Audacy’s free festival stages to showcase Hampton Roads talent in Virginia Beach

VIRGINIA BEACH — An Oceanfront music festival slated for the end of the month will not only include ticketed concerts on the beach, but free local-centric entertainment on two resort area stages.

Audacy’s Homegrown Stages will feature live music performances, a step show and a fashion show, among other events April 26-28.

The free activations will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the 17th and 24th street stages.

“We get to represent our stuff,” said Gabe Niles, a Hampton Roads artist who curated the lineup. He described the activations as a “local wave” of entertainment. Niles also gathered artists for the Something in the Water community stages last year.

The last weekend in April had previously been held by Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water Festival, but that’s now slated for October. The timeframe is traditionally College Beach Weekend, when thousands of students from historically Black colleges and universities vacation in Virginia Beach before exam week.

Audacy, a national radio company that owns several local stations, stepped up to provide entertainment at the request of the city.

Inside the ticketed festival, NLE Choppa, Tee Grizzley and Shordie Shordie will take the stage Friday night. But the free portion of the weekend includes DJ music on 17th Street Stage each day and a college Greek step show Friday.

“I’m so happy to be a part of it,” said Jaaziniah “Tomii” Toyco, 24, of Virginia Beach. She plans to cue up a mix of house, reggae, R&B and hip/hop.

Toyco, a student at Tidewater Community College, said the weekend’s “homegrown” aspect will give other college students from out of town insight into Hampton Roads’ creative talent.

Audacy announces headliners for April festival at Virginia Beach Oceanfront

On 24th Street Stage, an all-female music concert will kick off the weekend. Musical artist and creative director Tiffany “Tiffa G” Gregory, a Portsmouth native, will be among the performers.

Gregory, who graduated from Norfolk State University and now lives in Los Angeles, has attended College Beach Weekends in Virginia Beach.

“I already know what the vibe is,” Gregory said. “It’s really just a chance for people to let their hair down.”

She’ll perform hip-hop and electronic dance songs.

“Music that will definitely get you moving,” Gregory said. “I mean, who doesn’t like to dance?”

Also on 24th Street, Vincent “DJ Vinny Del Sol” Jones will host “Tapped In,” a local artist showcase that he runs in Hampton Roads area. Among the performers Friday: Niiasii, B Michelle, Bennett Walker Wales, Shao & Friends and others, with musical genres including R&B, rap, pop and rock.

“You can see a lot of diversity in the sound, a lot of diversity from the community,” said Jones, 37, a Norfolk resident. “We want to be able to bring people who have a bigger platform along with people who are up and coming.”

In addition to Friday’s ticketed performances, Juicy J, Skilla Baby and 310babii are scheduled for the main stage Saturday.

Audacy recently faced criticism from some resort area business owners who were concerned the ticketed concerts on the beach at 31st Street, set to feature rap and hip-hop artists, will lack broad appeal and won’t generate tourism revenue. They also worried that profanity in the song lyrics amplified on the beach could offend tourists staying in hotels.

Bennett Zier, president of Audacy Virginia, has said the city wanted his company to put together a music concert and activities that would appeal to a young crowd, particularly college students, which Zier described as a demographic that’s hungry for that style of music.

“It is our initiative and our plan to really celebrate these young artists and to celebrate diversity,” he said.

A full schedule of events for Audacy’s Homegrown Stages will be available soon at audacyoceanfrontconcerts.com.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com