Master trombonist Wycliffe Gordon will play a concert with bassist Jay Leonhardt at the Tucson (AZ) Jazz Festival on January 21, 2018. (photo courtesy wycliffegordon.com)
This is The Festival Roundup as printed in our January 2018 issue, the most recent roundup can be found HERE, our Interactive Event Calendar is located at the bottom of the same page. There you may add information about your own events.
For local recurring events and standing gigs check our Local Events page.
TUCSON JAZZ FESTIVAL (Tuscon, AZ) – Jan. 11-21, 2017
Primarily an event with individually-ticketed concerts at the historic Fox and Rialto theaters, as well as TCC Music Hall and Club Congress, the Tucson Jazz Fest also offers an outdoor Downtown Jazz Fiesta to be staged on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with free jazz performances on eight stages all over downtown Tucson. Main festival acts include Hypnotic Brass, The Hot Sardines, Arturo Sandoval and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, trumpeter Matt Holman and his Group, Sheila E., Downtown Jazz Fiesta, vibraphonist Warren Wolf and the UA Studio Jazz Ensemble, Lew Tabackin Trio, Diane Schuur Quartet Featuring Ernie Watts, The Bill Charlap Trio, The Mingus Dynasty, TJI Ellington Band, Spyro Gyra, Wycliffe Gordon, and bassist/vocalist Jay Leonhardt..
Ticket pricing, festival schedule, and lodging information may be found at the festival website tucsonjazzfestival.org; (520) 989-0720.
RIVER RAISIN RAGTIME REVIEW (Ann Arbor, MI) – Jan. 12
The 7th Annual Ragtime Extravaganza finds a new venue at the Towsley Auditorium at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday, January 12, 2017 at 8 p.m. The doors open at 7 p.m.
The 2017 Extravaganza will feature another outstanding lineup of talent showcasing the golden age of American entertainment, hosted by Todd Robbins, the world’s preeminent carnival sideshow personality, magician, and pianist. Joining the 13-piece River Raisin Ragtime Revue Orchestra (led by conductor William Pemberton) are stride pianist Paul Asaro; bass-baritone Daniel Washington, who has soloed with the top orchestras of Europe and is Professor of Voice at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance; James Dapogny, respected pianist, bandleader and scholar of the ragtime and early jazz eras; Rollie Tussing, award-winning ragtime and blues guitarist; Bianca Revels, the tap dancing phenom featured on television’s So You Think You Can Dance and Showtime At The Apollo; and the Working Class Tuba Quartet.
Now in its seventh year, R4’s Ragtime Extravaganza has already become an eagerly awaited tradition for Ann Arbor audiences. Get your tickets early for the best seats!
Tickets for the one-day event are $45. River Raisin Ragtime Revue, 411 E. Logan St., Tecumseh, Michigan 49286; r4ragtimeband@gmail.com; www.ragtimeband.org; (517) 673-2597.
EAGLES & IVORIES WEEKEND (Muscatine, IA) – Jan. 26-28
The 24th Annual Eagles & Ivories Weekend is staged in Muscatine in southeast Iowa, at four different locations: Sunnybrook, 3515 Diana Queen Drive; Wesley United Methodist Church, 400 Iowa Ave.; Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Ave.; and after hours at Wine-Nutz at 208 West 2nd St. A free eagle watch takes place Saturday morning at Pearl City Station, 200 W. Riverfront, in Riverfront Park, and visitors can also focus their binoculars at the Norbert F. Beckey Bridge, the only span over the Mississippi River nocturnally illuminated with LED lights. The ragtime tunes will be performed by Ivory &Gold® featuring Jeff and Anne Barnhart, Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi, Daniel Souvigny, the Mad Creek Mudcats, and the Locust Street Boys
An entire three-day concert package costs $50; individual event admissions range from $5 to $20; children ages 16 and younger are admitted free to all events; muscatineartscouncil.org; (563) 263-9978; davidales@machlink.com.
NORTH CAROLINA JAZZ FESTIVAL (Wilmington, NC) Feb. 1-3
The 38th annual festival will be staged at the Wilmington Hilton Riverside ballroom, 301 N. Water St., overlooking the Cape Fear River. This historic city has many interesting shops, art galleries, museums and restaurants, as well as a movie studio, nearby beaches, plus Revolutionary and Civil War sites to explore during your days here. All evening concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. the Thursday Night Showcase on Feb. 2 focuses on “Styles of Jazz,” with performances by Mangroove with “A Tribute to Horace Silver,” Nicki Parrott Trio presenting their Road Show, and Professor Cunningham’s Traditional Jazz Jam.
Friday and Saturday evenings will feature the festival’s 15 All-Star musicians in the traditional seven sets of six or seven players, each set with a different leader. These will be four-and-a-half-hour concerts. Saturday’s Patron Brunch from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. will showcase all of the festival’s musicians culminating in an informal “jam” in which audience members who are musicians have the opportunity to play with the all-stars. Musicians include Herman Burney, Adrian Cunningham, Conal Fowkes, Jim Fryer, Bruce Harris, Debbie Kennedy, Eddie Metz, Nate Najar, Ed Polcer, Chuck Redd, Scott Robinson, Jonathan Russell, Cynthia Sayer, Rossano Sportiello, and Dion Tucker.
Three-day patron tickets cost $225, two-day tickets $200; Thursday only $40, Friday $60, Saturday $60; military $25; students $15; ncjazzfestival.com; (910) 793-1111; NCJF, P.O. Box 7681, Wilmington, NC 28406
SOUNDS OF MARDI GRAS (Fresno, CA) – Feb. 8-11
The 34th edition of this festive festival in Fresno kicks off at the DoubleTree by Hilton with a Thursday evening pre-party. The schedule picks up Friday with a “Putting on the Ritz” Charleston-themed parade, followed by the annual coronation of the Festival King and Queen, and a hot-jazz Swing Dance.
Attendees can meet-and-greet musicians Saturday morning before the Parasol Parade and Masquerade Party and Costume Parade in the grand tradition of Mardi Gras. Things wrap up on Sunday with a Wind Down Dinner and Dance. New bands and performers for 2018 include Brian Casserly, Gator Nation, and Randi Cee. Returning are Grand Dominion JB, High Sierra JB, Midnight Rose, Sister Swing, Bob Schulz’s Frisco JB, Climax JB, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Blue Street JB, Gino & The Lone Gunmen, Devil Mountain JB, Yosemite JB, Dick Williams’ Jazz Sea Jammers, Doug Finke’s Hot Cookies, and Tom Hook & The Terriers. Youth bands include TNT, River Rats, Yosemite High School Jazz Band, and Dixie Dominus.
Three-day passes cost $105 before Dec. 16, or $110 thereafter; admission prices for individual events range from $20 to $55; day passes are free for those ages 29 and younger, but a free-entry coupon must be obtained; (209) 534-1924. www.fresnodixie.com.
TRADITIONAL JAZZ YOUTH BAND FESTIVAL (Sacramento, CA) – Feb. 10
Staged at Capistrano Hall at California State University, Sacramento a.k.a. Sacramento State, the TJYBF is cosponsored by the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society Foundation and Sacramento State University Jazz Studies in cooperation with the Trad Jazz Educators Network. It is an all-day festival dedicated to the performance and teaching of traditional jazz open to 30 school bands, jazz-club sponsored bands and independent youth bands with combo bands performing non-competitively. Each ensemble receives onstage feedback and a lead-sheet clinic following its performance. Also included is an optional Friday-evening clinician-mentored jam session; Saturday jazz workshop; noon Jazz’n’Pizza jam session; evening showcase of encore performances and more than $4,000 in awards/scholarships; and closing concert featuring trombonist Russ Phillips with the all-star Clinicians Band: Bob Draga (cl), Joe Midiri (cl/sax), Paul Midiri (vbs/tbn), Bill Dendle (bn/gtr), Jason Wanner (p), Katie Cavera (b), Ron Jones (dr), who will also perform as the all-star Clinicians Band at the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s “Jazz Sunday” at the Riverside Elks Lodge.
Festival tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Contact ticket chairpersons Giselle Koford, (916) 690-9356, g.koford@yahoo.com or Kathy Becker at (916) 635-7224 or Jazzgal57@att.net. For festival info, call (916) 970-5100; email youthbandfest@sacjazz.org; or visit on the web at sacjazzfoundation.org/tjybf/
NEWPORT BEACH JAZZ PARTY (Newport Beach, CA) – Feb. 15-18
With a stellar lineup of over 50 all-star musicians and a wide-ranging program of specially-themed sessions guaranteed to satisfy every jazz taste and genre, the 18th annual Newport Beach Jazz Party promises to draw jazz fans in droves to the sunny shores of California’s Orange County the weekend of Feb. 15-18. Held at the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa, festivities are orchestrated from morning till well after sundown with a busy four-day schedule of daily evening concerts, poolside sessions, two champagne jazz brunches, and a Saturday night dance, just for starters.
Butch Miles will lead a Frank Capp Juggernaut tribute band, while Chuck Reed will front a group that will play the music of the Terry Gibbs Dream Band. The Jazz Party All-Star band will be directed by John Clayton. The Four Freshmen will be on board, and Ken Peplowski, Pete Barbutti, and James Morrison will entertain with “Tales from the Road.” Harry Allen pays tribute to Woody Herman, and Mike Costly offers “An Afternoon of Blues, Jazz & Swing.” Bill Cunliffe will sample a bit of Brazilian jazz, while Tony Monaco will present “A Jazz Organ Monster.”
A partial rundown of the All-Star lineup of musicians finds the names of Bria Skonberg, Ehud Asherie, Tamir Hendelman, Katie Thiroux, Lewis Nash, Dan Barrett, Scott Hamilton, Houston Person, Barbara Morrison, Richard Simon, and Joe LaBarbera among those listed.
For ticket and hotel information and the complete artist schedule, call (949)759-5003 or visit online at www.newportbeachjazzparty.com. Reserved seating at the concerts is available.
SEASIDE JAZZ FESTIVAL (Seaside, OR) – Feb. 22-25
Formerly called the Oregon Dixieland Jubilee, the Seaside Jazz Festival takes place on the north coast of Oregon in a little town with a population of about 6,500. Seaside is perhaps best known for the stunning sunsets that can be witnessed from its 1.5-mile ocean-side promenade – “The Prom” – as it’s known by the locals. The 35th annual jazz fest, organized and presented by the Lighthouse Jazz Society, is headquartered at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center. Concerts are staged at five featured venues, three at the Convention Center, one at Seaside Elks Lodge 1748, and one at the Best Western Ocean View Resort. All located in downtown Seaside, the venues are within easy walking distance of one another, and a free shuttle service will be running between them.
A special Thursday-night performance will kick things off with music by Dave Bennett & Memphis Speed Kings. The main festival starts on Friday afternoon and runs until Sunday afternoon. Each band or performer plays multiple sets, moving between venues. These sets typically average an hour or so. Seaside’s featured bands and performers include High Sierra, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Dave Bennett Quartet, Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band, Ivory &Gold®, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi, Black Swan Jazz Band, Bob Draga with Friends, The High Street Party Band, Dave Bennett and The Memphis Speed Kings, Rock Island Roustabouts, Blue Street, and Gino and the Lone Gunmen..
Festival badges $90 through Feb. 1, 2018, and $95 at the door; three-day badges for students cost $15, and kids ages 14 and younger are admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult; daily badge prices range from $20 to $60; Thursday only, $10. PO Box 813, Seaside, OR 97138. Information and credit card sales: (866) 345-6257, 9am-5pm (Pacific Time) M-F; jazzseaside.com. Lodging: Visitor’s Bureau: 888-306-2326. Email: Lighthousejazz@pacifier.com.
SAN DIEGO JAZZ PARTY (Del Mar, CA) – Feb. 23-25
The 30th annual San Diego Jazz Party is set to take place in Del Mar, Calif., 20 miles north of San Diego. The San Diego Jazz Party each year honors jazz musicians who excel in their profession, who are held in high esteem among their peers, and who have “paid their dues” to the world of jazz music. The SDJP began the tradition of honoring a musician at the Jazz Party in 2005. This year’s “Jazz Legend” honoree will be trombonist Dan Barrett.
In addition to Dan Barrett, performers at the 2018 Jazz Party will be Evan Arntzen, Bill Allred, John Allred, Charlie Bertini, James Chirillo, John Eaton, Eddie Erickson, Jon-Erik Kellso, Rebecca Kilgore, Ed Metz, Jr., Butch Miles, Nicki Parrott, Houston Person, Jr., Ed Polcer, Chuck Redd, Antti Sarpila, Richard Simon, Rossano Sportiello, Dave Stone, Johnny Varro, and Jason Wanner.
All-events badges cost $240 and includes Friday free-bar cocktail party and Saturday jazz brunch; Friday-evening passes cost $80; Saturday passes cost $140; Sunday passes cost $80; reservations for single sessions accepted after Dec. 1; email Jazz Party director Dan Reid at dreid17@outlook.com; www.sandiegojazzparty.com; telephone (619) 787-8792; or write San Diego Jazz Party, 1632 Hillstone Avenue, Escondido, CA 92029-4332.
JAZZ BASH BY THE BAY (Monterey, CA) March 2-4
Dixieland Monterey hosts the 38th annual Jazz Bash by the Bay, with eight venues including seven dance floors all under one roof in the newly refurbished Portola Hotel & Spa and the totally remodeled Monterey Conference Center.
This year’s “Musician of the Year” is pianist Mark Allen Jones who, along with several other pianists, will entertain you in the new double-piano venue, upstairs in the Conference Center. There is no dance floor in this venue so we can seat more people. Other guest artists include Jeff Barnhart and Brian Holland (who teamed up as the Artist Consultants), Danny Coots, Katie Cavera, Eddie Erickson, and Bob Draga. Bands for 2018 include: The Au Brothers, Blue Street Jazz Band, Bye Bye Blues Boys Band, Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, Crescent Katz, Crown Syncopators, Fast Mama Entertainment, Gator Nation, Grand Dominion, High Sierra Jazz Band, Ivory&Gold®, Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Side Street Strutters with Meloney Collins, Titan Hot 7, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Wally’s Warehouse Waifs, and Yve Evans Trio, with at least 2 Youth bands on the schedule.
The Festival kicks off Thursday evening with a one-time-only concert in the hotel by We 3 ($30.00) and the Swing Dance to Clicktrax Jazz Orchestra ($25.00) in the DeAnza Ballroom. (Tickets to include both events are $50.00; these two programs are in not included in Badge prices.) Individual Early Bird All-Event Badges for 3 days are $95.00 through December 31, 2017. Day badges are available. Patron Badges, which includes the Patrons’ Brunch and reserved seating, are $240.00 each.
For more information or to order Badges, please call 888-349-6879; info@jazzbashbythebay.com; www.jazzbashbythebay.com.
CONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVAL (New Orleans, LA) – March 3-4
In the years before emancipation, slave owners in New Orleans granted their workers a day off on Sundays to enjoy a little revelry. The slaves would gather in a place known as Congo Square to sing, dance and play drums in keeping with their African heritage. From these hypnotic tribal rhythms and other strains of music that filtered into New Orleans in the late 1800s came the famous musical art form now known as jazz. The 10th annual Congo Square Festival will be staged for free on both Saturday and Sunday, Mar 3-4, from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. both days, in Louis Armstrong Park, 701 N. Rampart St., in old New Orleans. Performers TBA.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted; (504) 558-6100; jazzandheritage.org/congo-square; 504-410-4100.
TRIBUTE TO BIX FEST (Racine, WI) – March 8-11
Legendary cornetist Bix Beiderbecke is remembered at this 29th annual fest staged at the Architect Conference Center & Hotel (formerly the Marriott), 7111 Washington Ave., Highway 20, in Racine. Known as the Invention City, Racine is located at the mouth of the Root River, halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago. The brainchild of festival Director Phil Pospychala, the Tribute to Bix Fest offers several unique events including the Annual Bus Tour to Hell, rare films, historical fun lectures, two days of new/used 78/LP/CD record sales with 50 dealer tables, all-night 78 spinning, late-night jam sessions, and lobby cartwheels with the famous Schmooze Gals. “We’re proud to be out of tune with the times,” Phil says. “Good luck to all from Rexall!” Bands include the Augmented Fat Babies (featuring Andy Schumm, Dave Bock, and Mike Davis) celebrating the famous Dorsey Brothers Orchestra of 1928-1934, the Sweet Sheiks (“If you like Tuba Skinny you’ll like the Sweet Sheiks,” says Phil P.), ragtime pianists and composers Reginald Robinson and John Reed-Torres, and a host of young stars.
Prices, rooms, and other details to be announced soon; free admission to after-hours jam sessions; bixfest.com, (847) 996-0246; bixguy@hotmail.com.
SOUTH COAST CLAMBAKE JAZZ FESTIVAL (North Bend, OR) – March 9-11
Since 1988 jazz fans have flocked to southwestern Oregon to attend the annual South Coast Clambake Festival now staged at the Mill Casino, in North Bend. The bands play at four different venues – the Salmon Room, Hazel Room, Cedar Room and Saw Blade – within the hotel owned and operated by the Coquille Indian Tribe. Located on Highway 101, the venue overlooks lovely Coos Bay, an S-shaped water inlet and estuary where the Coos River enters the big bay. Volunteers from the Bay Area Traditional Society for Jazz (“B.A.T.S for Jazz”) continue to keep the flame burning for Dixieland jazz. The 2018 clambake serves a hot mix of traditional jazz, swing, doo-wop, blues, big band and zydeco. Performers will include the Dave Bennett and the Memphis Speed Kings, High Street, Barn Door Slammers, Gator Nation, Stompy Jones, Lisa Mann, Jacob Miller & The Bridge City Crooners, the Phat Cat Swingers, Evolution, and the Young Bucs.
Prices and further details to be announced soon. For info, call (541) 267-7665; email clambakejazz@gmail.com; or write to P.O Box 374, North Bend, Ore. 97459; or visit clambakejazz.com for lodging and other information.
MARDI GRAS INDIANS SUPER SUNDAY (New Orleans, LA) – March 18
Aside from Mardi Gras Day, the most significant day for the Mardi Gras Indians is their Super Sunday. The New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Council always has their Indian Sunday on the third Sunday of March, around St. Joseph’s Day. Their festivities begin at noon in A.L. Davis Park (at Washington & LaSalle Streets) where the Mardi Gras Indians once again dress in their feathers and suits and take to the streets to meet other “gangs.”
Nobody is completely certain when the tradition of Mardi Gras Indians “masking” on St. Joseph’s night began. However, there have been reports of Indians on St. Joseph’s night dating back to before World War I.
In 1969, the first parade was created and rolled through town at night. In 1970, it was switched to a day parade on Sunday afternoon, and remains so. The daytime parades make the Indians accessible to the general public and allow visitors and locals alike to admire their amazing costumes, crowns, and accessories. If time permits, make it a point to take part in this remarkable New Orleans tradition.
All Super Sunday Mardi Gras Indian outdoor gatherings and processions are free and open to the public; presented by The New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Council founded by Bertrand Butler; (504) 248-0724 mardigrasneworleans.com/supersunday; mardigrasindiancouncil.org/.
THE PEE WEE RUSSELL MEMORIAL STOMP (Whippany, NJ) – March 18
The 49th annual day-long tribute to the Oklahoma-bred clarinetist (1906-1969) who spanned eras from Dixieland to swing to bebop is staged by the New Jersey Jazz Society at The Birchwood Manor, 111 N. Jefferson Road, located off Route 10 in Whippany, N.J. Stomp attendees will dance and dine at the Birchwood’s cash bar and buffet, from noon to 5 p.m. This year the Stomp features the George Gee Orchestra, Professor Cunningham and His Old School, the Daryl Sherman Quartet, and the Warren Vaché Quintet.
Tickets cost $35 in advance, $45 at the door (NJJS members $5 less), $10 for students with ID; book a table of 10 to 14 and get one free admission; njjs.org; (800) 833-3006.
12th ANNUAL CHARLES TEMPLETON RAGTIME AND JAZZ MUSIC FESTIVAL (Starkville, MS) – March 22-24
This ragtime romp is named after the Starkville, Mississippi, businessman who donated his extensive collection of sheet music, instruments, phonographs, and memorabilia to Mississippi State University in the late 1980s. Charles H. Templeton particularly appreciated ragtime music, a genre that enjoyed its peak popularity between 1895 and 1918. Although this decade-old festival has academic roots—it’s hosted by the University Library and the Charles Templeton Sr. Music Museum as a means of enhancing research of early jazz—it showcases some of the world’s best ragtime and stride piano players. For 2018, Festival Artistic Director Jeff Barnhart, himself a phenomenally talented pianist, will entertain with Kris Tokarski, Steve Cheseborough, and Eddie Erickson—and Jeff will perform with flutist Anne Barnhart as Ivory&Gold®. The event takes place in Mitchell Memorial Library and McComas Hall Auditorium, at Hardy Rd. and President Circle.
All-event tickets cost $50; Friday only $30; Saturday only $30; individual concerts $10; and seniors receive a 20 percent discount; P.O. Box 5408, Mississippi State, MS 39762; (662) 325-6634; Lynda Graham, 662-325-6634, email: lgraham@library .msstate.edu; library.msstate.edu/ragtime festival. For lodging information: visit.starkville.org/where-to-stay.
REDWOOD COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL (Eureka, CA) – April 5-8
The Northern California city of Eureka sits amid towering redwood forests south of Arcata Bay, 275 miles north of San Francisco. Eureka’s atmospheric Old Town waterfront district stands adjacent to this festival’s seven venues including The Red Lion Hotel, The Adorni Center, the Eureka Theater, The Sequoia Center, Morris Graves Museum, and Eureka Municipal Auditorium. The 28th annual Redwood Coast Music Festival presents four days of traditional jazz, swing, rockabilly and zydeco, and two nights of blues. 2018 performers include Jeff Barnhart’s Earthquakers, Dave Bennett Quartet, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Carl Sonny Leyland & Friends, Dave Stuckey & The Hot House Gang, Clint Baker’s Hot Five, Gator Nation, Dave Bennett & The Memphis Speed Kings, Cocuzzi Courtet, Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles, Kris Tokarski Sextet, Candy Jacket Jazz Band, Ivory & Gold®, Dave Stuckey’s Hoot Owls, Stompy Jones, Gino & The Lone Gunmen, Chris Dawson Trio, Pappy & Junior’s Western Swing All-Stars, and Jump Swing Imperials, with Special Guest Artists Jeff Barnhart, Dave Bennett, Brian Casserly, Katie Cavera, Danny Coots, Chris Dawson, Chloe Feoranzo, Carl Sonny Leyland, Sam Rocha, Andy Stein, and Dan Walton. Blues artists include Mark Hummel’s Golden State Lone Star Revue, Lisa Mann, Terry Hanck Band, Bishop Mayfield & Friends, and the Andy T Band (with Anson Funderburgh & Alabama Mike).
Early Bird Tickets on sale through February 28, 2018: $90 for an all-event, three-day pass and $60 for blues events on Friday and Saturday; 523 Fifth St., Eureka, CA 95501; (707) 445-3378; admin@redwoodjazz.org; rcmfest.org.
PENSACOLA JAZZ FESTIVAL (Pensacola, FL) – April 7-8
Now in its 35th year, this free festival is staged April 7 and 8, at the historic Seville Square Gazebo in downtown Pensacola, in Florida’s western panhandle. Nicknamed “The City of Five Flags,” Pensacola is a seaport city located on Pensacola Bay protected by the barrier island of Santa Rosa. This year headliners include the Scott Wilson Quartet, Paula Atherton, Michael Pellera, Andy Martin, Patrick Frost, and The 4 Korners; full lineup and schedule is yet to be announced.
Admission is free; jazzpensacola.com; (850) 433-8382.
FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL (New Orleans, LA) – April 12-15
Started as a neighborhood gathering more than three decades ago, the French Quarter Festival has since grown into “The World’s Largest Block Party” where visitors join locals to enjoy the best of Louisiana music, food and culture, all for free. Featuring more than 800 musicians on 20 stages, more than five dozen food-and-beverage vendors (all dishes are priced in the $3-$5 range), kid-friendly attractions, free tours of hidden French Quarter patios and gardens, a Pirate’s Alley art show, the world’s largest praline, and fireworks exploding over the Mississippi River. The 34th annual French Quarter Festival will be staged over a half dozen blocks between Bourbon Street and the Mississippi Riverfront, there is no admission and fences do not enclose the site. Performers for 2018 are TBA, but last year’s headliners included The Lena Prima Band, Dr. Michael White, Ellis Marsalis, Evan Christopher’s Clarinet Road, and brass bands such as the New Birth Brass Band and The Brass-A-Holics.
More than 60 food and beverage booths will be scattered throughout the historic French Quarter. Admission is free; (504) 522-5730; fqfi.org/frenchquarterfest/.
A JAZZ PARTY WEEKEND (McCall, ID) – April 27-29
For the first time, this classy jazz bash presented by the Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival will be staged at the amazing Shore Lodge, 501 Lake St., McCall, Idaho, from April 27 through 29, 2018. This lovely hotel is on shore of Payette Lake, and has been rated third best lodging in the western US by Condé Nast Traveler. The party’s entertainment lineup will soon be announced.
General admission tickets go on sale in January, prices to be announced; sunvalleyjazz.com/; (877) 478-5277.
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