“We want people to be moved to give, motivated by the generosity of our artists who donate their performances.” Amy Bobchek, BENEFIT Co-Founder
While this year’s Crossroads Music Festival organized by BENEFIT has lost none of its free, live-music-on-every-streetcorner vibe, the two-day charity showcase is coming of age as a must-see music happening in the Mid-Atlantic. Premium balcony seating for an evening performance and interview with the headliner, multi-platinum artist Howard Jones, Saturday night September 21 at Tally Ho, sold out in mid-July. Standing room tickets in this intimate but highly visual downtown venue were still available at our deadline from the “order tickets” link at https://crossroadsmusicfest.org/. A British artist, Howard had a string of Top 40 hit singles between 1983 and 1986, including “No One is to Blame,” which reached number 4 on the US charts.
“It is hard to put a value on music in our culture,” observes Howard. “Just the lyrics of a song can have a profound effect on someone and can change their life. Most artists are motivated to give back through philanthropic means because most of us started with nothing and know what it is like to struggle.” True to form, Howard performed at the famous 1985 Live Aid Concert at Wembley with Sting.
The Festival actually kicks off Friday night September 20 at Tally Ho with multiple bands performing from 6-10 p.m. Then a host of local talent fans out across Historic Downtown Leesburg on Saturday afternoon and evening from 4-10 p.m. The showcase this year features 45 artists in 14 downtown venues including a diverse range of acts, from solo singer-songwriters to entire jazz orchestras.
BENEFIT Live, (www.BENEFIT.Live) was conceived in 2018 by co-founders Amy Bobchek and Ara Bagdasarian, and in 2023 became its own independent 501C-3 nonprofit entity dedicated to financially supporting Loudoun’s youth service agencies. Funds are raised by volunteer donations taken online and at each of the performance locations. Combined with the ticketed events Friday and Saturday nights at Tally Ho, the two-day movable feast is now just known as the Crossroads Music Festival.
Co-founder Ara says, “BENEFIT is a coalition of musicians and community leaders formed to drive awareness and funding for nonprofits located in Loudoun County. “Part of the dynamic we try to create with Crossroads is to be like a film festival for original music, as well as our region’s best cover bands, where patrons can come and visit different venues with different experiences, hearing different types of music. Everything from Rock from Hip Hop, to Jazz, Country and Americana – it's all there in Leesburg’s charming downtown area.”
“Loudoun households donate less as a percentage of their total income than every one of our neighboring counties,” says Amy. “I think that gives us an opportunity to engage our community in philanthropy and volunteering, and I can’t think of a better way to do it than through the power of live music. Music brings people together, it creates joy, and we believe that literally sets the stage for giving.”
‘We have a ‘big tent’ approach to Crossroads,” she adds. “Each year we have expanded the festival to showcase more artists representing more genres, and we’ve continued to make the festival free so everyone can participate. We want people to be moved to give, motivated by the generosity of our artists who donate their performances.”
Among organizations awarded grants this year from last year’s festival proceeds are the Dulles South Soup Kitchen and Food for Neighbors; the Ryan Bartel Foundation, working to fight teen suicide; the Northern Virginia Diaper Bank; Loudoun Youth, Inc., and the Loudoun Education Foundation. Buying Crossroads merchandise also benefits area youth; it can now be ordered and shipped to you prior to the event See: https://www.crossoads-music-festival.printify.me/products.