When CarMax Park opens its gates to the public for the first time later this month, the first sounds inside Richmond’s new ballpark will not be the crack of a bat — they will be live music.
The Richmond Flying Squirrels have announced that the stadium’s first public event will be a March 26 “Taking Flight Festival,” a concert designed as both a community thank-you and a preview of the venue before the team’s inaugural game in the new park. The lineup brings together artists from several musical eras and genres, but it also places a Richmond act squarely at the center of the moment: Butcher Brown.
The Grammy-nominated Richmond band has built an international reputation for its genre-bending blend of jazz, hip-hop, funk, and soul. Formed by musicians who met while studying at Virginia Commonwealth University, Butcher Brown has spent the past decade developing a sound that reflects Richmond’s creative ecosystem — improvisational, collaborative, and rooted in multiple musical traditions.
The group’s catalog moves comfortably between instrumental jazz explorations and groove-driven songs influenced by hip-hop production and classic R&B. Their projects have drawn attention from jazz institutions and mainstream music audiences alike, earning festival bookings, national touring opportunities, and collaborations across genres. In recent years, the band has become one of the city’s most recognizable musical exports.
Embed from Getty ImagesTheir presence on the CarMax Park lineup connects Richmond’s newest entertainment venue to the city’s existing creative community. While the concert features nationally known performers including Big Daddy Kane, Tone Loc, Steve Earle, and Reckless Kelly, Butcher Brown’s inclusion gives the night a distinctly local dimension.
For the band, the performance represents another milestone in a career that has steadily elevated Richmond’s profile within the contemporary jazz and independent music scenes. For the city, it places a homegrown act on the stage during a moment intended to introduce a major new public venue.
Embed from Getty ImagesAccording to the Flying Squirrels, the concert will also serve as an operational preview of the stadium, allowing attendees to experience the facility’s concessions, seating areas, and entertainment capabilities before the first baseball game is played there.
If the evening unfolds as planned, the debut of CarMax Park will highlight not only a new chapter for Richmond baseball, but also the artists who help define the city’s cultural identity. With Butcher Brown helping open the stage, Richmond’s musical voice will be part of the park’s story from the very beginning.
Leave a Reply