The Nashville Jazz Festival returns to 3rd & Lindsley on Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, bringing a two-day lineup of local and national jazz talent to the SoBro venue for its second year running. Doors open at 5pm Saturday, October 24, and 4pm Sunday, October 25, with performances stretching into the night both days. Tickets are priced at $30 for a single day or $45 for the full weekend.
According to News Channel 5 Nashville, which reported the full schedule shared by the Nashville Jazz Workshop, the festival returns for a second year after debuting in October 2025. That inaugural edition replaced the workshop's longtime Jazzmania fundraiser gala and restored a named citywide jazz festival to Nashville for the first time since 1960s-era events once featured Cannonball Adderley and Thelonious Monk, according to the Nashville Scene. The Scene reported that last year's debut featured more than 70 musicians, the overwhelming majority local.
Saturday's Lineup Builds Toward a Jazz-Fusion Supergroup
Saturday's schedule, as detailed by the station, kicks off with Giovanni Rodriguez & 12 Manos from 6 to 6:35pm, followed by the Sofia Goodman Septet from 6:45 to 7:20pm. The Day Drinkers take the stage from 7:40 to 8:15pm, and Dara Starr Tucker performs from 8:25 to 9pm. The night closes with Bill Evans & Jeff Coffin's “Super Nova,” featuring Keith Carlock, from 9:10 to 10:30pm.
That closing set carries serious jazz-rock pedigree. Saxophonist Bill Evans joined Miles Davis's comeback band at just 22 years old in 1980, while drummer Keith Carlock has served as Steely Dan's touring drummer since 2003 and has also worked with Sting and Toto, according to profiles from Vandoren Paris. The two perform together in Super Nova alongside festival artistic director Jeff Coffin, a three-time Grammy winner, member of Dave Matthews Band, and former Béla Fleck and the Flecktones player who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Dave Matthews Band in October 2024, per his official biography on Jeff Coffin's website. Coffin also teaches music at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music.
Kirk Whalum Closes Sunday's Lineup
Sunday's doors open at 4pm with the Vanderbilt Student Brass Band performing from 5 to 5:30pm, followed by David Williford from 5:30 to 6:05pm. Chester Thompson takes the stage from 6:15 to 6:50pm, Rod McGaha performs from 7 to 7:40pm, and Kirk Whalum closes out the festival from 8 to 9:30pm.
Thompson toured with Genesis for 30 years and played with Phil Collins, in addition to performing with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Weather Report, and Santana, according to Louder. Whalum is Sunday's final performer.
Nashville Jazz Workshop Presents the Festival
The festival is presented by the Nashville Jazz Workshop.
Dave Matthews Band donated a prize package to support the Nashville Jazz Workshop's education mission. The package adds a fundraising element beyond ticket sales.
The festival takes place at 3rd & Lindsley. Full schedule details and ticket information are available at nashvillejazz.org/jazz-festival-2026.
