Two HUGE days of free jazz music ahead

The lineup is set for the 28th annual Alexander City Jazz Fest on Friday, June 8 in downtown Alexander City’s Strand Park and on Saturday, June 9 at The AMP on Lake Martin.

This two-day music festival is free to attend and presented by Russell Lands on Lake Martin.

"We are thrilled with the diversity and talent we've recruited to perform at this year’s Jazz Fest,” said Ed Collari, President & CEO of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce. "This is the signature event for Alex City and the Lake Martin community and it’s exciting to have this caliber of  musicians performing to the thousands of attendees Jazz Fest attracts over the two days."

Kicking off Jazz Fest on Friday night at Strand Park is the New Devils, a soul-powered rock-n-roll band with a country twang, featuring immersive story telling with melodies you’re sure to hum along to.

They will be followed by Jon Cleary, a staple of New Orleans R&B, with a 35-year career that has earned him respect around the globe as an accomplished keyboardist and guitarist, and a deeply soulful vocalist. Cleary’s hands-on work on the Crescent City music scene has made him a respected peer of such New Orleans R&B icons as Dr. John and Allen Toussaint.

Headlining the festival’s opening night is Hollis Brown, an American indie rock-n-roll band that has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe headlining and supporting bands such as the Counting Crows, Citizen Cope, The Zombies and Jackie Greene. 

Opening Saturday night's show at The AMP on Lake Martin is Yonrico Scott, a Grammy-award winning musician whose career began at age seven and has since led him to recording or sharing the stage with a Who's Who list of well-known artists such as Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and The Allman Brothers Band. 

The second act of the second night will be Roman Street, who have been dubbed the next generation of Jazz Fusion with brothers Noah and Josh Thompson combining their guitar talents to form an internationally-trained instrumental band specializing in improvisational fusion of Classical, Gypsy and Contemporary Jazz, Latin and Nuevo Flamenco. 

To round out the 28th edition of the Alex City Jazz Fest will be Alabama native and former American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks, who will bring excitement to the stage with his soulful vocals and talented group of bandmates for an up-tempo, high-energy closer. 

"I would like to thank Russell Lands on Lake Martin for serving as the presenting sponsor as well as all of our sponsors and the City of Alexander City for allowing us to host this event each year,” Collari said.

More information can be found at www.alexcityjazzfest.com or by Liking the Alex City Jazz Fest Facebook page. Contact the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce with questions at (256) 234-3461.

Alexander City Jazz Fest 

Friday, June 8 (Strand Park): New Devils, 6-7 p.m., Jon Cleary, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Hollis Brown, 9-10:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 9 (The AMP on Lake Martin):  Yonrico Scott, 6-7 p.m., Roman Street, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Taylor Hicks, 9-10:30 p.m.