Massive Outdoor Free Concerts Feature Diverse Genres in Downtown Charlottesville, April 15-17
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (February 4, 2016) – The 5th Annual Tom Tom Founders Festival returns to Charlottesville this April for a downtown music festival with dozens of free, outdoor concerts. Genres range from r&b to bluegrass, jazz to funk, indie rock, blues, reggae, and everything in between. In 2015, the block parties drew over 15,000 attendees.
“April is my favorite time to be in Charlottesville. As the Spring begins, everyone’s ready to get outside. What better way to bring the community together than a Festival? By activating under-utilized sections of town, closing down streets, and filling them with eclectic creativity, residents not only see our City in a new way, but they also get to know one another. And for tourists, they are left with an incredible impression of Charlottesville,” commented Festival Director, Paul Beyer. “At Tom Tom’s core are the ideas of community and creative placemaking—and we showcase that in all of our events.”
Interviews available with Festival Director Paul Beyer and select performers.
Please contact Lucas Czarnecki for more information.
FRIDAY NIGHT BLOCK PARTY
Lee Park, 5-11pm, April 15th
Tom Tom’s signature Friday Block Party returns to Lee Park this April. Following the Founders Summit—a day of talks from the nation’s most innovative founders—the Block Party kicks off a weekend of celebrations in the heart of Downtown. This free, outdoor bash will feature funk, r&b, dance rock, and soul, a craft beer garden, and children’s activities, alongside a technology mixer with 100+ regional startups.
SATURDAY PICNIC DAY
Lee Park, 12-6pm, April 16th
The Fourth Annual Picnic Day is a free, all-day throwdown in Lee Park. Activities extend along Charlottesville’s pedestrian mall and throughout the Farmers Market, including iron chef competitions, business showcases, pitch competitions, art performances, and a mid-atlantic arts and crafts fair.
SUNSET CONCERT IN THE PARK
Lee Park, 6-9pm, April 16th
This year, Tom Tom is expanding its musical lineup to include a headlining Sunset Concert to cap off the Picnic Day.
SUNDAY BLOCK PARTY
12 – 6pm, April 17th
Join friends and neighbors for public art, live music, and top notch food. Tom Tom’s final block party closes the week with all-local bluegrass, indie rock, and country.
PORCHELLA
Various Locations, 6 – 8pm, April 17th
Charlottesville’s historic Belmont neighborhood hosts acoustic concerts on front porches throughout Graves St, Monticello Rd, and Goodman Ave.
ABOUT TOM TOM FOUNDERS FESTIVAL
The 5th Annual Founders Festival is a week of concerts, talks, competitions and public art that connect hundreds of bands, startups, and visionaries, this April 11-17 in Charlottesville, Va. Tom Tom is a nonprofit that hosts dozens of events each year to celebrate and empower the founders of creative, civic, and entrepreneurial ventures. In 2015, Tom Tom had attendance of over 26,200, showcased over 400 community organizations, and had an economic impact of $1.5M on the community of Charlottesville.
