Newport News festival agreement requires timeline for artist commitments, ticket sales

Newport News’ major upcoming music festival is set to be one of the city’s largest investments in tourism. Here’s what we know so far. City Council approved a roughly $3 million grant from a year-end surplus this month to help launch the event over Memorial Day weekend next year. Newport News is partnering with local nonprofit Port Warwick Foundation and promoter Global Music Touring, which produced the Cousinz Festival with rapper Pusha T in Norfolk, to pull off the event. Mayor Phillip Jones has been tight-lipped about details for the festival, but has promised “internationally recognized” musicians, business and technology presentations, as well as local...