Memphis Gets Its First Jazz Festival October 9–11

It's a brand-new, free festival from the Downtown Memphis Commission, built to celebrate jazz as part of the city's musical heritage and to give the musicians shaping its future a bigger platform.

Instead of one fenced-in site, the festival moves around Downtown. Each day has its own setting and feel: cocktails and jazz on Friday night, an afternoon of stages and workshops on Main Street on Saturday, a late-night jam session, and a Sunday evening in the park.

It also builds on something Memphians already love. Sunset Jazz at Court Square, the free concert series held on second Sundays from May through October, wraps its season as the festival's closing day.

The Lineup

National artists Theo Croker and Dear Silas join a deep bench of Memphis talent:

Friday, October 9: 

Jazz After Hours. The festival kicks off from 6 to 9 p.m. in the lobby of The Westin Memphis Beale Street, hosted by Strictly Jazz Entertainment.

Saturday, October 10: Main Street. 

The main event lands on the Main Street Mall between Union Avenue and Peabody Place. The day starts with a free jazz masterclass from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Gayoso Stage, sponsored by Memphis Jazz Workshop. Then the music starts on two stages.

Peabody Stage

• 1:15 p.m.: Memphis Jazz Orchestra
• 2:25 p.m.: Deborah Swiney
• 3:35 p.m.: Joe Restivo 4
• 4:50 p.m.: Henry Conerway III
• 6:05 p.m.: Dear Silas
• 7:10 p.m.: Theo Croker

Gayoso Stage

• 1:45 p.m.: Alex Upton Trio
• 2:55 p.m.: Kenny Reed Quintet
• 4 p.m.: Hope Clayburn & The Memphis Manes
• 5:10 p.m.: The Power to the People Quartet
• 6:20 p.m.: Parkerhurt Quartet

Saturday night: Jazz Jam at The Dame. 

Head to The Dame at Hotel Pontotoc at 9 p.m. for an intimate jam session hosted by Henry Conerway III and sponsored by the Memphis Jazz Workshop.

Sunday, October 11: Sunset Jazz finale. 

The weekend closes at Court Square Park from 3 to 7 p.m.

• 3:10 p.m.: Stephen Lee & In the Moment
• 4:30 p.m.: Pat Register
• 5:50 p.m.: Gary Topper & Symmetry

Downtown restaurants are joining in all weekend with jazz brunches, live music, and festival-inspired menus.

Plan Your Visit

Dates: Friday through Sunday, October 9–11

Admission: Free and open to all

RSVP: Encouraged, for schedule and lineup updates, through Eventbrite

Parking: Use code JAZZ for 8 hours of parking for $12 at these garages:

• Mobility Center (60 Beale St.)
• Gayoso Garage (106 Gayoso Ave.)
• 250 Peabody Place
• Shoppers Garage (85 N. Front St.)
• First Place Parking (21 S. 2nd St.)

What to bring: Lawn chairs, blankets, strollers, and wagons are welcome.