Virginia Arts Festival presents:
JOSS STONE
ELLIPSIS TOUR

When he heard Joss Stone’s voice, Motown legend Smokey Robinson dubbed her “Aretha Joplin”—for the way she fused Aretha Franklin’s gospel-tinged soul with Janis Joplin’s raw blues. Stone burst onto the music scene in 2003 at age 16; since then, she has performed alongside such legends as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Sting and more—and on her own has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and toured the world. Prepare to be blown away by this GRAMMY-Award-winning singer! 

Media Sponsor: Audacy

Explosive stage presence isn't enough to describe the way Nik West moves, wows, and shocks crowds everywhere. With credits that include work with Quincy Jones Productions, Prince, Macy Gray, John Mayer, Glee, American Idol, Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame, and more, bassist, singer, and songwriter Nik West isn't just a musician; she's an embodiment of individuality. With a style as unique as a fingerprint, she invites you to embrace your true self and move to your own beat.

This young funk-fueled dynamo is a force of nature, blending genres and breaking boundaries with every note she plays and every lyric she sings. Named “the bass icon of this generation’ by Rollingstone, and “The Queen of the Bassists” by Rollingstone France, her bass lines are like a heartbeat you can dance to. But Nik isn't just about bass – her vocals are a journey through emotions. From sultry and smooth to high-energy and electrifying, her voice tells stories that hit you right in the feels. Known for impressively recording a cover of "Back In Black" by AC/DC, Nik shocked many rock fanatics and became a new favorite of Steven Tyler.

Her 2nd album, Moody is “Genre-Bending Brilliance”: Funk, Soul, Rock – Nik effortlessly weaves them all together into a sonic tapestry that's uniquely her own. Features include Larry Graham, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Santana, Sting), and more. “Catch Me If You Can” was featured on Netflix’s Virgin River and Apple TV original, Amber Brown. Her funky bass lines can also be heard in ESPN sports programs all over the world. 

She has toured as the support act for George Clinton/Parliament Funkadelic. She has appeared on the covers of virtually every bass magazine and has been featured in numerous publications for People Magazine, Vanity Fair, Teen Vogue, Rollingstone, Ok! Magazine, Billboard, Afropunk and more. “Nik West is definitely bringing back the funk groovement and I love everything about what she stands for!” -Bootsy Collins