We’ve finally got all the details on Kelle Jolly’s Women in Jazz Jam Festival, set for March 18-20. Jolly sent out a press release earlier this week, announcing the lineup (Jolly and her husband, Will Boyd, plus the Dara Tucker Band and others), the venues (Scruffy City Hall, Red Piano Lounge, and more), the schedule, and the schedule for a series of workshops over the weekend at the Emporium Center. (And don’t forget you can see Jolly at Knoxtacular this weekend!)
Here’s the full press release:
Ella Fitzgerald said, “The only thing better than singing is more singing.” There will be plenty of singing at Knoxville’s first Women in Jazz Jazz Festival (WJJF) from March 18-20.
Festival organizer Kelle Jolly says, “March is Women’s History Month and it’s about time there was a festival honoring women in jazz.” Jolly has assembled a variety of concerts and activities that will take place in downtown Knoxville and at the Red Piano Lounge in Bearden. Festival t-shirts designed by Hawa Ware and Visit Knoxville will be available for sale.
The festival kicks off on Friday, March 18, with two shows by the Women in Jazz Jam Festival Band. The WJJF Band will join Kelle Jolly at noon on the WDVX Blue Plate Special in the Visit Knoxville building. At 6:oo p.m., the ladies are performing at the Knoxville Museum of Art’s “Alive After Five.” Ukesphere, a local ukulele club, will also perform. Admission for the evening show is $10 for adults, $5 for students and children under 17 are free.
The WJJF Workshops & Market will held on Saturday, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., at The Emporium building downtown. The event will include performances by youth jazz musicians, workshops for children facilitated by Knoxville Girls Rock Camp and award-winning poet Rhea Carmon, a presentation by Tennessee Archives of Moving Image and Sound on Knoxville jazz & blues women composers and a vision board workshop. Women and girl led businesses will be set up to sell in the upstairs gallery. Admission is free.
Enjoy an early show on Saturday evening at Scruffy City Hall on Market Square. From 5:30-9:00 p.m., savor the sounds of Kelle Jolly and Will Boyd (5:30pm), Nashville’s Christina Watson (6:30pm), and Venus (the all girl band) (7:30pm) from Atlanta. Advance tickets are $15 or $20 at the door. www.knoxtix.com
Sunday afternoon’s headliner, The Dara Tucker Band, will be performing at 3 p.m. at Red Piano Lounge. Advance tickets are $10 or $15 at the door. knoxtix.com
Festival Sponsors include Visit Knoxville, WUOT, Knoxzine, SAFTA, Appalachian Community Fund Indiegogo campaign supporters and Commissioner Amy Broyles.
Senior Editor Matthew Everett manages the Knoxville Mercury's arts & entertainment section, including the comprehensive calendar section—Knoxville’s go-to guide for everything worth doing in the area. You can reach Matthew at matthew@knoxmercury.com.
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