Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 2023: A Celebration of Music and Community

We’re thrilled to announce the triumphant return of the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival to the picturesque Salem Willows on August 19th, 2023, from 11 AM to 7 PM!

After a few years of uncertainty due to the global pandemic, we’re ready to bring back the rhythm to the Salem Willows, and invite you to celebrate the enduring spirit of our community, the rich history of jazz, soul, and the love for live music.

An Unforgettable Day of Music

This year’s festival promises to be an extravaganza of live music and much more! You can look forward to thrilling performances from bands like Krewe de Skunk, TapRoots, Diane Blue All Stars, BT/ALC Big Band, and Salem High School Jazz Band.

Adding to the excitement, we’re delighted to announce that DJ SKOTVOID will be returning to spin some tunes between sets, keeping the atmosphere vibrant and energetic all day long!

A Festival for All

Beyond the music, the festival also features educational workshops for budding musicians and enthusiasts, a wide variety of vendors for your shopping delight, and a beer tent for those looking to savor some craft brews. This community event promises a good time for all, irrespective of age or background.

A Mission of Music Education

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is more than just a music event. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we provide live music and music education opportunities for the North Shore community, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, orientation, or gender expression. This festival is our love letter to music and the community supporting it.

A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors

We’re grateful to our generous sponsors, including the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), SOSS Records, The Lobster Shanty, and Mahi Mahi Cruises, who have made this event possible. Their support underscores local organizations’ commitment to arts, culture, and our community’s vibrancy and resilience.

Join Us!

We warmly invite you to join us for this free, incredible event and support live music. So mark your calendars, bring your family and friends, and let’s share in the joy of music together! 🎶

August 6th from noon to 8pm! Live Music on Salem Common!

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival has always been about bringing great music to the people of Salem, so we are bringing the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival downtown this year with a special one day event on Salem Common on August 6th from noon to 8pm!  Big thanks to Ellen Talkowsky and the City of Salem for helping us make this happen!  We are still ironing out the details, so keep an eye out for more information.
 
Apply now to perform, vend, volunteer, or sponsor!  Email us at board@salemjazzsoul.org

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 2020 has been cancelled

With a heavy heart we are forced to cancel the 2020 Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 🙁

Our last newsletter opened with the line: “2019 presented challenges, the likes of which had not been seen since our inception in 2007.” Well, it appears that 2020 saw that as a personal challenge because so far, this year has shown us all a whole new level of ‘challenging’.

As of right now, The Salem Jazz and Soul festival is forced to cancel our 2020 season due to Covid-19. Cancelled events include:

– Our spring fundraiser
– Our Derby Square series: May 9th, June 13th, July 11th and August 8th
– The 2020 Salem Jazz and Soul Festival at Salem Willows: August 15th and 16th, 2020

This is due to multiple factors first and foremost of which is the safety and health of our fans and musicians. We are following and complying with the directions and mandates of the State of Massachusetts and the City of Salem regarding gatherings and events. We have every plan to come back stronger than ever in 2021!

Thank you!

Thank you to all our sponsors, volunteers and musicians for an amazing 2019! You made it happen!

Don’t drive, take the Salem Trolley!

Park for free at Shetland Park at 27 Congress St, Salem, MA 01970 and take the Trolley to the festival!  $3 one way, $5 round trip for non-residents, free for residents.  Don’t drive, take the Trolley!

Rain or shine!

The festival is finally here!  Salem Willows will be jumpin’ this weekend, Aug 18 & 19th 11am-7pm rain for shine!