July 31
OCEANFRONT CONCERT SERIES: JEFFERSON STARSHIP WITH OPTIMISTIC CYNICS
Wednesday, July 31 | 7 p.m.
17th Street Park
FREE and open to the public
Get ready for hot summer nights with the Oceanfront Concert Series at Virginia Beach, a free music extravaganza taking place in the Parks along the iconic Virginia Beach Boardwalk. This series brings fans together to revel in the magic of live music against the backdrop of the Atlantic oceanfront.
Spanning a diverse range of musical genres, the Oceanfront Concert Series caters to various tastes, offering an eclectic lineup that resonates with music enthusiasts of all ages.
July 31
JEFFERSON STARSHIP
with Optimistic Cynics
Jefferson Starship
When founding member Paul Kantner formed Jefferson Starship in the ’70s, he envisioned the band as a cast of musical adventurers, contributing to his epic concept albums and eventual deep catalog of rock classics. When the current lineup of the band came together alongside Kantner as a unit in 2012, with many members joining years before, he couldn’t have imagined that the band would become the road-conquering heroes they’ve been in the last few years.
Jefferson Starship’s five members describe themselves as both a “family” and a “gang,” and that comes across in talking to them, and in their robust live performances, which have taken them to all 50 U.S. states., five continents, and too many countries to list here (a recent tour of New Zealand was mentioned among the band’s favorites), drawing from a massive setlist of hit after hit.
In addition to original member David Freiberg, the band includes drummer Donny Baldwin (whose Jefferson Starship roots go back to 1982), keyboardist Chris Smith (who joined in 1998), guitarist Jude Gold (who joined in 2012), and singer and guitarist Cathy Richardson who joined in 2008, after Kantner saw her tour with Big Brother and the Holding Company.
As Jefferson Starship approaches their 50th anniversary, the group’s members look to the future with the word Kantner, who unfortunately died in 2016, used to say to them all the time: “Onward.”
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Allowed:
• Beach Blanket, towel, or beach chair (without a foot rest or canopy)
• Small Cooler
• Outside Food and Drink (no alcohol)
• Re-entry with Hand Stamp
• Strollers
Prohibited:
• Alcohol
• Open containers of any kind
• Glass containers
• Bicycles
• Pets (except certified service animals)
• Professional Camera/Video Equipment
• Umbrellas