Virginia Arts Festival Announces  
Joss Stone 

Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 7:30 PM 

Chrysler Hall, Norfolk 

  Virginia Arts Festival Announces Grammy Award Winning singer Joss Stone will perform as part of the Festival’s 2024 season on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30 pm at Chrysler Hall. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday February 7 at 10 am at vafest.org, 757-282-2822, or in person at the Virginia Arts Festival Box Office (440 Bank Street, Norfolk).  

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.  

About Joss Stone 
Joss Stone an English singer, songwriter and actress. She rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist. Her second album, the similarly multi-platinum Mind Body & Soul (2004), topped the UK Albums Chart and spawned the top ten hit "You Had Me".  
 
Both the album and single received one nomination at the 2005 Grammy Awards, while Stone herself was nominated for Best New Artist. She became the youngest British female singer to top the UK Albums Chart. Throughout her career, Stone has sold 14 million records worldwide, establishing herself as one of the best-selling soul artists of the 2000s, and one of the best-selling British artists of her time. Stone has earned numerous accolades, including two Brit Awards and one Grammy Award, five Grammy nominations. 

About Virginia Arts Festival 
The largest performing arts organization in Southeastern Virginia, the Virginia Arts Festival has presented great performers from across the globe since 1997.  Under the direction of Perry Artistic Director Robert W. Cross, renowned artists have performed at the festival including Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Olga Kern, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Miami String Quartet, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Stewart Copeland, Audra McDonald, Kelli O’Hara, Patti LuPone, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre and Mark Morris Dance Group. The Festival has presented numerous world premieres and new productions of classical music, dance, and theatre from some of today’s most influential composers, choreographers, and playwrights. Van Cliburn Gold Medal-Awarded pianist Olga Kern serves as the Festival’s Connie and Marc Jacobson Director of Chamber Music, and award-winning Broadway music director Rob Fisher serves as the Festival’s Goode Family Artistic Advisor for Musical Theater and American Songbook. Each season, Virginia Arts Festival performances are broadcast nationwide on American Public Radio’s Performance Today. The Festival’s arts education programs reach tens of thousands of schoolchildren each year through student matinees, in-school performances, artist residencies, master classes, and demonstrations.