Music lineup announced for Highland Jazz & Blues Festival

July 16, 2024

The Highland Area Partnership is thrilled to announce the 20th Anniversary of the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival presented by BOM is scheduled for Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Columbia Park located in Shreveport’s Historic Highland Neighborhood. This milestone event will showcase memorable musical performances on two stages, a children’s area, pet park, artisans, food trucks, and more.  The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival is FREE to attend.

Music Lineup

The musical lineup features local and regional favorites, along with an international award-winning musician from Louisiana. Headlining this year’s festival is emerging blues artist, D.K. Harrell, from Ruston, Louisiana. D.K. Harrell has performed at the B.B. King Symposium, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and placed 3rd out of 200+ people in the B.B. King International Blues Challenge. He is dedicated to the preservation of the Traditional Blues and wants to bring his perspective of the Blues to the world with a message that younger generations have the blues too.

Other musical acts include The Shreveport Bone Society, Betty Lewis and the Executives, The LukeJazz Quartet, JaCarri Jackson and Jazz Band, Dustin Dale Gaspard, Major Handy and the Louisiana Blues Band, Pocket Chocolate, and Grammy award nominee, Buddy Flett.

The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival will also showcase performances by aspiring musicians from local schools including the Creswell Blazin’ Beatz and the Bossier Parish Schools Talented Arts Program. Lastly, we will have two interactive, educational, and fun performances from Lady Chops, Northeast Louisiana Arts Council 2024 Performing Artist of the Year and former Off-Broadway “STOMP” cast member.

The two stages will fill the park from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

Pavilion Stage presented by BOM

  • 10:30 a.m. – Buddy Flett

  • 12:00 p.m. – Betty Lewis and the Executives

  • 1:00 p.m. – Lady Chops

  • 1:30 pm – Major Handy and the Louisiana Blues Band

  • 2:00 p.m. – The Shreveport Bone Society

  • 3:00 p.m. – Pocket Chocolate

  • 4:30 p.m. – D.K. Harrell

Gazebo Stage presented by AARP Shreveport-Bossier

  • 10:30 a.m. – Creswell Blazin’ Beatz

  • 11:00 a.m. – Lady Chops

  • 11:30 a.m. – Bossier Parish Schools Talented Arts Program

  • 1:00 p.m. – The LukeJazz Quartet

  • 2:30 p.m. – JaCarri Jackson and the Jazz Band

  • 3:30 p.m. – The Shreveport Bone Society

  • 4:00 p.m. – Dustin Dale Gaspard

In addition to the music, throughout the park there will be more than 70 food and artisan vendors, a Children’s Area with hands-on art activities from local nonprofits, and a Pet Park area for furry friends. A FREE shuttle service sponsored by Louisiana Healthcare Connections will run continuously during the day. Merchandise and official poster sales will be located next to the Pavilion Stage. 

Poster Design Contest

This year, the Highland Area Partnership created a contest to design the official poster for juniors and seniors in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. The submissions were juried by local artists and cultural bearers with the winner chosen solely on the artwork.

The artist chosen is senior, Kyleigh McVay, from Parkway High School. “We are excited that one of Parkway’s own rising seniors, Kyleigh McVay, was selected as the winner of this year’s poster design contest for the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival,” said Parkway High School art teacher Martha Claire Lepore.

“Kyleigh is an extremely talented young digital artist. She conceptualizes her ideas in her sketchbook and then brings them to life in digital form. Kyleigh has a bright future in graphic design and we are so proud of her to have this opportunity to have her talents on display.”

The artwork features a bluebird representing “Jazzy” the festival mascot playing a guitar alongside band members playing jazz instruments. The Highland Area Partnership presented McVay with $500.00 for her work on the official poster. 

“The board of directors and myself are very proud of the plans for this year’s 20th Anniversary of the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival,” said Emerie Eck Holtzclaw, Executive Director. “We are excited about the lineup and activities and grateful for the ongoing support of this community event.” 

More information about the festival weekend activities can be found at www.highlandjazzandblues.org.

About the Highland Jazz & Blues Festival

Launched in 2003, the Highland Jazz & Blues Festival has grown from a handful of bands and a crowd of 500-1,000 to a gathering including two stages, nine bands, over 60 vendors, and 10,000 music fans in Highland area’s beautiful, historic Columbia Park. The annual Festival is a gift to the community from the Highland Area Partnership, a 501c3 arts and culture nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating and connecting our community through music, food, and the arts. Proceeds from posters, t-shirts, beverage sales, donations, and sponsorships are used to bring the Festival back each year.