Memphis Gets Its First Jazz Festival October 9–11
Three free days of jazz take over Downtown, from a hotel lounge kickoff to a Main Street stage and a sunset finale in Court Square.
Three free days of jazz take over Downtown, from a hotel lounge kickoff to a Main Street stage and a sunset finale in Court Square.
Memphis is known the world over for blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll. This weekend, jazz gets its turn. The inaugural Memphis Jazz Festival brings local and national artists to Downtown for three days of free live music.
Schedule update: Because remnants of Hurricane Isaias are expected Saturday evening, the Downtown Memphis Commission has changed the festival schedule. Saturday’s performances move indoors to the New Daisy Theatre, Saturday morning’s workshop is cancelled, and the outdoor Main Street stages move to Sunday. The updated schedule is below.
Memphis is known the world over for blues, soul, and rock ’n’ roll. This weekend, jazz gets its turn. The inaugural Memphis Jazz Festival brings national artists Theo Croker and Dear Silas together with a deep bench of Memphis talent for three days of free live music Downtown.
What Is the Memphis Jazz Festival?
What Is the Memphis Jazz Festival?
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:
The Weekend, Day by Day
The Weekend, Day by Day
Friday, October 9: Jazz After Hours
The festival kicks off from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Westin Memphis Beale Street with live music and cocktails, hosted by Strictly Jazz Entertainment.
Saturday, October 10: The New Daisy Theatre
Saturday’s performances move indoors to the New Daisy Theatre on Beale Street. Admission is still free, but capacity is limited, so arrive early. DJ Digital Tech opens at 1 p.m. and spins between sets.
- 1:30 p.m.: Alex Upton Trio
- 2:40 p.m.: Joe Restivo 4
- 3:50 p.m.: Henry Conerway III
- 5 p.m.: Dear Silas
- 6:10 p.m.: Theo Croker
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: Main Street and Court Square
The festival heads outside from 1:45 to 7 p.m. on the Main Street Mall between Peabody Place and Union Avenue, along with the Sunset Jazz season finale at Court Square Park.
Peabody Stage
- 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM - Memphis Jazz Orchestra
- 2:35 PM - 3:20 PM - The Power to the People Quartet
- 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - ParkerHurt Quartet
Gayoso Stage
- 2:25 PM - 3:10 PM - Kenny Reed Quintet
- 3:35 PM - 4:25 PM - Hope Clayburn & the Memphis Manes
Sunset Jazz at Court Square Park
- 3:10 PM - 4:10 PM - Stephen M. Lee & the Moment
- 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM - Pat Register
- 5:50 PM - 7:00 PM - 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.
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