Fri 6/24-Sat 6/25
Tri-C JazzFest already announced its nine tickets shows, taking place in various Playhouse Square theaters, Thursday June 23, Friday June 24 and Saturday June 25.
Now it’s revealed the lineup and activities for its free, all-ages outdoor festival at Playhouse Square, Friday June 24 and Saturday June 45, when the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 14th Street will be closed to traffic for outdoor entertainment and activities from 3pm-midnight. There will be food and beverages including a beer tent, cooking demos in the Jazz Kitchen (which will also feature live interviews with jazz artists), shopping opportunities, street performers including the Art Acts giant Puppets, kids activities such face painting, crafts, drum lessons and a dance party, and performers on two stages.
The big outdoor stage will feature a lineup of lively ensembles, ranging from jazz to R&B, rock to reggae.
Friday’s lineup includes the Italian folk music-based music of Alla Boara; Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band; the gospel-influenced PK Jones Quartet, swamp rockers Cats on Holiday, a Tribute to Eddie Baccus Sr., the veteran Cleveland jazz keyboardist who died in January; R&B musician Walter Barnes Jr. & Friends; and popular area reggae band Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band.
Saturday opens with the all-star JazzWorks’ classic jazz, followed by Chris Coles’ GLEAM featuring some of the area’s young and old jazz stars; the Americana/alt-country of Rachel Brown & the Beatnik Playboys; the East Central Jazz Educators All-Star Big Band with their “Madd for Tadd” Tadd Dameron tribute; the smooth jazz of Herb Wilborn Jr . Band; the Dr. Dave Thomas Project led by keyboard player Thomas; and closing things down, Sammy DeLeon y su Orquesta with their rousing Puerto Rican salsa.
The Next Gen stage will feature performances by students from the Tri-C JazzFest Academy camp, as well as former students from past years.
Get more details here.