Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 2026: Still Smiling

Salem, you showed up—and you danced. On Saturday, August 15, the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 2026 filled the Willows with live music, free workshops, 25+ local makers, and a whole lot of joy by the sea. The day moved from the Salem High School Jazz Band and Wood & Bone to Lydia Harrell, The Nth Power, and a closing set from Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers that brought people out of their chairs. DJ Skotvoid kept the music moving between sets. Artists became teachers in the Education Tent. Volunteers welcomed neighbors from across Salem and the North Shore. It was our 19th year at the heart of this community: free, all ages, and built by people who believe music should be accessible to everyone. These photos tell part of the story. The smiles, movement, and packed lawn tell the rest.

See the full Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 2026 photo gallery →

https://creativecollectivema.pixieset.com/salemjazzandsoulfestival202619yearssalemwillows/

The Willows found its rhythm

Jesse Joseph opened the day with “America the Beautiful.” Then the Salem High School Jazz Band carried the sound into the park before Wood & Bone brought guitar, horns, roots, and soul to the main stage.

Lydia Harrell followed with warmth, range, and a voice that made a big outdoor crowd lean in. Later, The Nth Power found a deep groove and stayed there. Nikki Glaspie drove the set from behind the drum kit while the lawn answered with raised hands and dancing feet.

Then Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers closed it out the only way they know how: full speed and full heart. Accordion, rubboard, drums, guitar, and saxophone turned the space in front of the bandshell into a dance floor. By the final songs, the line between stage and audience had almost disappeared.

The music stepped off the stage

The main stage was only part of the day. In the Education Tent, festival artists shared improvisation, rhythm, percussion, flute, and the stories behind the music. Dwayne Dopsie sat down with his accordion and brought zydeco music and culture close enough for questions, conversation, and a better listen.

Around the grounds, 25+ local makers filled the shaded paths. The new 21+ Mercy Lawn gave adults another way to enjoy the music up front. Families moved between the workshops, seaside food stands, arcade, carousel, and harbor views that make a day at the Willows feel like nowhere else.

Every August, we add another chapter to Salem Willows’ century-old music story. We honor that history by keeping the invitation open and helping the next generation find its way into the music.

Festival weekend ends. The mission keeps playing.

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3). Since 2007, we have channeled more than $80,000 into music education across the North Shore. Festival day is our biggest gathering, but the mission lasts all year.

Donations support free concerts, school programs, workshops, equipment, scholarships, and opportunities for young musicians to perform. Every dollar helps keep the music free and puts music education within reach for more young people.

If this year’s festival gave you a song, a dance, a new artist, or a day with people you love, help us carry it forward.

Make a year-round donation →

https://www.salemjazzsoul.org/donate

Twenty years deserves a celebration

This began with a fundraiser in 2007 and a belief that live music could bring people together while opening doors for young musicians. In 2027, we celebrate 20 years of that work.

We plan to celebrate accordingly.

More music. More learning. More ways to gather by the sea. We want our 20th year to be the biggest yet, and we are starting now with the same mix of volunteer energy, community support, and love of music that got us here.

The details will come. For now, share the gallery, donate if you can, and leave a little room on your 2027 calendar. Twenty years is worth celebrating together.

Thank you, festival family

Thank you to every musician, educator, volunteer, sponsor, partner, maker, donor, board member, neighbor, and festivalgoer who made this year possible. You carried equipment, taught workshops, welcomed new faces, supported local artists, danced near the stage, and filled the Willows with an energy no organization can create alone.

Great music for a greater cause. Free, like always.

See you at the Willows in 2027.

Photos by John Andrews for Creative Collective.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see all the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 2026 photos?

The complete festival gallery is available on Pixieset (https://creativecollectivema.pixieset.com/salemjazzandsoulfestival202619yearssalemwillows/). It includes performances, workshops, volunteers, local makers, dancing, and scenes from across Salem Willows on August 15, 2026.

Can I support the festival after festival weekend?

Yes. Donations are welcome throughout the year. Your support helps keep public concerts free and sustains music-education programs across the North Shore. Make a donation here (https://www.salemjazzsoul.org/donate).

When is the festival’s 20-year celebration?

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will celebrate 20 years in 2027. Dates and program details have not been announced yet. Watch salemjazzsoul.org for updates as the celebration takes shape.