Virgin Fest 2019: Richard Branson Announces U.S. Festival Series, Gets Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

AP Photo/John Locher – Richard Branson
Virgin Group founder Richard Branson speaks at a news conference Friday, March 30, 2018, in Las Vegas.

After being the latest to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson announced a new venture called Virgin Fest coming to the U.S. for 2019, promising music, technological experiences, and a commitment to sustainability. 

“The heart of the Virgin brand has always been music and entertainment,” Branson said in a statement. “This morning I humbly accepted a star on the Walk of Fame, honoring Virgin’s long history with music and recording, and now I’m thrilled to share that we are launching Virgin Fest, an innovative music and technology experience that will be unlike any other festival series. I am incredibly grateful to have received such an esteemed honor for the work Virgin has accomplished to-date, but I can’t help but think we are really just getting started.”

While cities, artists and dates are not announced yet, Virgin Fest events promise “surprise and delight” popups at each festival, cashless pay, seamless upgrades, innovative VIP experiences and non-profit integrations throughout. Also promised are premium food and beverage vendors, eco-focused hydration stations, clean flushing toilets, premium lodging and transportation options and more. 

On the team for Virgin Fest are co-founders and managing directors Jason Felts (also CEO of Virgin Produced) and Bryan Gordon, founder of the Kaaboo festival brand. 

Virgin Produced “acts like the Intel chip inside the Kaaboo computer” according to Felts, overseeing artist and customer relations.

See: KAABOO Elevating The Festival Experience

“Our brand’s commitment to the music industry coupled with my partners’ shared appreciation for one-of-a-kind experiences makes the launch of Virgin Fest that much more exciting,” Felts says in the Virgin Fest announcement. “We look forward to bringing guests a positive festival experience so unique, and so inclusive, that it could only have been born at Virgin.”

While Virgin Fest is new, Virgin has been involved with festivals previously, including as name sponsor of the V Fests in the UK until recently, Virgin Festival and the Virgin Mobile FreeFest in various locations in the earlier 2000s.  

Most recently the Virgin Mobile FreeFest took place in 2009, 2010 and 2011 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., with Cee Lo Green, The Black Keys, and Deadmau5 on the most recent lineup.

Branson recently announced Virgin’s acquisition of the Hard Rock Casino-Hotel brand in Las Vegas, now branded as Virgin Hotels.