Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival Begins Today
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, presented by Blues to Green, begins today, July 10, and continues Saturday, July 11, promising a weekend of music, culture, and community. Returning to historic Court Square in downtown Springfield, this year’s free festival showcases a world-class roster spanning New Orleans funk, Afro-Cuban jazz, and global roots, while introducing new ways for the community to sustain the music for years to come.
The 2026 lineup is a vibrant journey through the African diaspora and beyond, featuring New Orleans funk powerhouse Dumpstaphunk; visionary Cuban pianist Omar Sosa; Trinidad-born trumpeter Etienne Charles’s Gullah Roots; Grammy-winning pianist Zaccai Curtis; Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and drummer David Rivera y La Bámbula; and other global and local standouts, from the immigrant-led ensemble All the Rivers and Uganda-rooted Zikina to Springfield favorites like Malado!, Chestina Thrower, and the vintage swing of Dan Gabel and the Gabeltones.
The most important message of the festival remains that the music is free and open to everyone. To protect this mission, Blues to Green announced the launch of the Jazz Club, a sustaining membership community. Memberships begin at $100 and directly support the free festival, youth arts engagement, and the Arts for Racial & Climate Justice storytelling initiative.
As a thank-you, members at the $250 level and above gain access to the Jazz Club Lounge, a warm, welcoming space to connect during the festival weekend. This is a mission-based way for supporters to participate more deeply in cultural preservation and the legacy of Charles Neville.
“The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival is a vital cultural anchor for Springfield,” said Kristin Neville, executive director of Blues to Green. “The launch of the Jazz Club, alongside opportunities for volunteers, vendors, community organizations, and local business sponsors to take part in festival weekend, reflects the broad community support that helps keep this festival free, welcoming, and open to everyone.”
For full artist profiles and Jazz Club registration, visit springfieldjazzfest.com.
