49th Annual Festival Expands Its Scope – Preserving Jazz and Involving Community Partners
All-Volunteer Non-Profit Club, Fueled by Community Support, Pays Musicians, involves 20 Local Venues, and Funds the Next Generation of Jazz Artists.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA — October 1, 2025 — The Basin Street Regulars Hot Jazz Club, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the proud organizer of the Jazz Jubilee Central Coast 2025, which runs for 12 dynamic days from Wednesday, October 15th through Sunday, October 26th. Now in its 49th year, the Jubilee showcases the sustaining power of dedicated volunteers, highlighting America’s original art form in 20 unique venues across San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties.
The Jubilee kicks off at the iconic Harry’s Nightclub & Beach Bar in Pismo Beach before spanning the Central Coast, connecting communities from Paso Robles to Solvang with live music. This is the second year for the highly successful, area-wide “à la carte” festival format, which has allowed for easy expansion across 20 venues. Under this innovative model, participating venues handle the coordination and booking of their own jazz and swing bands. To ensure collaborative success, the Basin Street Regulars organize the festival’s overall marketing and provide participating venues with promotional help. This successful partnership spotlights a multitude of jazz bands from near and far and weaves music directly into the region’s cultural fabric.
Star Power and Virtuosity
The 2025 lineup is headlined by premier national talent, underscoring the Jubilee’s reputation for quality. Fans of high-energy hot jazz will welcome the return of The Midiri Brothers, hailing from New Jersey. These twin brothers are recognized for their stunning multi-instrumental virtuosity, including Paul Midiri’s command of drums, vibraphone, and trombone. Black Market Trust from LA will share the stage with the Midiri Brothers in two unique shows at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande and the Pismo Beach Veterans Hall. Black Market Trust is known for its unique blending of the jazz styles of legendary American crooners with the fire and energy of Gypsy Jazz. Other headliner shows feature the Idiomatiques (presented by the SLO County Jazz Federation at the Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church in San Luis Obispo), popular local jazz trumpeter and pianist Jeff Elliott (at the Madonna Inn and leading a Jazz Jam at the Costa De Oro tasting room) and internationally renowned Boogie Woogie pianist Carl Sonny Leyland with Marc Caparone (presented by the Basin Street Regulars at Puffers in Pismo Beach.).
Numerous nightclubs, wineries, churches, cafes, restaurants and breweries are hosting more than 30 bands during the Festival. A special Big Band Sound Off showcase will take place at the Cuesta College CPAC and will feature big bands from Cuesta College, Cal Poly, Hancock College and high school big bands from SLO and Atascadero.
A Unique Model for Cultural Preservation
The longevity of the Jazz Jubilee is a powerful testament to the community-centric model developed by the Basin Street Regulars board. This all-volunteer non-profit is funded entirely through memberships, donations, and sponsorships. The money raised is used to both put on the Jubilee and provide scholarships, creating a truly phenomenal cycle of support.
This unique model provides a crucial opportunity for jazz musicians to play and get paid for being part of something great. The Festival benefits local commerce by exposing venues to new patrons while highlighting jazz musicians and bands. This collaborative effort provides older demographics with good, clean entertainment while simultaneously building the future jazz musicians of the Central Coast. This dedication to generational bridging is realized through the Youth Scholarship Program, which funds middle and high-school students’ attendance at prestigious jazz camps, including those at Cuesta College and Sacramento, ensuring that the legacy of Count Basie, Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong inspire new talent.
We invite the media to interview members of our all-volunteer board to discuss how the power of passionate people is ensuring traditional jazz remains popular now and for future generations, and to discuss the impact of this ambitious 12-day festival run entirely without a single paid employee.
Save the Dates October 15–26, 2025
Media & Interview Contact For feature interview requests with the all-volunteer board, sponsorship, or high-resolution assets, please contact: Basin Street Regulars Hot Jazz Society at (805) 907 2097
Rhonda Cardinal is Festival Director of Jubilee by the Sea, an annual event hosted by the Basin Street Regulars in Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande, California. Visit the festival/club website at www.pismojazz.com.
