A member of the Juice Crew, Kane built a solo career known for technical skill, choreographed live performances and a signature tailored look that influenced hip-hop fashion.

Tone Loc broke through in 1989 with “Wild Thing,” built on a sample from Van Halen’s “Jamie’s Cryin'” and co-written by Young MC. His album “Loc-ed After Dark” became only the second rap release to hit number one on the pop charts.

Steve Earle has spent his career straddling the line between country, folk and rock. A protege of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, Earle broke through with “Guitar Town” in 1986 and has picked up multiple Grammys in the years since. His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez and The Pretenders, among others.

Reckless Kelly rounds out the lineup with more than 25 years of blending Austin rock with cowboy poetry. The band has released 10 studio albums, toured internationally and established the annual Braun Brothers Reunion festival in Challis, Idaho.

804Live aims to make CarMax Park a year-round destination

The festival is the first public event for 804Live, which launched in 2025 to program entertainment at CarMax Park. The company plans to host events ranging from small gatherings to large-scale productions, using the venue’s hospitality areas and flexible spaces to position CarMax Park as an entertainment destination beyond baseball season.