Let the music play — Main Street Jazz Fest is swinging back on Saturday, May 10 + Sunday, May 11. The award-winning music event will feature a different experience on each day.
On Saturday, music will fill the air on the 1700 block of Main Street for a show from 2-9 p.m. Attendees will be able to enjoy live performances on the Main Stage from five jazz acts: Left Bank Big Band, Amos Hoffman, Jessy J, Alex Cuba, and The Gotham Kings. As the music plays, there will also be food trucks and other activities. This event is free to attend, but there is a VIP experience available for purchase.
On a different note, Sunday’s show will be indoors at the Koger Center for the Arts starting at 6 p.m., featuring performances by the Kenny Garrett Group + the Tia Fuller Quartet. This show is ticketed, and you can purchase seats now. Garrett has an accomplished, 30-year career blending jazz with other genres while Fuller is a Grammy-nominated saxophonist who used her talents to portray Dorothea Williams in Pixar’s “Soul.”
Main Street Jazz Fest is presented by the ColaJazz Foundation, which was founded by local trumpeter + executive director Mark Rapp in 2014. This year, Rapp received the Jazz Journalists Association’s “Jazz Hero Award” for Columbia. The distinction is given to individuals who have made strong impacts on their communities by advocating jazz + the arts.
Rapp shared his excitement for the upcoming festival, stating, “This year’s lineup is mind blowing, showcasing jazz legends alongside rising stars. We’re excited for Columbia to experience this.”
