The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs has announced the lineup for the 49th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival, which returns to Piedmont Park on Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25.
During the announcement event at Illuminarium on Feb. 10, Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs, leaders from festival sponsors Bank of America and Design Essentials, and featured artists spoke about the impact the event – the largest free jazz festival in the country – has had on Atlanta’s cultural landscape for almost five decades.
“It’s been nearly 50 years since the great Mayor Maynard Jackson created our jazz festival and the Office of Cultural Affairs, as it became named later,” Dickens said. “This was a way to celebrate the city’s cultural diversity and to make sure that we all enjoyed ourselves… This is how we kick off summer here in the ATL, and the best is still yet to come as we grow.”
49th Annual Jazz Festival Lineup
Saturday
Buddy Red: 1 p.m.
Aja Monet: 3 p.m.
Nate Smith: 5 p.m.
Christian McBride & Ursa Major: 7 p.m.
Kamasi Washington: 9 p.m.
Sunday
Cleveland P Jones: 1 p.m.
Myron McKinley Trio: 3 p.m.
Donnie performing The Colored Section: 5p.m.
Esperanza Spalding: 7 p.m.
The Roots: 9 p.m.
Monday
Cody Matlock: 1 p.m.
Nicole Zuraitis: 3 p.m.
Destin Conrad: 5 p.m.
Butcher Brown: 7 p.m.
PJ Morton: 9 p.m.
Along with three days of live jazz from several Grammy-nominated and -winning artists, the weekend will also include a special ticketed event on Friday, May 22. The Miles Electric Band will perform at Atlanta Symphony Hall to honor jazz legend Miles Davis’ centennial and kick off the festival.
The festival will also include a family-friendly space filled with games and interactive activities for kids of all ages, food vendors, and VIP opportunities. To learn more, visit atljazzfest.com.
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