Updates: Olympia Jazz Festival Names New Director, Will Host Bert Barr Tribute and Last Uptown Lowdown Concert
The Olympia Dixieland Jazz Festival, better known as America’s Classic Jazz Festival, is returning to St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington, next June. The popular festival, first held in 1991, was canceled this year owing to a scheduling conflict, and the cancellation threatened to be permanent.
Not so, says long-time festival director Charlotte Dickison. “I am happy to announce that America’s Classic Jazz festival is going to happen again. Saint Martin’s University called and wanted us back.” After assurances that the event would not be canceled again, the Greater Olympia Dixieland Jazz Society decided to host another festival at St. Martin’s over the weekend of June 27-30, 2019.
Charlotte Dickison says, “I am very happy and excited about doing the festival again. I have many trad bands lined up already: Black Swan Classic Jazz Band with Marilyn Keller, Grand Dominion, Jeff Barnhart & Charlotte’s Boys, Ivory & Gold®, Queen City Jazz Band (of Denver, CO), Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Wolverines (of Boston, MA), Uptown Lowdown, Yerba Buena Stompers, and more to come.” Dickison says the Olympia website, www.olyjazz.com, will be updated by the end of August with festival information as well as listings for the club’s monthly dances. A
