Jazz & Blues Weekend Returns to Ellicottville with Live Music July 24-26
Jazz & Blues Weekend Returns to Ellicottville with Live Music July 24-26
Discover live jazz, blues, soul, and rock performances throughout Ellicottville as musicians fill village restaurants, patios, bars, and venues during Jazz & Blues Weekend.
Jazz & Blues Weekend returns to Ellicottville July 24-26, filling the village’s restaurants, patios, bars, and nightclubs with live performances from talented regional musicians. Rather than gathering around one main stage, festival-goers are invited to wander through town, moving from venue to venue and discovering a variety of sounds along the way.
That format is part of what makes the weekend so enjoyable. Visitors can grab lunch or dinner and listen to a band, browse the village shops between performances, relax with a drink on a patio, and then follow the music to their next stop. With the participating venues located within easy walking distance of one another, guests can park the car and enjoy the weekend on foot.
The full schedule includes plenty of performers to discover, but here is a sneak preview of a few bands and musicians taking the stage this weekend that you’ll want to carve out some time for.
The music begins Friday, July 24, when the Speedy Parker Blues Band performs at The Gin Mill at 8:00pm. The Buffalo-area band was formed in 1999 and quickly became a familiar presence on the Western New York blues circuit. Over the years, the group has performed at festivals, casinos, concert series, and popular music venues throughout the region, including previous appearances at The Gin Mill. Led by vocalist and guitarist Speedy Parker, the band brings plenty of experience and a lively blues sound to Friday night’s opening festivities.
On Saturday, July 25, Miller and The Other Sinners will take the stage at Villaggio at 6:00pm. The nationally touring Southern soul band is led by Buffalo musician David Michael Miller, whose soulful vocals, guitar playing, and songwriting anchor the group’s sound.
Miller and The Other Sinners blend Delta blues, Memphis soul, gospel, funk and rhythm and blues into performances built around strong musicianship and infectious grooves. Since forming in 2015, the group has performed hundreds of shows across the United States and Canada, with its lineup ranging from intimate acoustic performances to full festival-sized ensembles. Miller has also shared the stage with artists including the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Steve Miller Band, Joe Bonamassa, Jonny Lang, and Gary Clark Jr.
Also performing Saturday evening is the Muddy Rivers Blues Band, which will play at Balloons Restaurant beginning at 6:30pm. The group’s full blues-rock sound features lead vocals and harmonica, guitar, saxophone, keyboards, bass, and drums. Each instrument brings something different to the mix, from powerful guitar work and energetic harmonica to soulful keyboards and a signature saxophone sound. Together, the band combines traditional blues roots with jazz, rock, and soul influences, making this a great stop for anyone looking for a high-energy Saturday night performance.
The weekend winds down Sunday, July 26, with Brad Allison at Villaggio from 5:30–8:30pm. His Sunday evening show offers visitors one more opportunity to settle in for dinner, enjoy live music, and ease out of a busy weekend before heading home.
Of course, these four performers represent only part of the music scheduled throughout the village. Whether you come for one favorite band or spend the weekend exploring, Jazz & Blues Weekend makes it easy to build your own itinerary and experience Ellicottville at a relaxed summer pace.
And don’t put away your festival plans just yet. Visitors are encouraged to return Aug. 8-9 for the Taste of Ellicottville, when downtown restaurants serve sample-sized specialties along the village streets. Rock N’ Roll Weekend closes out the summer festival lineup Sept. 11-13 with live entertainment and Sunday’s popular Classic Car Show.
Come for Jazz & Blues Weekend… and then come back for more! For a complete music schedule, lodging information, and details about upcoming events, visit the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce at ellicottvilleny.com or call 800-349-9099.