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Nothing sax at the Greenville Jazz Fest

The Greenville Jazz Fest entertainment schedule features performances from regional and local musicians across multiple stages on Main Street in downtown Greenville, SC.

GVLtoday Jazz Fest

Get jazzy on them. | Photo by City of Greenville

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It’s time to jazz up your weekend plans. Greenville Jazz Fest takes over the West End on Friday, May 30 + Saturday, May 31.

The free festival features seven performances across two stages. Find your favorite sounds + listen to each act before you go. Pro tip: Learn what food you can snack on, where to park, and how to book a Greenville Bike Taxi.

Reedy Stage (at Main Street + Court Street)

Friday, May 30

Tamika Howard Quartet | 4 p.m. | Kick off the festivities with this foursome known for its jazz, gospel, and R&B music.

Calixto Oviedo & Afro Jazz Quartet | 5:30 p.m. | Listen as this Latin-Grammy nominee plays alongside the quartet fusing jazz harmonies, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and improvisation techniques.

YAM YAM | 7:30 p.m. | Enjoy a unique blend of funk, jazz, and soul.

Saturday, May 31

Greenville Brass Connection | 11:30 a.m. | Get sassy and brassy with some local musicians.

Absinthe Minded | 1 p.m. | Spend some time with the five-piece speakeasy band promising “toe tappin’ tunes.”

Shannon Hoover Trio | 2:30 p.m. | This local musician, composer, and educator will soothe your soul with the help of two other musicians.

Art of Thieves | 4 p.m. | Listen to jazz, rock and pop, Latin, African, and World Music from this newly-formed quartet.

Brass Queens | 5:30 p.m. | All the way from NYC, feast your ears on music from this New Orleans-inspired all-female brass band.

Nate Smith | 7:30 p.m. | The three-time Grammy nominee known for his ability to switch between styles takes the stage.

Roots Stage (at Main + Augusta Streets)

Friday, May 30

Blue Notes Band | 5 p.m. | This band has an array of styles, performing songs from Frank Sinatra to Herbie Hancock, and Miles Davis to Louis Armstrong.

The Darrin Jackson Encounter | 6:30 p.m. | Feel the groove as this group “permeates your mind, body, and soul” with its sounds.

The Soul Rebels | 8:30 p.m. | Who’s played with Katy Perry and DMX, was featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series, made a TV appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and headlined a set at the TED Conference? This group.

Saturday, May 31

Olayemi Ogundola | 12 p.m. | This Nigeria-born musician is an alto saxophonist, percussionist, performer, composer, and educator.

The All County Jazz Ensemble | 1:30 p.m. | The 20-piece ensemble is a collective of students from seven Greenville County Schools high schools + the SC Fine Arts Center.

Gwen Hughes Jazz of the Soul | 3 p.m. | Celebrate the joyful side of jazz and soul music that “evolved out of the ‘happy sadness’ of the blues.”

Dirk Quinn Band | 4:30 p.m. | Get to know this high-energy funk + jazz band based out of Philadelphia.

Greenville Jazz Collective Big Band | 6:30 p.m. | Greenville Jazz Collective is the only non-profit serving Greenville dedicated to promoting jazz arts through education outreach.

Bookmark the fest’s website for updates + peek the road closures.

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