The East Coast’s Best Blues and Roots Music Festivals
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Check out our list of the East Coast’s best blues and roots music festivals! From Maine to Virginia, there’s something for everyone.
The East Coast’s Best Blues and Roots Music Festivals
The blues and roots music scene is heating up on the East Coast! From New York to Virginia, there are a number of great festivals to check out. Here are some of the best blues and roots music festivals on the East Coast.
The New York City Blues and Roots Festival
The New York City Blues and Roots Festival is one of the most popular blues and roots music festivals on the East Coast. The festival features a wide range of artists, from famous performers to up-and-coming bands. In addition to the music, the festival also offers food and drink vendors, as well as a variety of other activities.
The Philadelphia Folk Festival
The Philadelphia Folk Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. The festival was founded in 1962 and is one of the longest-running folk festivals in the United States. The Philadelphia Folk Festival features a wide range of musical genres including bluegrass, country, folk, blues, and more. The festival also features a variety of food and craft vendors.
The Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival is an annual music festival founded in 1959 by George Wein, produced by the Newport Jazz Festival Productions and held in Newport, Rhode Island. The festival presents a wide variety of folk, roots, and Americana music and is known for its supportive atmosphere and eclectic lineup. It is one of the most prestigious folk festivals in the country and has featured some of the biggest names in folk music, including Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and many others.
The East Coast’s Best Jazz Festivals
The East Coast is home to some of the best blues and roots music festivals in the country. From the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to the Poconos’ Pocono Blues Festival, there’s a music festival for everyone. Here’s a list of the best blues and roots music festivals on the East Coast.
The New York City Jazz Festival
The New York City Jazz Festival is one of the most highly anticipated jazz events of the year, bringing together some of the biggest names in jazz for a series of shows across the city. This year’s lineup includes iconic saxophonist David Sanborn, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, and pianist Chick Corea.
The Philadelphia Jazz Festival
The Philadelphia Jazz Festival is one of the East Coast’s most highly-anticipated annual music events. Drawing in legendary and up-and-coming jazz performers from all over the world, the festival offers something for everyone, whether you’re a diehard jazz fan or just beginning to explore the genre.
Now in its 38th year, the Philadelphia Jazz Festival is celebrated as one of the longest-running jazz festivals in the country. Taking place throughout the month of April, the festival culminates with a weekend-long celebration of jazz in Philadelphia’s historic district. With multiple stages spread throughout the city, there’s always something going on, day or night. And best of all, many of the performances are free and open to the public.
So whether you’re looking to catch a legendary performer like Chick Corea or Wynton Marsalis, or check out some of tomorrow’s stars, make sure to add the Philadelphia Jazz Festival to your must-attend list this year.
The Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is an American jazz music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island. The festival was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard and her husband, Louis Lorillard, with the help of jazz impresario George Wein. It was the first outdoor music festival of its kind in the United States, and Newport has been host to some of the most legendary performances in jazz history.
The Newport Jazz Festival has been home to many iconic moments, including Miles Davis’ performance of “So What” with his new band in 1959, and Duke Ellington’s legendary “Newport Up” speech in 1966. In 1971, the festival relocated to New York City for two years before returning to Newport. Today, the festival is run by producing partner Jay Sweet and takes place on Memorial Day weekend.
