Richard Marx to open Thornton Winery’s 2026 Champagne Jazz Series with a summer-night crowd
richard marx will open Thornton Winery’s Champagne Jazz Series on Saturday, May 23, bringing a familiar voice to one of Temecula Valley’s most established summer concert settings. For fans planning a night out, the announcement adds a clear starting point to a lineup built around ticketed performances under the stars.
Why is Richard Marx opening the series?
The opening night reflects the kind of experience Thornton Winery has built around its Champagne Jazz Series: a seated, ticketed concert atmosphere paired with a summer evening setting. Marx, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, is known for hits including “Don’t Mean Nothing” and “Endless Summer Nights. ” His latest album, “After Hours, ” came out in January, and he is currently on a tour called An Acoustic Evening.
For many in the region, the draw is not only the artist but the setting. Temecula Valley wineries often aim to create memorable summer nights for customers, and Thornton’s series offers something different from the free live music found at many other wineries. The concerts are scheduled to run from spring to fall, keeping the focus on a long season of nightlife that feels both polished and relaxed.
What does the full season look like?
The 2026 lineup spans multiple dates and genres, with general admission and gourmet supper packages available. Champagne Jazz concerts begin at 7 p. m., and gates open at 6 p. m. General admission is first-come-first-served, with lines beginning two hours before show time. The supper packages include assigned tables and dedicated servers, which gives the series a more formal structure than a casual winery performance.
The schedule begins with Richard Marx on May 23 and continues with Damien Escobar and Julian Vaughn with Nicholas Cole on May 30. Other dates include Norman Brown and Paul Taylor on June 27, Gerald Albright and Jonathan Butler on July 11, and Peter White with Vincent Ingala and Roman Street on July 18. Later dates feature Kirk Whalum and Andréa Lisa with Rebecca Jade on Aug. 1, Richard Elliot and Rick Braun on Aug. 8, Chanté Moore and Jackiem Joyner with Althea René on Aug. 15, Jeffrey Osborne and Marqueal Jordan on Sept. 5, Boney James and JJ Sansaverino on Oct. 4, and Will Downing and Marian Meadows with Alex Bugnon on Oct. 10.
How does Thornton fit into the local wine-country entertainment scene?
Thornton is not alone in pairing wine country with live music, but it stands out for offering ticketed concerts under the stars with internationally known artists. South Coast Winery also has a ticketed series called Rhythm on the Vine, and Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards occasionally has headliners under the label Country Concert Series, though neither currently has any concerts scheduled. That leaves Thornton with a visibly active calendar for people looking ahead to a planned night out.
For visitors, the appeal is practical as well as cultural. A ticketed show gives the evening a defined start, a reserved experience for those who choose the supper package, and a lineup that makes advance planning easier. In a season built around warm evenings and outdoor gatherings, that structure can matter as much as the music itself.
What can concertgoers expect on site?
Thornton Winery is located at 32575 Rancho California Road in Temecula. The series is designed for evening attendance, and the early gate opening suggests a crowd that arrives well before the first note. That early arrival is part of the ritual: lines, lawn-side anticipation, and the slow shift from daylight into a concert under the sky.
For Richard Marx, the opening-night slot links a recognizable performer to a local tradition that values live music as an evening event, not just a performance. For the winery, it is another season of turning summer nights into something people plan around.
Ticket sales are now underway, and for anyone mapping out the warmer months, richard marx at Thornton Winery is positioned as the first note in a broader season of music, dining, and outdoor gathering.
