The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) – renowned 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 thrilled to announce exciting additions to its 2024 festival lineup, which will run from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, April 13, 2024.
All 2024 Savannah Music Festival tickets are on sale now 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.
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).
Lineup Additions
Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal
April 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Lucas Theatre for the Arts, 32 Abercorn St.
Rosanne Cash is a composer and singer-songwriter with four Grammy Awards, in addition to having partnered in programming collaborations with Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Library of Congress. She is also an author, whose 2010 memoir Composed landed on The New York Times bestseller list. In 2021, she became the first female composer to receive the MacDowell Medal, awarded since 1960 to an artist who has made an outstanding contribution to American culture. Cash is joined by her husband and longtime creative partner John Leventhal for their first SMF performance in six years, this time celebrating the 30th anniversary of her acclaimed album The Wheel, which the duo co-produced and which led to their partnership. Leventhal is a six-time Grammy Award-winning musician, songwriter, composer and producer.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
April 6 at 8 p.m.
Lucas Theatre for the Arts, 32 Abercorn St.
Grammy Award-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has quickly become the defining blues voice of his generation. From his hometown of Clarksdale, Miss. to stages around the globe, the young blues star has already headlined multiple U.S. and European tours. Selected in summer 2022 to open for The Rolling Stones in London’s Hyde Park, Kingfish has also performed and toured with friends including Vampire Weekend, Jason Isbell, Steve Miller and Buddy Guy, a mentor of his, with whom he appeared on Austin City Limits and at the 2023 Savannah Music Festival at Trustees’ Garden. Don’t miss his first headlining show at SMF!
“Kingfish is one of the most exciting young guitarists in years, with a sound that encompasses B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Prince.” -Rolling Stone
Amy Helm
April 12 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden, 660 E. Broughton St.
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Amy Helm makes her Savannah Music Festival debut on closing weekend with her ace band. The daughter of Levon Helm of The Band and singer-songwriter Libby Titus, Amy Helm was a member of her father’s band in the ‘90s and 2000s, was a founding member of acclaimed roots-rock ensemble Ollabelle and has released three solo albums over the last decade. She also organizes the annual Dirt Farmer music festival and curates the storied Midnight Rambles monthly series at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, N.Y. Her rich, emotive voice is at home in music across the American roots spectrum, from R&B to folk and country to gospel, and her live performances are always buzzed about.
“Where Ms. Helm truly excels… is in the mining of emotional subtleties within a song.” -The New York Times
Closing Night Party: Rebirth Brass Band / Eddie 9V
April 13 at 8 p.m.
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden, 660 E. Broughton St.
For nearly four decades, the Grammy Award-winning Rebirth Brass Band has been one of the Crescent City’s premier musical ambassadors. Their trademark sound pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while weaving a tapestry that combines elements of jazz, funk, soul, R&B and the sounds from the streets they grew up on. Founded by brothers Phil and Keith Frazier over 35 years ago, Rebirth Brass Band has since shared the stage and collaborated with everyone from the Grateful Dead to Trombone Shorty. Back to close out Savannah Music Festival again, as he did in 2022, Eddie 9V opens this co-bill. An Atlanta native, Eddie 9V (a.k.a. Brooks Mason) has retooled the soul-blues genre on his own terms, reminding a new generation why the music hits so hard. When Eddie infiltrated his home state's live circuit, he quickly pricked up ears everywhere he played. His artistic vision became fully realized when he adopted the solo moniker that promises an electrifying night out: Eddie 9 Volt.
Lineup Updates
Due to a scheduling conflict, German Lopez’ ALMA will not be appearing at the 2024 Savannah Music Festival on March 29 and 30. However, replacing that ensemble on the March 29 co-bill with Marta Pereira da Costa feat. Duarte will be harpist Bridget Kibbey’s “Bach to Brazil” project (description follows below). Marta Pereira da Costa’s Noon30 concert on March 29 will move to March 30. Any tickets purchased for German Lopez concerts will be honored at the rescheduled/reprogrammed presentations on March 29-30, and can also be refunded by calling Savannah Box Office at 912.525.5050.
Bridget Kibbey’s “Bach to Brazil” Co-bill with Marta Pereira da Costa featuring Duarte
March 29 at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden, 660 E. Broughton St.
Called the “Yo-Yo Ma of the harp” by Vogue, Savannah Music Festival favorite Bridget Kibbey expands the expressive and virtuosic scope of the instrument as she ushers listeners from the baroque courts of Europe to the rhythms of Western Africa and indigenous melodies of South America – landing right in the heart of New York City. With an ensemble featuring Nuevo Latino luminaries, Bach to Brazil is J.S. Bach meets Albéniz, gnawa, jequibau, cumbia and more.
“Kibbey made it seem as though her instrument had been waiting all its life to explode with the gorgeous colors and energetic figures she was getting from it." -The New York Times
Savannah Music Festival 2024 Schedule
(*Additions in italics below)
Saturday, March 23 (Pre-Festival Kickoff Concert)
Samara Joy
Thursday, March 28
Noon30: Lena Jonsson Trio
Oumou Sangaré
Lena Jonsson Trio/ Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert
David Finckel, Cello & Wu Han, Piano
Friday, March 29
Noon30: Marta Pereira da Costa ft. Duarte
Bridget Kibbey’s “Bach to Brazil” / Marta Pereira da Costa feat. Duarte
Bayou Boogie! A Tribute to Clifton Chenier “The King of Zydeco" Feat. C.J. Chenier, Marcia Ball & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
Futurebirds / T. Hardy Morris
Saturday, March 30
Noon30: Gérman López: ALMA
The Art of the Kora: Derek Gripper & Ballake Sissoko
Dervish
Joseph Conyers' Dubhe Ensemble
Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet
Sunday, March 31
Renée Fleming
Tuesday, April 2
Sebastian Knauer Celebrates Gershwin
Tuesday, April 2
Tisra: Zakir Hussain Trio with Debopriya Chatterjee and Sabir Khan
Wednesday, April 3
Warren Wolf & Wolfpack: History of the Vibes / Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet
Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal
Thursday, April 4
Noon30: Isaiah J. Thompson Duo
Stephane Wrembel Quartet / Tatiana Eva-Marie & Avalon Jazz Band
Philip Dukes & Friends I
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Friday, April 5
Noon30: Stephane Wrembel
Dumpstaphunk / Cha Wa
Escher String Quartet
Doc and Earl: Doc at 100 / Tony Trischka’s EarlJam
Crescent City Funk: Dumpstaphunk / Cha Wa
Saturday, April 6
Noon30: Tony Trischka
Cajun Dance Party: The Savoy Family Cajun Band
Philip Dukes & Friends II
Latin Dance Party: Orquesta Akokán
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Sunday, April 7
Michael Collins & Friends
The Po' Ramblin’ Boys / AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Tuesday, April 9
Kaia Kater / Viv & Riley
Philip Dukes & Friends III
Wednesday, April 10
Brandee Younger Trio / Immanuel Wilkins Quartet
Muddy and Wolf Revisited: A Tribute to Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf feat. Bobby Rush with North Mississippi Allstars
Thursday, April 11
Noon30: Brandee Younger Trio
Philip Dukes & Friends IV
Madison Cunningham & Juana Molina
Friday, April 12
Emanuel Ax
Amy Helm
Matthew Whitaker
Mighty Poplar
Saturday, April 13
Island Prayers: Turtle Island Quartet
Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca: Searching for Goya
Closing Night Party: Rebirth Brass Band / Eddie 9V
About Savannah Music Festival
A leading nonprofit performing arts organization, Savannah Music Festival (SMF) is dedicated to presenting world-class celebrations of the musical arts and creating timeless, adventurous productions that stimulate arts education, foster economic growth and unite artists and audiences in Savannah. In addition to year-round music education, community engagement and broadcast initiatives, SMF produces one of the most distinctive multi-genre music festivals in the world. Hailed by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution as “one of the gleaming musical treasures of the Southeast'' and by the Toronto Star as “one of North America’s most distinctive musical events,” the annual springtime festival has featured thousands of artists from across the globe since its founding in 1989. The 2024 Savannah Music Festival will take place March 28 through April 13. For more information, visit savannahmusicfestival.org.
