Sly Stone modeled a brand of diversity, equity and inclusion that would serve well as a template for Richmond’s new musical venue, Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront. Sly and the Family Stone as a band was an early model of integration — Black, white, male and female — when it arrived on the music scene in the late 1960s. One of its biggest hits, “Everyday People,” celebrated difference at a time of intense racial strife, urban unrest and political polarization, capped by the assassinations of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Its refrain was, “We got to live together.” Sly Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, died Monday at age 82. During the peak of his creative powers, he was an innovator whose greatest gift may have been his capacity to bring people together. His music was an amalgam of genres: rock, R&B, psychedelia, and a new genre, funk, powered by the slapping bass licks of band member Larry Graham.
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If the band’s early music was a soundtrack for the era’s utopian longings, its 1971 classic, “There’s a Riot Goin’ On,” was the rumble of Sixties idealism crashing face down in a drug-induced stupor. Today, in a nation where federal officials pore through documents flagging words such as “inclusive,” “equality,” “allyship” and even “Black,” it’s not beyond the realm for a song like “Everyday People” to land on a censorship list. Nowadays, we could use a heavy rotation of uplifting Sly anthems like “Stand!,” “You Can Make It If You Try” and “Everybody Is a Star.” Music, at its best, has the capacity to knock down the barriers that divide us. Especially at times like this, when forces are ripping families and the fabric of communities apart, communities like ours should be both celebrating and guarding our diversity and inclusion. I assumed that our new amphitheater would serve as the same magnet for diverse peoples as our annual Richmond Folk Festival, a celebration of global music and culture. But when I caught a glimpse of the Allianz lineup of performers, I felt unseen. Or as a Facebook friend asked, “Is it me or does it feel ‘anti-DEI?’” “Allianz Amphitheater is
more than just this stage ,” Allianz general manager Rebecca Street said at its grand opening. “It’s a first-of-its-kind intimate amphitheater designed specifically for this community, with stunning views of the James River and the downtown skyline. The venue truly immerses concertgoers in the heart of this city. “From the beginning, our goal was clear: to build a gathering place that reflects our rich history, celebrates its beauty and invites the community to come together,” she said. “This space is designed to be accessible, inclusive and welcoming. Whether you’re a lifelong Richmonder or a visitor discovering the city for the first time, we wanted to create a place that feels open, inspiring and full of possibilities.” But looking at the lineup of artists, I detected the harsh note of exclusion, and the sense that this $30 million venue was not built for folks like me. Even if they’re not my jam, one can’t argue with booking venerable stars such as Neil Young or James Taylor, or popular performers like the Grateful Dead-esque jam band Widespread Panic. But I couldn’t help noticing the heavy presence of country music artists, among them Gavin Adcock, Brad Paisley, Parker McCollum, Dwight Yoakam and Bailey Zimmerman. The Nashville-based country music industry has a history of racism and exclusion. One of its biggest stars, Morgan Wallen,
was caught on video shouting a racial slur . Beyonce’s otherwise celebrated foray into the genre, “Country Carter,” was locked out of the Country Music Awards. That this initial amphitheater lineup is so chock-full of performers from what is arguably
the most polarizing genre in music — and that other scheduled artists reside in the country-cousin genres of bluegrass and Southern rock — suggest that the venue is prioritizing a particular audience to the exclusion of others. “For our inaugural season we’re bringing a diverse
lineup of shows to the venue representing rock, R&B, jam, pop, country, metal, folk, Americana, comedy and more. We are continuing to identify artists to play this summer,” Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront said in an email statement to me. Interestingly, hip-hop and jazz don’t seem to be in the mix. Boyz II Men is the token R&B offering. Dave Matthews Band and Leon Bridges (with Charley Crockett) are the only acts that pique my interest — and I’m a guy with varied musical tastes who’d love to see, say,
Moonchild ,
Khruangbin or
Alabama Shakes performing at Allianz. Richmond isn’t Nashville, or Athens, Georgia, or Texas. But our city doesn’t get enough credit for its musical chops. The city is home to Lamb of God (booked for Allianz), GWAR, Cracker and Lucy Dacus, as well as Grammy-winner D’Angelo, jazz fusion quintet Butcher Brown and jazz legend Lonnie Liston Smith. Acclaimed indie artist Matthew E. White opened Spacebomb Studio here. Richmond rapper Skillz earned a 2025 Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album. The Dave Matthews Band’s roots are in Charlottesville. Superstar producer Pharrell grew up down the highway in Virginia Beach; Grammy-winning rapper Missy Elliott and Grammy-winning producer Timbaland are also from the 757 area code. R&B artist Trey Songz hails from Petersburg. That’s an eclectic array of talent worthy of the legacy of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the “Godmother of rock-’n-roll”
who once called Richmond home. The limitations of artist availability aside, Allianz could stage a season’s worth of shows from our homegrown talent. This 7,500-seat amphitheater was given the seal of approval from City Council, amid concerns from the nearby Virginia War Memorial and Oregon Hill neighborhood. At its grand opening, Richmond City Councilperson Stephanie Lynch expressed hope that the new venue would serve as a beacon of joy and community connection. “There has never ever been a more important moment in our country’s recent history to build places that bring our community together in joy and remind us of our shared humanity,” Lynch said. The amphitheater offerings so far fall short in bringing our diverse community together. The paucity of racial diversity sends the wrong message at a time when exclusion and expulsion are being peddled as the national religion. Our newest civic asset should be a place where different folks can come together to dance to the music. We can make it if we try.
Gallery: Crowds celebrate 20th year of Richmond Folk Festival
Performers participate in a transatlantic session during Folk Fest on September 28, 2024, in Richmond, Va. John Doyle & the Irish American Music Masters perform during a transatlantic session during the Richmond Folk Fest on Saturday. People walk across a pedestrian bridge during the Richmond Folk Fest on Saturday. Rita Flowers closes her eyes and sings along to Trouble Funk during the Richmond Folk Fest on Saturday. People lie out on blankets at Browns Island during Folk Fest on September 28, 2024, in Richmond, Va.
