Yeah, that jazz festival

Greenville announces downtown jazz festival

Count them in? The inaugural Greenville Jazz Fest will play its first notes June 3 from 4-10 p.m., and it’s got big aspirations.

“If we do it right this will be as big as Fall for Greenville and Artisphere,” said Ken Gibson of city council.

National acts are planned on two Main Street stages, including Rebirth Brass Band and Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, along with a bevy of local groups who will celebrate community, culture, and jazz. Oh, and the event is free. The stages, food trucks, and beverage locations will line Main Street from Broad Street to Falls Park Drive.

The festival will stretch outside its official time and location boundaries to include performances in local music venues throughout the weekend. Additional shows are scheduled for Horizon Records, Chicora Alley, Blues Boulevard and Rainer’s Café and Bar. The city and partner The Greenville Jazz Collective plan JazzEd Sessions leading up to the festival at the Juanita Butler, Nicholtown and West Greenville community centers.

Though the 2023 event is yet to happen, organizers are already anticipating moving to a two-day format with even more performances and venues in 2024. But let’s keep the focus on 2023 for now: learn more about the first event at greenvillejazz.com.