The 20th Scranton Jazz Festival opens with Jazz Walks on Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 2. Dozens of acts will perform at bars, restaurants and other public spaces.
The music is free, with food and drink purchases required at some venues. Free trolley service will be offered and many venues are within walking distance of each other.
There are two headliner concerts at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple. On Saturday, the Tower of Power performs at 8 p.m. The band is known for hits such as “You’re Still a Young Man,” “So Very Hard to Go” and “What is Hip?” Tickets start at $45.65, with a VIP package available. On Sunday, Aug. 3, the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band, with notable visiting guest performers, plays at 6 p.m. The opening act is the Pennsylvania Jazz Institute Ensemble. Tickets start at $15 for students and $28 for adults.
Jazz brunches will be held at six restaurants Sunday: A’tera 519, Bartari, Hilton PJ’s Pub, Posh, Picciocchi’s and Radisson Carmen’s 2.0. The music is free for diners.
The world-renowned funk and R&B band Tower of Power will headline the Scranton Jazz Festival on Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center. (Submitted)
Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band (Scranton Jazz Festival)
The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple is the venue for big Scranton Jazz Festival concerts. (SEAN MCKEAG/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The Scranton Art Haus will be a venue for the Scranton Jazz Festival. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
A'tera 519 on Linden Street in downtown Scranton will host a jazz brunch. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
French jazz vocalist Ilona Knopfler will perform with the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band. (Scranton Jazz Festival)
Sal Giorgianni, saxophone, will be a guest performer with the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band. (Scranton Jazz Festival)
New York City-based guitarist Jeff Barone will be among the guest performers with the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band. (Scranton Jazz Festival)
Mary Ann McSweeney, a bassist who has played on Broadway, is one of several guest performers who will play with the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band. (Scranton Jazz Festival)
Carl Fischer, a long time member of Billy Joel’s band, will play with the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band. (Scranton Jazz Festival)
Artistic director Marko Marcinko will perform at the Scranton Jazz Festival. (Submitted)
A map of Scranton Jazz Festival venues. (Scranton Jazz Festival)
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The world-renowned funk and R&B band Tower of Power will headline the Scranton Jazz Festival on Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center. (Submitted)
Venues
The Scranton Jazz Festival offers a variety of settings in addition to a variety of music. Here are the venues by category. For schedule, addresses and tickets, visit scrantonjazzfestival.org.
Outdoor spaces
Garden Mediterranean Restaurant
Roof at Oppenheim
Renaissance @ 500 Lackawanna
Trax Patio
Warney Cellar & Tap
Arcade inside
At Bartari, music can be paired with pinball.
Architectural and historic landmarks
Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel
Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple
Beer specialists
Backyard Ale House
The Bog
Voodoo Brewing
Brunch
A’tera 519
Bartari
PJ’s Pub at the Hilton
Posh
Picciocchi’s
Radisson Carmen’s 2.0, in the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel
Free: no food or drink purchase required
Fidelity Bank
Joy World Wealth Partners
Lavish Hair Salon
Marketplace at Steamtown
Renaissance @ 500 Lackawanna
The Recovery Bank
Stay where they play: hotel venues
Hilton Scranton & Conference Center
Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel
Italian or Italian-influenced restaurants
AV
Bar Pazzo
Picciocchi’s
Mediterranean restaurant
The Garden Mediterranean Restaurant
Movie theater inside
Scranton Art Haus movie theater will be operating while the Jazz Walk performances are held in other parts of the building.
New nightclub
Sergi’s Live
Seafood and steak
Catch 21
Speakeasy-style lounge
Madame Jenny’s at Ale Mary’s