FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Sims
Deputy Director
Venture Richmond
Tel: 804.788.6466
Fax: 804.788.6477
lsims@venturerichmond.com
www.venturerichmond.com
Beloved Festival Celebrates 25 years
October 5-6, 2013
_______________________________________________________
Attendees are asked to bring photographs
to help document history of the Festival
and Historic Jackson Ward
RICHMOND, VA – The 2nd Street Festival, presented by Altria and Dominion, returns for
the 25th year, Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 5-6, to celebrate the rich culture of the historic
Jackson Ward neighborhood. The FREE event is produced by Venture Richmond.
This year, the Festival features headliners Morris Day and the Time and Be’la Dona
on Saturday, and on Sunday premier Virginia gospel artists Maggie Ingram and the
Ingramettes will close out the festival.
As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration, event organizers Venture Richmond are
working with the Black History Museum and Cultural Center and the Valentine
Richmond History Center to document the history and memories of 2nd Street, the
Festival, and of the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood. As part of the project, Festival
2
attendees are invited to bring photographs of the neighborhood and Festival from years
past, which will be scanned on site.
The “Bistro Stage” this year will be re-named the Nina’s Bistro Stage in recognition of
Festival Founder Nina Abady, a university instructor/lawyer turned development
professional who founded several downtown events that helped assist in the
revitalization of downtown Richmond. Before her death in 1993, Abady was a founder of
one of Venture Richmond’s predecessor organizations, Downtown Presents, and was
also the founder of such events as Friday Cheers and The Big Gig.
As always, the 2nd Street Festival takes place the first full weekend in October. Over the
years it has grown to be one of the Mid-Atlantic's largest street festivals. Nearly 40,000
people visit historic Jackson Ward to reminisce about the days when 2nd Street was the
heart and soul of Richmond's African American community, and was known as “the
Harlem of the South.” The festival features four stages of musical entertainment, along
with food vendors, a marketplace, a Kidz Zone programmed by the Children’s Museum
of Richmond, and Artists Row featuring Kelvin Henderson, Larry “Poncho” Brown,
Karen Buster, Carren Clarke- Mcadoo , Natasha D. Powell and Richard D. Wilson, Jr.
Morris Day and the Time
Born in Minneapolis, Morris Day went to school with the world-famous pop artist Prince,
singing in his first band, Grand Central. The Time was originally created as Prince's
alter-ego, and after looking at several lead vocalists, Prince ultimately chose Day, his
high school friend. Soon after, Morris Day and the Time were cast in "Purple Rain,"
which captured the exploding Minneapolis music scene at its peak.
Morris Day & The Time soon burst onto the public scene with the self-titled album The
Time (1981), which included "Get it Up," "Cool," and "Girl." The group went on to record
3
three more albums, including 1982's What Time is It? (featuring "777-9311," "Wild and
Loose," "Walk," and "Gigolos Get Lonely Too") and 1984's Ice Cream Castle (which
included the hit "Jungle Love"). After recording these albums, Morris Day launched his
solo career, releasing three discs: The Color of Success (1985), Daydreaming (1987),
and Guaranteed (1992). Combined sales of Morris Day's solo work and The Time's
releases is in excess of 10 million units.
After a lengthy hiatus in the late '90s and early '00s, Day returned to the scene with his
latest solo album, It's About Time (2004). The disc combines classic old school sounds
with new trends, all laced together with Day's energetic vocals and witty lyrics, and
complimented by his trademark smooth-as-silk dance moves.
Day remains a popular concert draw, fronting a revamped lineup of The Time, including
originals Jellybean Johnson on drums and Monte Moir on keyboards. The band was
invited to perform on Prince's direct to video concert film, "Rave Un2 The Year 2000", in
December 1999. His latest album was released in 2011 and is called Condensate.
Be’la Dona
Washington DC is the birthplace of this exciting and diverse All Female Band. Be’la
Dona is so unique in their musical presentation that they have branded their style as
“Sensual Crank”. This unique style commands an impressive drawing power, attracting
many beloved fans and local promoters. Versatility is the group’s main
4
attribute. They have the ability to play any music genre from Rock, R&B, Gospel, Pop,
Jazz and of course their hometown music Go-Go. As the ladies of Be’la Dona continue
to perform in the DC area and abroad, their acclaim and demand is growing as new
ears hear their unique style.
Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes
For more than five decades Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes, one of Virginia’s
premier gospel ensembles, has been bringing its music and ministry to congregations in
the Tidewater and Piedmont. For Evangelist Ingram, it’s always been a family affair, and
three generations are now represented in the group. For too long this exceptional family
group has been one of the state’s best-kept secrets. Maggie Ingram and the
Ingramettes’ commanding, spirit-filled performances demonstrate the extraordinary
depth of talent in American gospel.
Maggie Ingram’s odyssey began on a plantation in rural Georgia. She was born Maggie
Lee Dixon in Douglas, Georgia on July 4, 1930, in the midst of the Great Depression.
The fourth of six children born to Elder Reason and Evangelist Mother Pauline Dixon,
Maggie spent her early days in the cotton and tobacco fields of the Mulholland
Plantation in Coffee County where she learned to sing and to play the piano.
At age 16 she married Thomas Jefferson Ingram, and had five children before moving
to Miami, Florida, where the couple became active in the ministry at the Wells Temple
Church. Within a few years Maggie had formed the Ingramettes with her children, and
5
the group was soon singing at churches, gospel fests and conferences throughout
Florida. In 1958 her husband Thomas left to return to Georgia, and Maggie found
herself struggling to keep the family together.
Ingram moved the family to Richmond, Virginia where they joined Love’s Temple
Church of God in Christ, and began singing in and around the city. The group was soon
offered a recording contract with Nashboro Records, and made several albums before
switching to GosPearl Records in the 1980s.
Maggie Ingram expanded her ministry into the greater community. It was largely through
her efforts that “Family Day” activities were instituted in Virginia prison camps. In 1970,
the Greyhound Corporation honored Ingram as “Woman of the Year.” In 1980 Maggie
Ingram became Evangelist Ingram, and several of her children have followed in her
footsteps.
Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes is comprised of Evangelist Maggie Ingram, her son
Lucious Ingram on keyboards, daughter Rev. Almeta Ingram-Miller singing first soprano,
and granddaughter Cheryl Maroney-Beaver singing second alto. Rounding out the
vocals is Valerie Stewart (first alto). The band includes Charles Williams (lead guitar),
Marcus Washington (drums), and Vic Elliot (bass guitar).
This FREE event is produced and managed by Venture Richmond. Venture Richmond is a non-profit
organization which engages business and community leaders in partnering with the City of Richmond to
enhance the vitality of the community, particularly Downtown, through economic development, marketing,
promotion, advocacy and events. Venture Richmond also produces Easter on Parade, Friday Cheers
and the Richmond Folk Festival, and partners with the Richmond Sportsbackers to produce Dominion
Riverrock. For more information visit www.venturerichmond.com.
6
Second Street Festival 2013
STAGE SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)
SATURDAY, October 5
WAVERLY R. CRAWLEY MAIN STAGE (2ND & Marshall Streets)
11:30am – 12:30pm
KG Experience
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Radio One- Richmond
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Johnny Houston & the Legends
3:30pm – 4:45pm
Be’la Dona
5:30 pm – 6:45pm
Morris Day & the Time
JOE KENNEDY JR JAZZ STAGE (Clay & 3rd Streets)
12:00 Noon – 12:50pm
Curv Appeal Quartet
1:10pm - 2:00pm
“Doors Wide Open”
2:20pm - 3:10pm
Glennroy & Company
3:30pm - 4:30pm
James “Saxsmo” Gates Quintet
4:50pm – 6:00pm
“Celebrating ‘The Deuce’ Featuring Doc Branch &
The Keynotes”
BISTRO STAGE (CLAY & 1ST Streets)
11:30 a.m. – 12:00pm
Drew Miles & Company
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Stan Scott Trio
2:00pm – 2:45pm
Rock Richmond (line dancing)
3:15pm – 4:00pm
7 Shrunken Heads
4:30pm – 5:30pm
All 4 One
EGGLESTON HOTEL COMMUNITY STAGE (2nd & Leigh Streets)
12:00pm – 12:45pm
City Dance Theatre
1:30pm – 2:00pm
SPARC
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Spicy Divas (line dancing)
3:45pm – 4:45 pm
Sisterly Grace Dance & Modeling Studio
SUNDAY, October 2
WAVERLY R. CRAWLEY MAIN STAGE (2ND & Marshall Streets)
1:00 pm – 1:30pm
Pilgrim Journey & Mt. Olivet Baptist Churches Young Voices of
Praise
2:00pm – 2:45pm
3:30pm – 4:30pm
5:00pm – 6:00pm
F.A.B.C. Contemporary Gospel Choir
Robert Bohannon & The Sounds of the Annointed
Maggie Ingram & The Ingramettes
7
JOE KENNEDY JR JAZZ STAGE (Clay & 3rd Streets)
1:00pm - 1:50pm
Abinnet Berhanu Quartet
2:10pm – 3:10pm
“Footprints”
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Quintessential Jazz
4:50pm – 6:00pm
Debo Dabney & The Happy Band
BISTRO STAGE (CLAY & 1ST Streets)
1:30pm – 2:00 pm
Trey Cook & the Next Level
2:30 pm – 3:15pm
ACCLAIM
3:30pm – 4:15pm
Tuesday Verses
4:45pm – 5:30pm
Brunswick
EGGLESTON HOTEL COMMUNITY STAGE (2nd & Leigh Streets)
1:30pm – 2:00pm
Sixth Mt Zion Baptist Church Music & Movement
Ministries
2:30pm – 3:00pm
Ezibu Muntu African Dancers
3:15pm – 3:45pm
Inyan Gospel Choir - Henrico High School
4:00 pm – 4:45pm
D & G Line Dancing
5:00pm – 5:30pm
Ephesus Drum Line
Venture Richmond, 200 S. Third Street, Richmond, VA 23219
###