
WILLIAMSBURG — Nonprofit CultureFix presents the 11th Winter Blues Jazz Fest on Jan. 17-20, featuring four days of live music, hosted in the William & Mary Alumni House.
According to CultureFix, the goal is to provide an enriching and entertaining weekend full of music and educational programs with options available to suit all tastes and budgets.
The festival kicks off Jan. 17 at the Alumni House with Mixology & Music, a cocktail sampling curated by Copper Fox Distillery, including local distilleries and featuring local group Brasswind at 7 p.m. This will be followed by one of the late-night events featuring two performances: Billy Joe Daniel’s Blues Jam at Culture Cafe and Wyatt Michael at the Alumni House. Michael was a contestant on Season 21 of NBC’s “The Voice”.
On Jan. 18, there will be a morning Jazz Improvisation Workshop with local artist
Tony Mata. The event is free and open to the public. At noon, The Art of Jazz features the Tony Mata Trio followed by Justin Kauflin. For 10 years, Kauflin worked and toured under the management of Quincy Jones.
This year, Big Bluesy will take place on Saturday at 6 p.m. with Roberta Lea followed by Katie Henry. Tickets include two drinks from a custom beer, wine and cider lineup.
For the Saturday Late Night, fans can attend two performances, with Robb Torgler’s Raw Beets at Culture Cafe Michael Hawkins & The Brotherhood at the Alumni House. CultureFix notes one ticket gets attendees into both shows.
The Jazz Brunch takes place on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10:30 a.m. featuring a live music performance with a New Orleans twist by Matt Fattal’s 504 Supreme and a scrumptious buffet brunch.
The afternoon entertainment will include Hoot & Annie in Hunter Hall at 2 p.m. Rounding out Sunday evening will be a performance by the Afro-Puerto Rican music group Kadencia.
The festival ends on Monday, Jan. 20 with a Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. with a live performance by The Legendary Ingramettes. This event is free and open to the public at the William & Mary Alumni House at 10 a.m.
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to winterbluesjazzfest.com Winter Blues Jazz Fest is presented by CultureFix, The City of Williamsburg, and Virginia Commission for the Arts.