Lake Anna Jazz Fest is back for its fourth year on September 6–7, bringing two full days of music to Cooling Pond Brewery & Winery in Mineral. This year’s theme, “A Tribute to Vocal Jazz,” spotlights some of the genre’s finest voices—from multiple Grammy winners to rising local talent.

The two-day event runs a continuous schedule with performances on two stages, introducing a new act every hour. Leading the lineup are Janis Siegel and Trist Curless of The Manhattan Transfer, Vanessa Rubin, Stephanie Nakasian, and the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet. Local favorite Tina Hashemi returns with her quartet as well.

A special highlight is New York Voices, stopping at Lake Anna as part of their farewell tour after 38 years in show business. Their Saturday night show is next door at Callie Opie’s Orchard and requires a Silver or Gold ticket upgrade.

Other performers include Rachel Austin, Carol Covell, Sabine Wills with the Fredericksburg Big Band, Elle Jay & Spanglish, and Marilyn Brown of Antique Melody Show. Instrumental acts include the Beltway Brass Quintet, Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience featuring John D’earth, The Archosaurs of the Archtop, and returning to this year’s festival, Michael Hawkins & The Brotherhood.

The festival kicks off with a Friday evening donor reception featuring the Harry Wilson Group, offering an early preview of the weekend’s vibes.

The event is hosted by the “Lake Anna Jazz” organization whose President, Robert McBride, talked about the excitement surrounding this year’s show, saying, “These are some of the biggest names in music to visit, stay, and perform in this area since Lake Anna was formed.” He added, “In selecting the Cooling Pond Brewery as our venue, I wanted to avoid some of the things that bother me about live shows around here: like blasting music over the lake, imposing it on boaters and neighbors who might not be interested, and the unpleasantness of dealing with things like difficult parking, limited food choices, and porta-potties. We love the Cooling Pond location, with its spacious, modern accommodations and secluded outdoor stage, because it makes the experience better for our audience as well as for the of the neighboring community. The musicians we’ve hosted have had only great things to say about Lake Anna, their accommodations, the festival facilities, the dozens of imaginative vendors, and the reaction of the hundreds of people who attend each year.”

For a limited time, advance-sale general admission tickets are $20, covering all daytime shows on both days and entry into the random prize drawings. Admission is free for attendees under 21. Upgraded tickets are available for those who want access to the New York Voices show and added perks.
This year’s festival honors the late Tim Holmes, a Louisa County musician whose passion for jazz helped launch the event.

Founded in 2021 as a Virginia nonprofit corporation, Lake Anna Jazz promotes jazz while supporting music education and live performances in the region. It funds workshops, awards for student musicians, and playing opportunities for both emerging and established artists. The organization also hosts weekly and pop-up live jazz shows across the area.

In addition to the main festival, Lake Anna Jazz keeps the music going with ongoing performances. A schedule is available at https://lakeannajazz.org.

There are three ticket options available for the Jazz Fest, including General Admission ($20 each), Silver Level Admission ($50 each), and Gold Level Admission ($100 each) which get you special perks and access. Go to lakeannajazz.org and choose Jazz Fest info or New York Voices info for tickets.

Jen Bailey

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