The Festival Roundup May 2025

AHOY VINTAGE CRUISES: Matt Tolentino and his Orchestra (Southampton, UK – New York, NY) May 16-23, 2025 / Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra (Southampton, UK – New York, NY) Sept. 26-Oct. 3, 2025

Ahoy Vintage Cruises is celebrating 100 years of Art Deco with two exclusive trans-Atlantic crossings.  We will start off with a few days touring era-influenced sites in Paris, the birthplace of Art Deco in 1925. After a quick jaunt in London, we’ll board the iconic RMS Queen Mary 2 for a seven-night crossing.

Each crossing, departing from Southampton and arriving in New York City, features a renowned orchestra playing Deco-era music for nightly dances.

Enjoy dining, drinking, and dancing your way across the Atlantic in the delightful Deco style. Live your best vintage life for this trip. Is it 1925 or 2025? It’s a dream come true. ahoyvintagecruises.com

51st WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OLD-TIME PIANO PLAYING CONTEST & FESTIVAL (Oxford, MS) – May 23-25

Every year over Memorial Day weekend in Oxford, Mississippi, the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest is held to provide an opportunity for pianists to compete and learn in a stimulating atmosphere and to educate people about old-time piano music written prior to 1940.

Through the years, the contest has provided more than $60,000 in prize money to more than 500 piano players from across the United States and from five foreign countries. Players in 2020 will compete in three divisions—Regular, Junior & Senior—as they vie for over $6,000 plus trophies—as well as the New Rag Contest, where aspiring composers present their original tunes.

A variety of other activities include workshops, guest artist performances, silent movies, an old-time sing-along, a double-decker bus tour of historic Oxford, and after-hours events every night on the Oxford Square.

For more information, write: Old Time Piano Contest, 350 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655; oldtimepianocontest@olemiss.edu; telephone 662-801-2251; oldtimepianocontest.com.

SCOTT JOPLIN INTERNATIONAL RAGTIME FESTIVAL (Sedalia, MO) May 28-31

The 50th anniversary Scott Joplin festival last year was an amazing time for all. The 51st annual event promises to keep the good time rolling. Our performer line up includes two ensembles – Dalton Ridenhour and The Lovestruck Balladeers, and Brian Holland & The Ragabonds.  We are also elated to have the legendary Joshua Rifkin coming to the festival this year.  Other performers include Paolo Alderighi and Stephanie Trick, Rowan Belt, Frederick Hodges, Vincent Johnson, Katie Cavera, Sean Cronin, Mike Davis, John Reed Torres, Paul Haggalund, Dan Levinson, Dave Majchrzak, Bill McNally, Paul Orsi, Ethan Leinwand, Gareth Price, Jacob Sanders, Merlin Smith, Will Perkins, David Thomas Roberts, Donald Ryan, Virginia Tichenor, Matt Tolentino, Martin Spitznagel, and Bryan Wright.

For the most current information, please visit www.scottjoplin.org.

37th ELKHART JAZZ FESTIVAL (Elkhart, IN) – June 19-22

Since 1988, jazz legends and fans have gathered each summer at the Elkhart Jazz Festival which combines warm, intimate, small-town hospitality with the excitement of big-city jazz. Known as the Band Instrument Capital of the World, Elkhart companies employ nearly 2,000 skilled craftsmen in the production of musical instruments.

Scheduled to appear are Abbie Thomas & The Crazy Hearts, Alejandro Salazar’s Afro Cuban Exchange, Alexa Torres, Alpha Rhythm Kings, Andréa Lisa, Anthony Stanco Quintet, Ben Davis Trio, Christopher Lucas Wilson Trio, Colleen Orender, Connie Han Trio, Darryl Buchanan’s Soul Motown Allstars, Dave Bennett Quartet, David Hilliker’s Jazz Tribute, Davina and The Vagabonds, Diana Krall, Emily Cavanagh, Emmaline, Generations Trio, Gunhild Carling, Isabella Isherwood, Jazz Assemblage, Joe Marcinek Band, Kris Brownlee, Mark Schultz, Martha Kato Trio, Nao Yoshioka, Paul Decker, Paul Keller Quintet, Pavel & Direct Contact, Sam Greenfield, Samuel Mösching Quintet, Scott Allen, Shelly Cowling Quintet, Sofia Goodman Trio, Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi, Steven Perry Quartet, Sugar Bomb, SWC, The Frost Duo, Truth in Jazz, Twin Talk, VibeNation, Whistle Pigs, and Yellowjackets. For ticket pricing visit elkhartjazzfestival.com; tickets: (574) 293-4469; festival info: (574) 218-6477.

RIVER RAISIN RAGTIME REVUE’S  RAGTIME EXTRAVAGANZA (Adrian, MI) July 5

This year, R4 is collaborating with the City of Adrian to commemorate Adrian’s bicentennial. This popular free festival will feature the R4 ragtime orchestra, Jerron Paxton, Ragtime Rick and the Chefs of Dixieland, as well as local talent. Spend the day enjoying local history exhibits, a Model T parade, and children’s activities that include a magician, instrument petting zoo, bounce house, and make-it-take-it art stations. Artist vendors from the campus partner Adrian Center for the Arts will present art exhibits and demonstrations. The festival ends with a grand fireworks display over the campus. Free admission and parking with free shuttles running all day between the PlaneWave campus and downtown Adrian. Extravaganza updates will be posted at www.ragtimeband.org. Information at info.r4ragtime.org.

EVERGREEN JAZZ FESTIVAL (Evergreen, CO) – July 25-27

The Evergreen Jazz Festival is set for July 25, 26, and 27. Known for its beautiful Rocky Mountain setting and up-close-and-personal atmosphere, the event will feature five intimate venues, each offering a unique listening experience. Invited bands currently include After Midnight, Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, The Sweet&Hot Quartet (The Barnharts, TJ Muller, and Josh Duffee), Hal Smith’s El Dorado Jazz Band, Holland-Coots, Ivory and Gold, Queen City Jazz Band with Wende Harston, The Poudre River Irregulars, and Double 88’s (Brian Holland, Carl Sonny Leyland, Jeff Barnhart). Dancers are welcome at all venues! For details and tickets, visit www.EvergreenJazz.org or call 303-697-5467.

BIX BEIDERBECKE JAZZ FESTIVAL (Davenport, IA) July 31 – Aug 2

Hot Jazz will return to the Upper Mississippi River during the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival. Scheduled bands include: Graystone Monarchs, led by Quad Cities drummer Josh Duffee, this big band plays music from the 1920s and 1930s made famous by Jean Goldkette, Paul Whiteman, Cab Calloway, McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, Benny Goodman, Bob Crosby and others. Chicago Cellar Boys, rightly-arranged small band jazz; unusual repertoire; outstanding ensemble and solo playing. Mike Davis’ New Wonders, vintage jazz of the 1920s played and sung in an authentic style. Bix Youth Band, the best of the best young musicians from educational programs throughout the Quad Cities, performing with professional musicians from the festival. El Dorado Jazz Band, traditional New Orleans Jazz; stomps, rags, marches, blues and barrelhouse as played in Southern California in the 1960s. Jazz-O-Maniacs, riverboat Jazz of the 1920s in the tradition of Charles Creath, Fate Marable, Tony Catalano — and of course Bix Beiderbecke! Mortonia Seven, this band first performed at the festival in 2021. The personnel is slightly different now, but the ensemble still performs the music of Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton and his contemporaries. Led by New Orleans pianist Kris Tokarski, the band includes Dave Kosmyna, cornet; Colin Hancock, trombone; Dave Bennett, clarinet; T.J. Müller, banjo and guitar; Steve Pikal, string bass; and Hal Smith, drums. St. Louis vocalist Valerie Kirchoff, a/k/a Miss Jubilee will also be on the program. She will sing with T.J. Muller’s Jazz-O-Maniacs and we are sure that she will be a guest on other sets as well.

Check the Bix Jazz Society’s website for updates, to purchase tickets, and for information regarding area lodging: www.bixsociety.org.

HISTORIC SUTTER CREEK RAGTIME FESTIVAL (Sutter Creek, CA) – Aug 8-10

Once again, the tantalizing strains of Ragtime, Early Jazz and Boogie Woogie Music will fill the streets and venues at the 27th annual Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, in the beautifully well-tailored gold rush town of Sutter Creek in California’s Sierra Foothills.

This Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival runs for 3 days, Friday thru Sunday, August 8-10.  Festivities start at 4 pm on Friday afternoon and end on Sunday afternoon after the finale concert. Most musicians from last year are returning as well as a few new faces. There will be a few additional venues around town as well. In recognition of a new scholarship fund many performers will be evoking Tom Brier in their performances. Shceduled to appear are Paul Orsi, Carl Sonny Leyland, Michael Chisholm, Frederick Hodges, Danny Coots, Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, Stevens Price, Richard Dowling, Anthony Sarginson, Kevin Gunia, Squeek Steele, Free Badge Serenaders, Matt Tolentino, Bub & Petra Sullivan, The Amador Clarinet Quartet, Charlie Judkins and Miss Maybell, Jeff Barnhart, Ivory and Gold, Max Libertor, Virginia Tichenor, Key System Rhythm Ramblers, Elliott Adams, Martin Spitznagel, Piotr Barcz, Micheal Flores, and Isaia Burton, with more youth performers to be announced.

The latest information can be found on the website. Badges can be purchased on the website, by mail or when you arrive in town for the festival. Please refer to the festival website for this year’s prices, including admission for individual events. www.historicsuttercreekragtimefestival.com or call 209 304-0835.

BAY STATE HOT JAZZ FESTIVAL (Medford, MA) August 23-24

The BaSH Jazz Festival – our reimagined third year iteration of the Medford Trad Jazz Festival – is a FREE community celebration featuring eight traditional jazz bands raising the roof with set after set of incredible music. This year’s festival of hot jazz, jug band, gypsy swing, New Orleans, and other early jazz styles will take place on August 23 and 24 at the Medford Condon Shell, just minutes from Boston. This year’s lineup: Tomoko Iwamoto & 440; Rahsaan Cruz Jr. ; The Busted Jug Band; The Whoozit/Whatzit All Star Band; The She Bop Swing Orchestra, The Berlin Hall Review featuring Jim Kweskin; and Annie and the Fur Trappers.

For more information about the BASH Jazz Festival, visit baystatehotjazzfestival.com

HOT JAZZ JUBILEE (Sacramento, CA) – August 29 – Sept. 1 

The 2024 Hot Jazz Jubilee was an outstanding success on multiple levels, and we are ramping up for 2025! The 10th annual Hot Jazz Jubilee will kick off on August 29th at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Sacramento, with 18 great bands and some phenomenal Guest Artists, plus several outstanding youth jazz bands.

New to the festival this year will be Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, featuring Carmen Get It, a local group that will keep your toes tapping happily. Also new this year is our first Western Swing group, direct from Nashville, Tennessee. Swingin’ West is the real deal, and its rhythm section is none other than those three talented guys from Groovus!

Fans of Black Market Trust will be glad to know that this great band will be back this year. We are thrilled to have the fabulous Sax Gordon join us, and Two Tone Steiny and the Cadillacs will provide a hefty dose of great blues. Talented vocalist Meloney Collins will grace our stages, as will Jason Wanner, Bill Dendle and Dan Barrett.

Tickets for the 2025 Hot Jazz Jubilee are on sale now, and hotel rooms can also be booked early call 916-929-8855 and use code 93H to get the festival discount.

Check back here for further updates and more banads. hotjazzjubilee.com; P.O. Box 2931, Carmichael, CA, 95609, USA. info@hotjazzjubilee.com

27th Annual PENTASTIC HOT JAZZ & MUSIC FESTIVAL (Penticton, BC) – Sept. 5-7

Situated between two lakes in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Pentastic Hot Jazz is celebrating its 27th year.  As “the best Jazz Party in the Northwest”, the three day Pentastic HOT Jazz Festival brings world class jazz bands and performers to Penticton from Friday, September 5through Sunday, September 7, 2025.

The line up this year so far includes Tom Hook & The Hounds, Slim Sandy & The Hillbilly Boppers, After Midnight, Groovus, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Dave Bennett & The Memphis Speed Kings, Todd Morgan & The Emblems, Slim Sandy & The Atomic Cocktails, South Okanagan Big Band, and an Amateur Jam Session. Most bands are scheduled several times. There are four venues that are close together although a free shuttle is available for all those that wish to use that service. All venues are non smoking and dancing is encouraged.

Tickets are NOW on sale! Tickets for the event are $95.00 (Friday), $120.00 (Saturday), $95.00 (Sunday) and three day festival tickets are $170.00.For more information about 2025’s event, please visit Pentastic online at www.pentasticjazz.ca or call toll-free 1-866-599-3494. Purchase tickets online at www.valleyfirsttix.com.

CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA RAGTIME AND AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL (Orbisonia/Rockhill Furnace, PA) Sept. 18-21

THE GREAT NORTHEAST JUG BAND FESTIVAL (Arlington, MA) September 26-27

New England’s ONLY Jug Band Festival will showcase early blues, jazz, and string band traditions from the 1920’s and 30’s, and the modern evolution of this good-time music.  Our fifth festival kicks off on Friday night, September 26 with a jam lead by the Jug Nuts.  Saturday starts with another jam at 1 pm, followed by performances by Miss Maybell & Her Ragtime Romeos, The All New Genetically Modified Jug Band, and Amy Kucharick & Friends with Benefits.  For the first time, the festival will include a “makers tent” highlighting home-made and cigar box instrument builders.

The Great Northeast Jug Band Festival is presented by the Arlington Center for the Arts. The festival is free.  Beer and barbecue will be available for purchase.

For more information, visit: https://www.acarts.org/jug-band-festival .

REDWOOD COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL (Eureka, CA) – Oct. 2-5

This year’s festival, which takes place in Eureka, California, boasts seven venues: Hagadone Stage at Eureka Municipal Auditorium, Chevron & George Petersen Insurance Stage at The Adorni Center, Pierson Building Center Stage at The Sequoia Center, The Eagle House Stage at The Inn & 2nd and C, Sun Valley Group Stage at Morris Graves Museum, and two performance stages at The Red Lion Hotel (which is the home base of the festival). All venues have food, bars, and dance floors—with complimentary shuttles between venues.

Featuring: Americana, Hot and New Orleans Jazz, Swing, Blues, Western Swing, Zydecco, Rockabilly, and Country, 40 Bands, and 100 sets of music, TST readers will find many of their favorites in the mix. Scheduled artists include: The Revelers, The Cash Box Kings, Joel Paterson Trio, Redd Volkaert, Carl Sonny Leyland & His Boogie Woogie Boys, Duke Robillard, The Western Flyers, Jonathan Stout’s Campus Five Featuring Hilary Alexander, Lee Kanehira, Dave Stuckey & The Hot House Gang, Sean ‘Mack’ Mcdonald, Michael Doucét, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Kenny ‘Beedy Eyes’ Smith, Billy Flynn, Miss Jubilee, Terry Hanck Band, Ron Dziubla, Katie Cavera and The Lost Boys, Tommy Harkenrider’s Memphis Kings, Naomi Uyama & Her Handsome Devils, The Lovestruck Balladeers, Clint Baker Jazz Band, Oscar Wilson, Joe Nosek, Deke Dickerson & The Whippersnappers, San Lyon, Ben Hernandez, Nathan James Trio, Victor Puertas, Colin Hancock, Charlie Halloran & The Tropicales, Dave Stuckey & The Hoot Owls, Two Tone Steiny & The Cadillacs with Danny Sandoval, Holland Coots Jazz Band, Mitch Polzak & The Royal Deuces, Dawn Lambeth, The Alpha Rhythm Kings, Jonathan Doyle Swingtet, Dan Barrett, Alice Spencer & Overland Swing Express, Mikya Matsuda’s Alcatraz Islanders, Kris Tokarski, Gino & The Lone Gunmen, The Mortonia Seven, Josh Collazo’s Jazzboree, Natalie Hanna Mendoza, Marc Caparone’s Back O’Town Allstars, Cadillac Ranch & The Roadside Attraction, New Orleans Night Owls, Dave Bennett, TJ Muller’s Jazz-O-Maniacs, Andy Schumm, Hal Smith’s El Dorado Jazz Band, Groovus, SoHum Girls, Dave Kosmyna Incendiary Seven, Dennis Lichtman, Dalton Ridenhour Trio, Mike Davis, The Uptown Kings, The Redwood Dixie-Gators, Nice & Easy

Please write admin@redwoodjazz.org with questions. Find payment options and other information online at www.rcmfest.org. Please check the hotel page to see if there are ticket packages available from official festival hotels. Special combination packages may be available.

SUN VALLEY JAZZ & MUSIC FESTIVAL (Sun Valley, ID) – Oct. 16-19

Idaho’s Sun Valley Jazz and Music Festival covers four days and offers excellent bands in four venues at the Sun Valley Resort.  Performing this year are Bands: Terry Myers Big Band, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Alpha Rhythm Kings, Leyland, Pikal, & Coots Trio, The High Street Party Band, Cocuzzi Trio, Dave Bennett Five, Hot Jazz Collective, The Baker Boys, Carolyn Martin Swing Quartet, and San Lyon with Katie Cavera. Musicians: Jason Wanner, Paul Odeh, Pat Gullotta, Jaimie Roberts, Sam Rocha, Nate Ketner, Bobby Durham, Yve Evans, Clint Baker, Carl Sonny Leyland, Danny Coots, Davy Jones, Dave Bennett, Eddie Metz Jr., Rob Verdi, Brian Casserly, Steve Goff, Kevin Congleton, Sherri Colby, Matty Bottel, Michael Sailors, Emily Stanton, Shaymus Hanlin, and Steve Pikal.

2025 Specialty Bands and Events: Big Band Bash, High Street’s Dancin’ Through the Decades, Dance lessons!, Afterglow Dinner & Dance, Grande Finale, Marching Band Salute, Ladies Sing, Miles Davis Tribute, Clarinet Clambake, Party on the Bayou, Gospel Sets, Brian Casserly’s Jumpin’ Blues All Stars, Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute, Rhythm & Blues, Rob Verdi’s Little Big Band, Banjomaniacs, Flambeau Cajun, Blues & Rock n’ Roll.

Tickets are available by telephone (877) 478-5277 or on our website; sunvalleyjazz.com.

ROSWELL JAZZ FESTIVAL (Roswell, NM) – Oct. 22-26

Tickets for the 18th annual festival will go on sale this summer; for more information visit roswelljazz.org, email jazzroswell@gmail.com, or telephone 505-359-4876.

MIKE DURHAM’S INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC JAZZ PARTY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK) – Oct. 31 to Nov. 2

The globe’s foremost gathering of specialist Classic Jazz musicians and fans; a three-day concert series featuring live music of a rarely heard quality and authenticity, performed by a truly international roster of world-class performers. Held over a long weekend from midday on Friday until late on Sunday evening, the Party takes the form of a series of special themed concerts chosen and curated by the musicians themselves and drawn from the canon of the first 40 years of jazz.

2025 Concert Themes: Willard Robison’s Orchestra, Thelma Terry And Her Play Boys, Oliver Naylor’s Seven Aces, Rare Trumbauer Orchestra, Nick Lucas – The Crooning Troubadour, The Jazz Wizard – Richard M. Jones, Ethel Waters, The Dorsey Brothers’ Orchestra, Earl Hines Orchestra, The Bluesician – Harry Dial, King Oliver with vocalists, Teddy Bunn, String Bands, Drumnasticks! Joe Daniels And His Hot Shots, Washboard Empire – the Chicago Washboard Virtuosi, Jimmie’s Joys – The music of Jimmy (Joy) Maloney, The Emperor – Phil Napoleon, Andy Preer’s Cotton Club Orchestra and Harry’s Happy Four, The Arcadia Bands of St. Louis, The Duke’s Men – Ellingtonian Small Groups, A Centenary Celebration – Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The Kansas City Six, The California Ramblers, Cleo Brown, Artie Shaw’s Orchestra, and Irving Berlin in the Jazz Age.

Our 2025 concert lineup, subject to change, features an exceptional array of talent. On trumpet, we have Joe Boga (USA – new for 2025!), Enrico Tomasso (UK), Malo Mazurié (France), Colin Hancock (USA – new for 2025!), Mike Davis (USA), and Andy Schumm (USA). The reeds section includes Lars Frank (Norway), Lorenzo Baldasso (Italy), Michael McQuaid (UK), David Lukács (Netherlands – new for 2025!), Natalie Scharf (USA), David Horniblow (UK), and Richard Exall (UK). For trombone, expect T.J. Müller (USA – new for 2025!), Alistair Allan (UK), and Graham Hughes (UK). On piano, Andrew Oliver (USA), David Boeddinghaus (USA), and Martin Litton (UK) will shine. Guitar and banjo feature Thomas “Spats” Langham (UK), Martin Wheatley (UK), Félix Hunot (France), and Curtis Volp (UK). Brass bass and string bass are covered by Phil Rutherford (UK), Malcolm Sked (UK), and Harry Evans (UK). Drums and percussion include Nicholas D. Ball (UK), Josh Duffee (USA), and Nick Ward (UK). Emma Fisk (UK) will perform on violin, and vocals will be delivered by Thomas “Spats” Langham (UK) and Nicolle Rochelle (France).

At the end of each day, musicians and audience relax and enjoy themselves at the legendary after-hours jam sessions in the hotel’s bar, often going on into the wee small hours.

The concerts take place in 4-star luxury, with audience members being assigned to cabaret seating of 8 to a table. A twice-daily rotation system is in place to ensure that everybody gets a good view. For tickets and other information, please visit whitleybayjazzfest.com; wbjazzfest@btinternet.com.

SUNCOAST JAZZ FESTIVAL (Clearwater Beach, FL) – Nov. 21-23

37th Annual WEST COAST RAGTIME FESTIVAL (Rancho Cordova, CA) – Nov. 21-23

We are busy putting together another stellar performer lineup, special shows, seminars, and dancing.

We are delighted to again be hosting the festival at the Marriott Rancho Cordova, with all venues on the ground floor. You may make early reservations at the Marriott now. Location: Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova 12211 Point East Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742._For more information, please visit: www.westcoastragtime.com.