Published April 5 2019
In its 12th year, the Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival will host 40 live shows at venues across the city Wednesday, May 29, through Sunday, June 2. Tickets for the Bellevue Downtown Association event, the Eastside's premier showcase of top national and regional artists, are on the festival page.
Headliner Davina and the Vagabonds will play Friday night at the Meydenbauer Center Theatre. The Bad Plus, the festival's other headliner, will take the Meydenbauer stage Saturday.
Other notable artists at the festival include:
- Sara Gazarek, Resonance at Soma Towers, 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., May 30
- The Darelle Holden Quartet, Bake's Bar and Bistro, May 30, 8-10:30 p.m.
- Kiki Valera with Carlos Cascante, Bake's Bar and Bistro, May 31, 9-11:30 p.m.
- Mark Dufresne Band, Bake's Bar and Bistro, June 1, 8-10:30 p.m.
The BDA has more information about the event, including how to get tickets,
About the Festival
In 2008, the Bellevue Downtown Association launched the Bellevue Jazz Festival as a cultural and community event that attracts national artists, showcases regional talent and draws diverse audiences. Headlining artists are selected in collaboration with John Gilbreath, executive director of Earshot Jazz.
Past featured artists include Branford Marsalis, Booker T. Jones and Shemekia Copeland. In 2015, the Bellevue Jazz Festival was renamed the Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival.