Memorial Day weekend will mark this year’s celebration of the annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival, which begins tomorrow (Thursday).
To get you ready for the giant, free-to-the-public downtown festival, we’ve compiled just about everything you’ll need to know if you plan on going to Jazz Fest.
WHEN AND WHERE IS IT?
Jazz Fest, the yearly jazz music street festival in Jax, kicks off Thursday night at 7:00 PM at the Florida Theatre and extends late into Sunday night.
It’ll take place over the span of several blocks of downtown Jacksonville. Three major stages will be set up: the Breezin’ Stage at Main and Adams streets, the Groovin’ Stage at Hemming Park, and the Swingin’ Stage at Pearl and Adams.
The Swingin’ Stage is usually located at the Landing, but it’s been moved to the lot in front of the Duval County Courthouse. Could this have something to do with the city’s feud with the Landing’s ownership? Who knows.
In addition to those three stages, Jazz After Dark will bring additional musical acts to a collection of downtown venues including The Volstead, The Five & Dime, The Justice Pub, Breezy, Spliff’s Gastropub, Cowford Chophouse, Element Bistro + Bar, Myth, 1904 Music Hall, Da Real Ting, The Candy Apple Cafe, Bold City Brewery, and Intuition Ale Works.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
If you plan on posting up at any particular stage, you should probably bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on.
Otherwise, don’t plan on bringing much of anything. Coolers are prohibited, as are outside food and drink. You also can’t take audio or video recordings of the acts, or fly a drone.
If you’re planning on parking in the garages, bring money along for that as well.
THE SCHEDULE
Here’s a rundown of what all will be going on throughout the weekend.
THURSDAY
- Florida Theatre
- 7:00 PM – Piano Competition presented by Keyboard Connection, hosted by Noel Friedline
- $10 ticket charge
- 7:00 PM – Piano Competition presented by Keyboard Connection, hosted by Noel Friedline
FRIDAY
- Groovin’ Stage at Hemming Park
- 5:30 – 6:30 PM – The Raisin Cake Orchestra
- 7:00 – 8:30 PM – Champian Fulton Quartet
- 9:00 – 10:30 PM – Lohai
- Breezin’ Stage at Main Street
- 6:00 – 7:00 PM – The Chris Thomas Band
- 7:30 – 9:00 PM – Charles Lloyd Quartet w/ Aaron Parks, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland
- 9:30 – 11:00 PM – Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio
- Swingin’ Stage at the Courthouse
- 7:30 – 9:00 PM – Grace Kelly
- 9:30 – 11:00 PM – Dianne Reeves w/ Peter Martin, Romero Lubambo, Reginald Veal, and Terreon Gully
- 1904 Music Hall
- 9:00 PM – Prinze Jr.
- 10:15 PM – Master Radical
- 11:30 PM – LPT
- Bold City Brewery
- 7:00 – 8:00 PM – Adrian Kennedy
- 8:00 – 10:00 PM – Stranger Wolf
- Cowford Chophouse
- 6:00 – 9:30 PM – Groove Coalition
- Justice Pub
- 9:00 PM – Shawn Pfaffman
- 10:30 PM – Stono Echo
- 11:30 PM – Tropic of Cancer
- Da Real Ting Cafe
- 8:00 – 10:00 PM – Cometry
- The Volstead
- 10:00 PM – 12:30 AM – John Lumpkin & The Covenant
- Element Bistro + Bar
- 7:00 PM – Shawn Pfaffman
- 8:00 PM – Knight Krawler
- Myth Nightclub
- 7:00 – 9:00 PM – Jamison Williams Proximity Report
- 9:00 PM – Paco Lipps
- Five & Dime
- 8:30 – 10:30 PM – Emmert / Lehrian Duo
- 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM – The Suedes
- Sweet Pete’s
- 7:00 – 10:00 PM – Akia Uwanda
- Breezy Jazz Club
- 7:00 – 11:30 PM – Longineau Parsons Live Recording
- $10 cover charge
- 7:00 – 11:30 PM – Longineau Parsons Live Recording
SATURDAY
- Jazz Fest Clinic at The Ritz Theatre & Museum
- 10:00 – 11:00 AM – Ulysses Owens, Jr. (Drums)
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Grace Kelly (saxophone)
- Groovin’ Stage at Hemming Park
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- 3:00 – 4:00 PM – Zach Bartholomew Quartet
- 4:30 – 5:30 PM – The 4 Korners
- 6:00 – 7:30 PM – Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra
- 8:00 – 9:30 PM – The Russell Malone Quartet
- Breezin’ Stage at Main Street
- 3:00 – 4:00 PM – Jon Baptiste & the Urban Intellectuals
- 4:30 – 6:00 PM – The Pete Escovedo w/ Jimmy Bosch and Chembo Comiel
- 6:30 – 8:00 PM – Euge Groove
- 8:30 – 10:00 PM – The Bad Plus
- Second Line Jazz Parade at Broad and Adams
- 4:00 – 4:30 PM
- 1904 Music Hall
- 10:00 PM – Rattle Rattle Shake
- 11:00 PM – 2:00 AM – 1904 Funk Jam
- Bold City Brewery
- 7:00 – 10:00 PM – Goliath Flores
- Cowford Chophouse
- 6:00 – 9:30 PM – Mama Blue
- Spliff’s Gastropub
- 10:00 PM – Billy & Bella
- 11:00 PM – Chad Jasmine
- Justice Pub
- 9:30 PM – William Goin & Swing Bone
- 11:30 PM – Guy & The Yehudas
- The Volstead
- 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM – DJ Mas Appeal
- Element Bistro + Bar
- 7:00 PM – Brandon Lucas
- 8:00 PM – Folk is People
- Myth Nightclub
- 9:00 PM – Terrain
- Five & Dime
- 8:00 – 10:00 PM – Adrian Kennedy
- 10:30 PM – 12:00 AM – DAEVU
- Breezy Jazz Club
- 7:00 – 11:30 PM – Longineau Parsons Live Recording
- $10 cover charge
- 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM – Jazz Jam Session
- 7:00 – 11:30 PM – Longineau Parsons Live Recording
SUNDAY
- Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
- 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – The Noel Friedlien Quintet w/ Maria Howell
- Groovin’ Stage at Hemming Park
- 2:00 – 3:00 PM – Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
- 3:30 – 4:30 PM – Linda Cole & the Joshua Bowlus Quartet
- 5:00 – 6:30 PM – Josh Vietti
- 7:00 – 8:30 PM – Jeff Lorber Fusion
- Breezin’ Stage at Main Street
- 2:30 – 3:30 PM – Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble
- 4:00 – 5:00 PM – Naughty Professor
- 5:30 – 6:30 PM – Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
- 7:00 – 8:30 PM – Arturo Sandoval
- Swingin’ Stage at the Courthouse
- 3:00 – 4:00 PM – UNF Jazz Ensemble
- 4:30 – 6:00 PM – Ulysses Owens, Jr Three
- 6:30 – 8:00 PM – Maysa
- 8:30 – 10:00 PM – Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
- 1904 Music Hall
- 10:00 PM – Bonnie Blue
- 11:00 PM – 2:00 AM – Big Sam’s Funky Nation
- The Volstead
- 7:00 PM – Free swing lessons
WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT
There will be plenty of vendors, including food trucks, alcohol carts, and more. Also, be sure to check out the gift shop and grab an official poster or other memorabilia.
FOR ANYTHING ELSE…
…you should check out the festival’s website!
