Savannah Music Festival Set to Present a World of Music March 28-April 13, Offering Nearly 100 Live Performances by Top Artists in Iconic Venues

The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) – renowned for its high-energy mix of jazz, classical, blues, Americana and global roots music programs – will delight local residents and visitors with live music performances presented in iconic venues across Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, April 13. The 35^th annual Savannah Music Festival will present nearly 100 live performances by acclaimed artists from across the country and around the world.

Tickets to the 2024 Savannah Music Festival are currently available online at savannahmusicfestival.org, by phone at 912.525.5050 or in person at the Savannah Box Office, located at 216 E. Broughton St. 

“We’re thrilled to bring incredible live performances to Savannah throughout the spring, offering a world of music in one city,” 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. We invite everyone to enjoy their favorite musicians and to discover exciting new artists at the 2024 festival.”

During the 17-day festival, top artists from around the world will converge in Savannah, Ga., including bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, world-renowned soprano Renée Fleming, eminent classical pianist Emanuel Ax and GRAMMY Award-winning composer and singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, who will return to the SMF stage for the first time in six years with her husband and longtime creative partner John Leventhal. In addition, talented musicians from India, South Africa, Ireland, Cuba, Sweden, Portugal, Mali, Colombia, France, Argentina and Spain will take center stage for the 2024 festival.

“The 2024 Savannah Music Festival will feature renowned GRAMMY Award-winning artists as well as rising stars in classical, jazz, Americana and global roots music,” says SMF Artistic Director Ryan McMaken. “We can’t wait to present unforgettable live performances that will delight audiences in stunning venues throughout historic downtown Savannah.” 

Additional festival highlights include Cajun Dance Parties and Latin Dance Parties on April 6 as well as live performances by GRAMMY Award-winning Malian Wassoulou singer Oumou Sangaré on March 28, Afro-Cuban jazz pioneer Chucho Valdés on March 30 and GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on April 6. Attendees can also enjoy high-energy Southern rockers North Mississippi Allstars with blues icon Bobby Rush on April 10, acclaimed singer-songwriter-guitarist Madison Cunningham on April 11, bluegrass supergroup Mighty Poplar on April 12 and jazz wunderkind Matthew Whitaker on April 12, among others.

SMF 2024 attendees will be the first to hear new chamber music works by Terence Blanchard, Rhiannon Giddens, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate and David Balakrishnan, co-commissioned by SMF, performed by Turtle Island Quartet on April 13. The co-commissioned “Quintet in the Key of Blue” by Stefan L. Smith will be performed by the Dubhe Ensemble featuring Savannah, Ga. native and Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bassist Joseph Conyers on March 30.

In addition to live music, SMF will present a series of free Encounters Artist Talks. The series will begin with Renée Fleming’s Music & Mind, a public discussion about the intersection of the arts and mental health on April 1. SMF's long-time photographer Frank Stewart will discuss his life and work with Dr. Walter Evans on April 2. Author Ted Olson will emcee Doc at 100, a public discussion about Doc Watson’s musical history with stories and songs shared by Jack Lawrence, Wayne Henderson and Jack Hinshelwood on April 5.

Dedicated to exposing students to world-class music, SMF is bringing back the successful Explorer Pass program, which offers free tickets to general admission performances to Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools students and a family member or chaperone. Additional discounted programming includes $20 tickets for most classical concerts at Trinity United Methodist Church for patrons age 40 or younger.

The 2024 festival will conclude on April 13 with a resounding performance by the GRAMMY Award-winning Rebirth Brass Band and Eddie 9V at the Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden.

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.