Flint Jazz Festival packs July 26-28 weekend with 11 performances

FLINT, Michigan—The 38th annual Jazz Festival is headed to Flint, bringing the smooth sounds of jazz to the amphitheater in downtown Flint’s Riverbank Park for the weekend of July 26-28. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to take in a slate of local and international jazz artists. 

“Our headliners are not to be missed,” says Greg Fiedler, president and CEO of the Greater Flint Arts Council. “Banda Magda gets things started on Friday with an incredible group of international musicians. On Saturday, we’re featuring Najee, an American saxophonist with two platinum and four gold albums under his belt. Then, we finish big on Sunday evening with smooth jazz gospel musician and native Detroiter, Tim Bowman.”

The headliners will take the stage each night at 7pm with local and regional acts kicking them off beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Admission to the Flint Jazz Festival is $10 per day or $25 for a weekend pass. The weekend pass is only available on Friday and there are no advance sales. Tickets are cash only at the gate. Outside food and beverages are not permitted.

Friday’s lineup includes sets by Kevin Collins and Banda Magda. Saturday will feature performances by Smooth Operation Project, Gwen Pennyman Hemphill, Tapology, Carl Cafagna, and Najee. The festival wraps up with Sunday performances by Organissimo, Jazz Cycle, People’s Jazz Band, and Tim Bowman.

A JazzWalk will unofficially kick off the festival with shows Thursday at The White Horse, Cork, 501 Bar & Grill, and Soggy Bottom, all downtown Flint bars and eateries.

For more information, check out the Jazz Festival’s Facebook page or visit geneseefun.com.