The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) – known for its unique mix of jazz, classical and American and global roots music programs presented in venues across Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District – is pleased to announce its 2024 festival lineup, which will run from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, April 13, 2024. A second wave of festival concerts will be announced in early 2024.
The festival’s kick-off concert will showcase GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy, preceded by the annual Spring Fling, a party to benefit SMF’s year-round artistic and education programs. Featured 2024 Savannah Music Festival artists will include world renowned soprano Renée Fleming, bluegrass living legend Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, eminent classical pianist Emanuel Ax, high-energy Southern rockers North Mississippi Allstars with blues icon Bobby Rush, Afro-Cuban jazz pioneer Chucho Valdés, bluegrass supergroup Mighty Poplar, jazz wunderkind Matthew Whitaker, GRAMMY Award-winning Malian Wassoulou singer Oumou Sangaré and acclaimed singer-songwriter-guitarist Madison Cunningham, among others.
“The 2024 Savannah Music Festival lineup encourages the celebration and discovery of acclaimed artists throughout classical, jazz and American and global roots music,” says SMF Artistic Director Ryan McMaken. “We’re delighted to spotlight genre standard-bearers along with standout luminaries and to present more than 75 incredible live performances throughout historic downtown Savannah this spring.”
International artists, classical music, jazz and more
During the 17-day festival, top artists from around the world will converge in Savannah. In 2024, talented musicians from India, South Africa, Ireland, Cuba, Sweden, Portugal, Mali, Canary Islands, France, Argentina and Spain will take the stage.
In addition, American roots music abounds in the 2024 lineup, with multiple projects that illuminate the musical legacies of American masters, including Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Clifton Chenier, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.
The 2024 festival season also features a classical music (and adjacent) schedule featuring exceptional notoriety, newly-commissioned work, specially conceived chamber music programs, a multimedia presentation and genre-bending crossover concerts.
In jazz, 2024 programming moves chronologically along an arc from more traditional to contemporary, spotlighting genre standard-bearers and standout luminaries.
Festival debuts, special projects and unique collaborations
Festival debuts will include Renée Fleming, Oumou Sangaré, Marta Pereira da Costa, Emanuel Ax, Dervish, Isaiah J. Thompson, Stephane Wrembel, Cha Wa, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, The Savoy Family Cajun Band, Orquesta Akokán, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Viv & Riley, Brandee Younger, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Bobby Rush, Madison Cunningham, Juana Molina, Matthew Whitaker, and Mighty Poplar.
Unique co-bills and artistic collaborations run throughout the season. New chamber music works by Terence Blanchard, Rhiannon Giddens, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate and David Balakrishnan, co-commissioned by SMF, will be performed by Turtle Island Quartet. In addition, the co-commissioned “Quintet in the Key of Blue” by Stefan L. Smith will be performed by the Dubhe Ensemble featuring Savannah native and Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bassist Joseph Conyers.
Special projects celebrate the legacies of iconic artists ranging from J.S. Bach to Francisco Goya. The Philip Dukes & Friends chamber music series is anchored by first half performances showcasing the music of Bach, with each program taking a distinctly different shape in the second half.
The free Encounters Artist Talks Series begins with Renée Fleming’s Music & Mind, a public discussion about the intersection of the arts and mental health. In Doc @ 100, also at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center, author Ted Olson discusses Doc Watson’s musical history, with stories and songs shared by Jack Lawrence, Wayne Henderson and Jack Hinshelwood. Additional panel discussions and Q&As, including one with longtime SMF photographer Frank Stewart, will be announced in advance of SMF 2024.
Ticket information, discounts, explorer passes
Savannah Music Festival tickets start at $32 and can be purchased online at savannahmusicfestival.org, by phone at 912.525.5050 or in person at the Savannah Box Office, located at 216 E. Broughton St. A pre-sale for SMF supporters begins on November 16, with tickets available to the public on December 1 at 10 a.m. ET.
In addition to discounts for students, military, educators and seniors, Savannah Music Festival offers discounts for purchases of tickets to more than three concerts (10% off), more than five concerts (15% off) or more than 10 concerts (20% off). Tickets to most classical concerts at Trinity United Methodist Church are available to patrons age 40 or younger for a discounted rate of $20.
Thanks to the generous support of the Wall Lynch Family, Savannah Music Festival will bring back the successful Explorer Pass program, which offers all Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools students and a family member or chaperone free tickets to general admission Savannah Music Festival performances.
Year-round live performances
Additional year-round concert programming includes a January 20, 2024 SMF Encore concert featuring the North Mississippi Allstars at Victory North Savannah, along with a monthly concert series presented in partnership with Plant Riverside District at District Live starting in February of 2024.
“Our organization is thrilled to begin multiple initiatives to expand year-round programs, including artist residencies, an exciting new agreement to produce off-season concerts at District Live and various other community engagement activities,” said Savannah Music Festival Executive Director Gene Dobbs Bradford. “Savannah Music Festival has a deep commitment to the local community and to expanding access to live music.”
Vibrant music education programs
In addition to excellence in musical presentations, SMF is also committed to supporting music education in the Savannah community, with programs inside and outside of the classroom. Musical Explorers, now in its tenth year, is a year-round education program for K-2 students which reaches over 10,000 children locally.
SMF Jazz Academy is a free after-school program for students in grades 5-12, offering instruments, private lessons, public performances and in-depth, immersive learning experiences. New in 2024, South African singer, composer and educator Naledi Masilo serves as the nonprofit organization’s first year-long Artist in Residence. Additional off-season community engagement events will be announced soon.
View the 2024 Savannah Music Festival lineup online: http://www.savannahmusicfestival.org/upcoming