The Tacoma Jazz and Blues Festival kicks off Saturday, July 25 at 1:00 p.m. providing jazz and blues music lovers with one-of-a-kind performances from a variety of artists and ensembles throughout the day. This year's headliners include The Voice - Stephanie Ann Johnson, Curtis Salgado, Richard Allen & Zydeco Experience Rich Wetzel's Groovin Higher Orchestra, Junkyard Jane and many more. This year
, we are open to ALL ages. Kids under 12 are FREE! The 2015 Lineup
Main Stage
1:00-2:00pm Palmer Junction
2:20-3:30pm Stephanie Ann Johnson
4:00-5:00pm Curtis Salgado
5:30-6:30pm Rich Wetzel's GHO featuring Tom "Bones"Malone & Chuck Findley
7:00-8:30pm Richard Allen & Zydeco Experience
Stonegate Bar
2:00-3:30pm Ed Ulman Latin Jazz
4:00-5:30pm Lance Buller
6:00-8:00pm Steve Cooley
9:00-12:00am Rich Wetzel's GHO with Tom "Bones" Malone & Chuck Findley ( upstairs stage )
Dawson's Bar
2:30-4:00pm Ted Dortch Quest with Buck England
4:30-5:30pm Kareem Kandi
6:00-8:00pm TBA
9:00-12:00am Junkyard Jane
"Each year we work harder than the last to make the Tacoma Jazz Festival an exciting experience that brings the jazz and blues community together in a celebration of the rich culture and history of jazz in the Tacoma area." This year the Tacoma Jazz and Blues Festival has made a few improvements. The festival has traditionally been located downtown with various venues were spread over an area of five miles. This year, the Festival has moved to a new location that offers festival goers a more intimate experience by selecting an area that brings all the venues together within a two block radius on South Tacoma Way. South 54th and South 56th Streets will be blocked allowing free foot traffic and access to various food and craft vendors along South Tacoma Way. Additionally, the street will be covered with parachute canopies to provide shade from the sun. For the first time, the Festival has added a fully stocked beer garden located near South 56th Street, which means festival goers must be at least 21 and present an identification to enter the festival grounds. FREE parking is located behind the Stonegate Pizza and Rum Bar and along South Puget Sound Avenue. Performances will take place throughout the day on three stages and venues located along South Tacoma Way. The all star main stage will be located outdoors near the South 54th Street entrance with stages also located within the festival area at the Stonegate Pizza and Rum Bar, and Dawsons. See the festival schedule on our website for more information. The Main Stage will feature our blues and jazz acts from 1:30-9:30 p.m. and the clubs music begins at 2:00 p.m. and will continue until 10:00 p.m. The Stonegate and Dawsons will remain open beyond 10:00 p.m. to keep the party going. Why is there an admission fee? To grow the festival and to put on a fantastic event, music from 1:30pm to 9:30pm on the main stage, music in the clubs starting at 2:00pm and the party continuing at Stonegate and Dawsons till closing time, to provide street closing for our brand new block party complete with a beer garden and vendors, making this truly the hottest new jazz and blues festival and party on the scene we have help from sponsors and the best value ticket fee for an event like this, a great deal and a fun time! General Admission ticket for the entire day with access to the beer garden and all the stages is $20 advanced purchase and $25 at the entrance on the day of the vent. Ages 12 to 20 are $10 advanced purchase and $15 at the entrance on the day of the event. Kids under 12 are free!
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Tacoma Jazz and Blues Festival Committee
Rich Wetzel, Founder
Billy Stoops, Promotions & Talent
Jeff Call, Promotions & Vendors
Stephanie Irwin, Marketing, design and PR
