Seabreeze Jazz Festival announces lineup

PANAMA CITY BEACH — The Seabreeze Jazz Festival is kicking off its 20th year at the beach with a bevy of performances led by Kool & The Gang and The Commodores, it was announced Monday.

It’s the first time at the event for the two groups with name recognition across North America, and beyond.

“The Seabreeze Jazz Festival is a wonderful event for Panama City Beach,” said TDC Executive Director Dan Rowe. “As evidenced by their track record of selling out festivals, Mark and Renee Carter do an outstanding job of bringing an exciting lineup of artists to Panama City Beach each year.”

The festival draws about 30,000 people, with 60 percent of tickets sold outside of Florida, according to a press release. Out-of-town visitors mean out-of-town money spent on accommodations, food and more.

Attendees can use an RFID armband — called “Jazzbands” — system to gain entry to the festival and to purchase event items. Fans can transfer money from their credit cards ahead of the event online, or at the event. Stations will be available for people to upload money using cash or credit cards, according to the release.

“The Seabreeze Jazz Festival is one of the cornerstones of our spring event season and we are especially excited be a sponsor of the festival this year as they celebrate their 20th year of success,” Rowe said.

The full lineup of artists includes Brian Culbertson, Boney James, Kool & The Gang, Peter White, Euge Groove, Nick Colionne, The Commodores, Gerald Albright, Rick Braun, Jeffrey Osborne, Damien Escobar, Spyro Gyra, Richard Elliot, Cindy Bradley, Peabo Bryson, Najee, Jazz Funk Soul featuring Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp and Paul Jackson Jr., Eric Darius, The Family Stone, Chris Standring, Keiko Matsui, Vincent Ingala, Lindsey Webster, Ben Tankard, Urban Jazz Coalition, Phil Denny, and Ragan Whiteside.

Parking is free for general admission at Pier Park.

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival will be held April 18-22 at Aaron Bessant Park. Thursday tickets are $90 each, Friday tickets are $100, Saturday tickets are $120, and Sunday tickets $120. Weekend pass tickets for Friday-Sunday are $200. All-inclusive four-day passes are $250.

To purchase tickets, call 800-595-4849 or visit www.seabreezejazzfestival.com. Tickets also are available at The Florida House in Pier Park. Discounted military tickets are available at the Tickets and Exchange Office at Eglin Air Force Base, Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City NSA, Pensacola Naval Air Station and Fort Rucker.

For more information about the festival, call 850-267-3279 or visit www.seabreezejazzfestival.com.