The Twin Cities Jazz Festival is set to turn Mears Park in Lowertown, St. Paul, into a free, open-air jazz club next weekend, June 19 to 20, with two full days of music across outdoor stages and neighborhood venues. Now in its 28th year, the festival pairs national headliners with hometown favorites, including Yellowjackets and the JazzMN Orchestra with vocalist Michael Mayo, in a walkable spree of concerts, clinics and youth performances.
The event is produced by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and organizers say the mission is to bring communities together and inspire young people, according to Twin Cities Jazz Festival. The organization runs two outdoor main stages in Mears Park and programs music in more than 18 partner venues around Lowertown. Every performance and clinic on the schedule is free and open to the public.
Lineup highlights
Friday's main stage gets rolling at 4 p.m. with early sets that build into the evening, capped by the Yogev Shetrit Trio before Yellowjackets close out the night at 8:30 p.m., per the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. If you are the type who likes to stake out a spot and stay put, Friday in Mears Park has you covered.
Saturday starts at noon with youth performances, then moves into afternoon sets featuring Lucia Sarmiento at 2 p.m. and the Zacc Harris Group at 4 p.m., with the JazzMN Orchestra featuring Michael Mayo booked to close the festival at 8:30 p.m., as reported by the Star Tribune.
Local players and notable arrivals
Grammy-winning pianist and composer Sullivan Fortner is scheduled for a Saturday set, according to the Recording Academy's artist page on Grammy.com. The festival also welcomes back Israeli percussionist and pianist Yogev Shetrit, who last appeared at Jazz Fest in 2019, and spotlights vocalist Michael Mayo, whose album Fly drew Grammy attention, as noted by KNKX and the artist's bio.
What to know before you go
Mears Park sits at 221 5th Street E in Lowertown, and most stages and partner venues are within easy walking distance. Central Station is a block away, and organizers encourage using public transit or nearby parking garages. Full schedules, maps and travel tips are available from Twin Cities Jazz Festival and Visit Saint Paul.
Clinics, masterclasses and youth ensembles run throughout the weekend, and like the performances, they are free to attend. With no tickets required and a mix of national names and local stalwarts, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival is positioned to be one of Lowertown's defining weekends of the season. Expect crowds, late-night sets in nearby venues and plenty of chances to discover your new favorite Twin Cities player between the headliners.
