newport jazz fest

Trombone Shorty and Rhiannon Giddens to Open Newport Jazz Fest at Tennis Hall of Fame

Be among the first to secure your seats at one of Newport’s most popular summer social events when Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Rhiannon Giddens take the stage at the Friday Evening concert of the Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management. The concert takes place August 4 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino, 194 Bellevue Avenue. The cocktail party begins at 6:30 pm, followed by the concert at 8:00 pm.

All tickets for the Friday Evening Concert and Cocktail Party go on sale worldwide on Wednesday, February 1, at 10:00 am EST. The concert is a reserved seating event and tickets sell out quickly. There is an eight-ticket limit per household. Tickets for the concert and cocktail party will be available on the Festival web site on Wednesday at http://newportjazzfest.org/ithof.

George Wein, Festival producer and chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. said, “Trombone Shorty – Troy Andrews – brought the house down at Fort Adams in 2011 and two years later, he thrilled a sold-out crowd at the Folk Festival. Then, he proved what makes him a star when he played through a rain storm at our 60th anniversary in 2014. With his unbridled talent and mixture of jazz, soul, funk and more, Troy is sure to bring a New Orleans-style party to Newport.”

Wein added, “New stars, new stars, new stars. That’s what the Newport Festivals are all about. Remember in just the last few years: Cécile McLorin Salvant and Jon Batiste. I have seen Rhiannon at the Folk Festival with Carolina Chocolate Drops, but when I saw her fronting her own band on ‘Austin City Limits’ on PBS this past October, I knew I wanted to have her at the Jazz Festival this year. I’m looking forward to her special brand of storytelling and watching her make more Newport memories. Rhiannon is already a star.”

The Newport Jazz Festival Friday Evening Cocktail Party on the Horseshoe Piazza welcomes a limited number of attendees for pre-concert socializing with music, food and beverages. Tickets include open bar and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are limited and exclusively for concertgoers. Party attendees must purchase a separate ticket to the Festival concert.

The Festival has changed ticket service providers to Eventbrite. Fans are recommended to visit Festival pages on Eventbrite prior to Wednesday to become familiar with the purchase process, seating types and ticket pricing before the on sale begins.

Service charges apply to all tickets ordered on-line.

Newport Jazz Festival’s official travel partner, WBGO Jazz 88.3FM. is offering an exclusive Weekend Package for festival fans. For more information, sign up for WBGO’s Newport List at http://eepurl.com/cxssCj.

The 2017 lineup for the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management also features concerts at Fort Adams State Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including The Original Béla Fleck & The Flecktones; Cécile McLorin Salvant; Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith; and One for All: Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Eric Alexander, David Hazeltine, John Webber & Joe Farnsworth onFriday, August 4. Snarky Puppy, Vijay Iyer Sextet, Dominick Farinacci, and Antonio Sanchez & Migration take the stage on Saturday, August 5, followed by Andra Day; Hudson: Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, John Medeski & Larry Grenadier; and Sean Jones Quintet with Brian Hogans, Orrin Evans, Luques Curtis & Obed Calvaire on Sunday, August 6.

The second wave of Fort artists will be announced soon. Stay tuned to social media for more announcements on an on-going basis.

Natixis Global Asset Management is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival and sponsors programs that help enrich the lives of individuals and preserve the cultural experience for future generations through music.

In addition to Natixis Global Asset Management, the Newport Jazz Festival also receives generous support from Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, North Coast Brewing Company and Eventbrite.

Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. was founded by George Wein in 2010 to build and continue the legacies of the famed Newport Jazz Festival® and Newport Folk Festival®. Under the auspices of the Foundation, the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals present performers who respect and honor jazz and folk music traditions, and at the same time reflect the changes in today’s musical trends. In addition, the Foundation presents programs to educate young people about jazz and folk music as presented at the annual festivals. For more information, please visit www.newportfestivalsfoundation.org.

For general information, craft vendor details or to leave a message for Festival staff, call the Festival hotline at (401) 848-5055 or log on to www.newportjazzfest.org.