Get ready for the Richmond Folk Festival with this special showcase featuring some of the artists appearing at the Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage! The Richmond Folk Festival is one of Virginia's largest events, drawing visitors from all over the country to downtown Richmond's historic riverfront. The Festival is a FREE three-day event that got its start as the National Council for the Traditional Arts’ National Folk Festival held in Richmond from 2005-2007.

Richmond has long been celebrated as a “Gospel town” for its legacy of vibrant Black gospel groups and choirs. Among the city’s generations of countless groups, the Legendary Ingramettes have become widely considered the city’s “First Family of Gospel,” uplifting audiences for more than six decades while becoming beloved cultural icons in the community. Music is one of many forms of ministry they have practiced, and the one they are most famous for. The storied group was originally formed by evangelist “Mama” Maggie Ingram, a single mother who steadfastly taught her five small children to accompany her as her “Ingramettes.”

The Ingramettes bring the spirit of a Sunday morning service to the stage, enthralling audiences at such prestigious venues as the Kennedy Center, National Folk Festival, and countless others across the United States and abroad. In 2020, Almeta and Carrie were presented with honorary doctorates (D.S.M.) from Higher Learning Bible Institute International Seminary, just as Ingram had received from Virginia Triumphant College and Seminary in 2011, a remarkable achievement for a woman with only a third-grade education. The Ingramettes were honored with the NEA’s 2022 National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor the United States bestows on traditional artists.

Alexander Mack is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, producer and performer from Richmond whose music bridges generations through soul, movement and storytelling. Rooted in the musicality of jazz and shaped by R&B, hip-hop, dance and soul, Alexander creates groove-driven records that feel timeless without feeling stuck in the past. His sound balances live musicianship, modern production and an instinctive understanding of rhythm, melody and performance. His latest album, You Had To Be There, brings that vision into full focus. Built around movement, memory, love, nightlife and self-discovery, the project follows a young man dancing his way through the experiences, relationships and unforgettable nights that shape who he becomes. He has shared stages with acclaimed artists including Jodeci, T.I., MC Lyte, October London, Muni Long, The Chuck Brown Band and Masego, while continuing to carve out a creative lane that feels entirely his own.

More than a vocalist or producer, Alexander Mack is a complete artist — building music meant to be experienced, remembered and returned to. Alexander Mack was recently honored as one of Style Magazine’s “40 Under 40.”

Jared Pool is a multi-instrumentalist who makes his home in Richmond, VA. His love of music was born from attending bluegrass festivals as a kid while growing up with other diverse musical influences from the Tidewater area. After completing a jazz studies degree, Pool moved to Richmond in 2009 where he began working with various regional acts and has worked extensively with the Virginia Folklife Program. In 2016, Jared was called to play mandolin and join up with the legendary guitarist, Larry Keel. Since then, he’s shared the stage with Sam Bush, Tyler Childers, The Travellin’ McCourys and Steve Earle. Jared Pool has been featured on recordings with Rob Ickes, Joan Osborne, Sherman Holmes and Richmond’s beloved gospel band, The Legendary Ingramettes. As if often the case, Jared will be wearing many hats at this year's Richmond Folk Festival, joining the local star-studded ensemble for the Soul of the City: Richmond Celebrates D'Angelo, the Legendary Ingramettes, and Charlottesville musical collective The Central Virginia Bluegrass Destroyers, many of whom will join him for this special evening.

The Center for Cultural Vibrancy is a nonprofit based in Charlottesville, Virginia that creates and cultivates opportunities for cultural connections that support living traditions and energize communities. The CCV is working to create a more empathetic world where people respect, understand and celebrate one another’s culture. Learn more at www.culturalvibrancy.org

With only 107 seats, shows at Révéler are intimate and immersive. A romantic venue with exquisite sound and dreamy vibes, Révéler offers a unique selection of cocktails, wines, beers, bubbles, and non-alcoholic beverages. Our kitchen delivers small plates crafted with care.