Find Your Groove at the Erie Blues & Jazz Fest in Frontier Park

Contributed

Erie's summer right-of-passage, the Blues and Jazz Fest, returns to Frontier Park for two days of music, dancing, local food, crafts, and fun. Included on the bill this year are (clockwise from top left) Selwyn Birchwood, The Suffers, Garaj Mahal, and Brent Birckhead.

BEGINNING SATURDAY, AUG. 2

Nestled in the lush space of Erie's Frontier Park, the Erie Blues & Jazz Fest is set to celebrate more than 30 years honoring America's musical heritage. This grassroots event has evolved into a summer tradition and is a testament to our region's communal spirit.

"For three decades, the festival was synonymous with its founder, John Vanco, who created and sustained it as an extension of the Erie Arts Museum," says Tim Bruno, chair of the festival's board of directors. "John and all of those that helped him throughout the years had a clear purpose: bring together musicians, performers, artists, then place the whole Erie community in their midst, and good things happen. We're continuing that philosophy and adding our unique personality to it."

This year's lineup is dynamic and diverse. Saturday's headliner, The Suffers, brings a high-energy blend of jazz, gospel, and R&B from Houston. Selwyn Birchwood, a rising star known for pushing the boundaries of modern blues, is set to add contemporary flair to the weekend while Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials are also scheduled to showcase their gritty, electrifying, and irresistible Chicago blues style. On Sunday, genre-bending jazz fusion group Garaj Mahal takes the stage with a set that blends improvisation, funk, and world rhythms into a captivating performance. The fest also features regional saxophonist Brent Birckhead and local acts such as Jeremy Jaeger & the Jive Turkeys and 3 Kings, ensuring a full weekend of horn-driven, soulful sounds.

"We want the audience to experience artists playing authentic blues and jazz genres, but also understand that these genres have heavily influenced contemporary music that has the same amazing melodic and improvisational elements in different formats," says Maria Gangemi, festival producer and talent buyer.

Beyond the music, the festival weaves community and conservation into its mission, emphasizing nature education, arts engagement, and regional unity – all without charging an admission fee (although donations are encouraged). "There's a reason people refer to it as The People's Fest," Bruno adds. "Everyone is welcome here and everyone is family." 

Saturday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 3 beginning at noon // 1501 W. 6th St. // $20 Suggested Donation // For more information, go to eriebluesandjazz.com