2025 Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival

1
2
Chamber Foundation Draft 1

October 10-12
Harrodsburg, KY

Add to Calendar

"Kentucky Starts Here!"

Our 2025 dates are October 10-12, with a Friday night “Mardi Gras” kickoff on Main, and two full days of live jazz, artisans, food, fun, and more on Saturday and Sunday at historic Old Fort Harrod. The Jazz Festival and the Kentucky Artisan Expo will also join the “Scarecrows at the Fort” and some new partners.

Please save OCTOBER 10-12 dates for the 2025 Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival and watch here for updates on festival events and musical groups! For more information, to volunteer, or to participate, please contact the Festival at 859-734-2365 / 859-265-0583 or by email at info@mercerchamber.com

2025 Line Up!

Oct 10, 2025 - Friday night on Main

Oct 11-12, 2025 at
Old Fort Harrod State Park!

Friday Night On Main
Taste of New Orleans
New Orleans Inspired Food and Music!

Friday Oct. 10th

 6:00PM

Circle City Sidewalk Stompers

The Circle City Sidewalk Stompers Clown Band has been performing fast-moving, choreographed routines to upbeat music since 1976. The musicians, including trumpets, trombones, saxophones, bass and snare drums, and sousaphone are dressed in colorful clown costumes and entertain the crowd with comic interaction and fancy footwork.  The 15-minute choreographed show, followed by musical strolling through the crowd, includes familiar tunes like Zoot Suit Riot, It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing, Pick up the Pieces, Gimme’ Some Lovin’, Birdland, Jump Jive an’ Wail, Your Mama Don’t Dance, and many more of your popular favorites.  Based in Indianapolis, IN, the Circle City Sidewalk Stompers routinely entertain crowds at Indiana Pacers basketball and Indianapolis Colts football games and State Fairs across the nation. The band has also performed at Carnival in Nice, France,  the European version of Mardi Gras and the Shanghai International Music Festival.
The popular Circle City Sidewalk Stompers believe that today’s audiences are eager for the positive family entertainment the group provides.  You won’t want to miss this fun and crowd interactive kickoff of the Jazz Fest with The Circle City Sidewalk Stompers on Main! You can also catch the “Stompers” at Old Fort Harrod on Saturday performing at the Festival at 6 pm.

Friday Oct. 10th

7:00PM

Hot Sauce Brass Band

Hot Sauce Brass Band is a second-line party band from Louisville Kentucky. While rooted in the traditional and contemporary repertoire of New Orleans, they distill their own spirit of original brass band music steeped in jazz, funk, the blues, pop and improvisation. HSBB has the traditional brass band instrumentation of Sousaphone, trombones, trumpet, saxophone and drums. The portability of the band allows them to flourish from the streets to the concert hall and everywhere in between. Upbeat, dynamic, and FUN music for all occasions! The band was founded in 2018 by saxophonist Drew Miller and trumpeter Joey Thieman when Louisville impresario Dennie Humphrey asked them to organize for a St Patrick’s Day parade to promote his jazz venue “Jimmy Can’t Dance”. With a mutual love and admiration for jazz and brass band music, Drew and Joe decided to parlay the gig into a working band! Joe has since moved to Boston, but Drew has kept the flame alive with the help of some very talented and special people/musicians!
The band currently features Drew on sax, Craig Tweddell on Trumpet, Ivo Ferigra and Ethan Evans on Trombone, Brandon Johnson on Sousaphone and Zack Kennedy on Drum Set. You won’t want to miss the authentic NOLA jazz from Hot Sauce Brass Friday night on Main!

Friday Oct. 10th

9:00PM

NOLA Jazz Jam 

 

Want to listen to more great jazz as we kick off the 2025 Jazz Fest. Or maybe you want to sit in with the band? Join us for our “NOLA Jazz Jam on Main” on Friday night Oct. 10. We’ll have the “backline gear” set up for keys, bass, and drums. If you are a horn player, and want to sit in, just bring your personal instrument and join in the “Jam”. If you just want to listen, you won’t be disappointed! The “Jam” will start at 9 pm after the Circle City Sidewalk Stompers and Hot Sauce Brass kick things off starting at 6. Come join us on Main St. in historic Harrodsburg for great NOLA food, music and family fun. PLEASE SHARE AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!

Saturday Oct 11th

11:00AM

Blue Groove Jazz

Blue Groove Jazz Quartet is a classic jazz ensemble with members from Harrodsburg and Danville, Ky.  The band is comprised of seasoned musicians, collectively having very diverse and extensive musical experiences, all with a common love of jazz.  The musical genres of BGJ are equally diverse, ranging from swing, bebop, and Latin, covering artists ranging from Miles Davis to Steely Dan.  BGJ has already garnered a loyal following in central Kentucky and has performed at gala events for the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College and Talon Winery’s annual Jazz on the Porch Series. The members of BGJ are Sam Carr (Alto and Tenor Sax), Eben Henson (drums), Pete McCaffrey (bass) and Mark Gardner (keyboards).   

Saturday Oct. 11th

12:30PM

Campbellsville University Faculty Band

The Campbellsville University Faculty Jazz Band is a crowd favorite at the KHJF. The ensemble features Saulo Mouro (piano and bass), Denis Santos (sax and flute), and Chad Ford (percussion). During his early twenties, Mr. Moura was performing with some of the finest bossa-nova, jazz, and samba musicians in Brazil and in Europe, as well as being in the cello section of the Brazilian National Symphony Orchestra. An accomplished and versatile performer and music educator, the multi-instrumentalist Denis Santos (Saxophone and Flute) is originally from Ceará, Brazil. Throughout his career, he has participated in several groups and ensembles such as Bellas Artes Quintet, Camerata da Unifor, and Eleazar de Carvalho Chamber Orchestra. In 2011, Denis formed the Almeida Duo, creating an original sound that has captivated audiences in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and throughout the USA. Chad has performed throughout the United States, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Japan, South Korea, and Trinidad and with multiple international tours as drummer for the Brazilian-based group, Almedia Duo.

Saturday Oct. 11th

2:15PM

Lexington Jazz Collective

Jazz Collective without a doubt, features some of the premiere jazz musicians in Kentucky and beyond, including Larry Nelson – saxophone, Mark Gardner – keyboards, Tom Covello – bass, Glenn Ginn – guitar, and Dave McWhorter – drums.  Collectively these premiere musicians provide an incredibly musical experience covering a diverse range of jazz musical styles from fusion, cool jazz, and class jazz, as individual musicians, the members of Jazz Collective have played with premiere artists such as Doc Severinsen, Bob Mintzer, and the Four Tops.  The group has performed to rave reviews at multiple events for the Lexington Jazz Arts Foundation including Jazz Live at The Library series, and Talon Winery’s Jazz on the Porch series.

Saturday Oct. 11th

4:00PM

 Jamey Aebersold Quartet

The KHJF is honored to welcome back renowned jazz educator and saxophonist Jamey Aebersold and his quartet. Jamey is joined in his quartet with Doug Elmore on upright bass, Jonathan Higgins on drums, and Wade Honey on piano. Jamey is the recipient of the 2014 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy, bestowed upon an individual who has contributed significantly to the appreciation, knowledge, and advancement of jazz. For over 60 years, Jamey has been the leader in Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Education. Jamey’s renown weeklong Summer Jazz Workshops have been held in 7 countries. His jazz quartet has performed dozens of programs which encourage students to play music and make healthy lifestyle choices.  Jamey’s company, www.Jazzbooks.com has produced 133 book/audio jazz Play-A-Longs. Jazzbooks.com also sells thousands of jazz related items to encourage musicians of all ages to explore playing jazz. Jamey is a driving force in jazz and continues to kindle the fires of musical imagination in those with whom he comes in contact.

Saturday Oct. 11th

5:30PM

Circle City Sidewalk Stompers

 

The Circle City Sidewalk Stompers Clown Band has been performing fast-moving, choreographed routines to upbeat music since 1976. The musicians, including trumpets, trombones, saxophones, bass and snare drums, and sousaphone are dressed in colorful clown costumes and entertain the crowd with comic interaction and fancy footwork.  The 15-minute choreographed show, followed by musical strolling through the crowd, includes familiar tunes like Zoot Suit Riot, It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing, Pick up the Pieces, Gimme’ Some Lovin’, Birdland, Jump Jive an’ Wail, Your Mama Don’t Dance, and many more of your popular favorites.  Based in Indianapolis, IN, the Circle City Sidewalk Stompers routinely entertain crowds at Indiana Pacers basketball and Indianapolis Colts football games and State Fairs across the nation. The band has also performed at Carnival in Nice, France,  the European version of Mardi Gras and the Shanghai International Music Festival.
The popular Circle City Sidewalk Stompers believe that today’s audiences are eager for the positive family entertainment the group provides.  You won’t want to miss this fun and crowd interactive kickoff of the Jazz Fest with The Circle City Sidewalk Stompers!

Saturday Oct. 11th

6:30PM

Nashville Jazz All-Stars with Sofia Goodman

Sofia Goodman is an award-winning drummer, composer and bandleader residing in Nashville, TN, whose work has been internationally recognized in the press from sources like DownBeat and Jazziz. Since 2017, her group has toured the U.S, appearing at many notable venues and festivals, including USM Jazz & Blues Festival, where her quartet was the headliner. An accomplished bandleader and arranger, she has developed repertoire for her trio, quartet, septet, octet and more. 
Goodman started playing drums in middle school. In high school she was placed in Esperanza Spalding’s student ensemble at Berklee College of Music, where she was encouraged and inspired by the Grammy award-winning artist. Goodman has released three albums on Joyous Records. In 2024, The Sofia Goodman Group won the NIMA award for Best Jazz Group. Goodman has also won the Pathways to Jazz Grant and the CMA Performance Plus Grant and has received several nominations from NIMA. 
Joining Sofia in the Nashville All-Star Band lineup is Jeff Coffin on sax and flute, Jake Martin on sax, Matt Twaddle on keyboards, and Leland Nelson on bass.  You won’t want to miss this stellar lineup of Nashville’s top musicians !

Saturday Oct. 11th

8:30PM

Brad Goode Quintet

Sunday Oct. 12th

11:00AM-12:00PM

David Hall

David Hall plays saxophones, clarinet, flute, flugelhorn, trumpet, EWI, steel pan drum, harmonica and keyboards.  He has performed with The Temptations, The Four Tops, Bob Hope, The Drifters, Carol Channing, The Sensations, Mag 7, The Men of Note, Percy Sledge, Lexington Philharmonic, Lexington Swing Society, Tee Dee Young, The Bourbonaires, Dave Parry Band, Ed Minor Big Band, Vince DiMartino, Dixieland South, Don Krekel Orchestra, Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus Band, Ice Capades Band and many others.  David has opened shows for Chuck Mangione, Burt Bacharach, Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chubby Checker, Donny Osmond, The Spinners, America, Helen Reddy, Marie Osmond, Crystal Gayle, The Grass Roots, Junior Walker & The All Stars, Don McLean and many others.  He has played for President Bill Clinton, numerous governors and senators, Lee Greenwood, The Pointer Sisters, George & Amal Clooney, Michael Bolton, Neil Sedaka and many others.  David is a member of the Woodford County Public Schools Hall of Fame and a board member of The Lexington Musicians Association American Federation of Musicians, Local 554-635.  He plays regularly at Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano and has done so for 29 years.

Sunday Big Band Blast

Sunday, October 12th 

Noon to 6:30 PM

Sunday Oct. 12th

12:00PM-12:40PM

Asbury University Jazz Band

The Music Department is a vibrant part of the ministry of Asbury University located in Wilmore, Ky. The AU Jazz Band is one of many fine music ensembles at Asbury under the direction of Kody Jernigan. AU jazz band is a seventeen-piece, big band that includes talented musicians attending Asbury as well as community members.   The band performs at numerous functions both on and off campus, including the High Bridge Film Festival, as well as annual touring ministry mission trips throughout the United States.

Sunday Oct. 12th

12:55PM-1:35PM

KY State University Choir 

Sunday Oct. 12th

1:55PM- 2:35PM

Morehead State University Jazz Band

MSU Jazz Ensemble I is MSU’s premiere jazz ensemble and maintains an active performing schedule on campus, throughout Kentucky, and beyond.  The jazz big band consists of students from all disciplines and membership is by audition. Regular appearances are made at the Marshall Jazz Festival, UK ‘Battle of the Bands,’ Morehead State Jazz Clinic, the Elmhurst Jazz Festival and more.  MSU Jazz I frequently performs with internationally renowned jazz artists and has received outstanding recognition at past jazz festivals.  For more information contact Prof. Ryan McGillicuddy at r.mcgillicuddy@moreheadstate.edu.

Sunday Oct. 12th

2:50PM-3:30PM

University of Louisville Jazz Ensemble

Sunday Oct. 12th

3:45PM-4:45PM

Somerset Big Band

Distinguished by a harmonious fusion of talent from the local musical landscape, The Somerset Big Band stands as a testament to musical brilliance. This ensemble, comprised of exceptionally skilled musicians, transforms notes into an exquisite tapestry of sound that captivates audiences of all ages.
Renowned for their rich and dynamic compositions, The Somerset Big Band introduces a fresh musical style that transcends conventional boundaries, creating an immersive experience for the entire family. Their performances are not merely concerts, but captivating journeys through a melodic landscape, leaving an indelible mark on every listener.  We are pleased to welcome The Somerset Big Band to the 2025 KHJF!
 

Sunday Oct. 12th

5:00PM-6:00PM

University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble with Special Guests Brad Goode, Ernie Watts, and Adam Nussbaum

A very active group on the road, the University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Miles Osland has toured the Mid-West and South including performances in Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Louisville, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia, and invitational performances at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In July 2011 UKJE and the Osland/Dailey Jazztet toured France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, performing at the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals.
The UKJE has twice been awarded the Outstanding Jazz Ensemble certificate at Annual Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival and multiple times at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival. Two combos from the jazz studies program (UK JazzCats & UK Mega-Sax I) have received numerous outstanding ratings at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival. Dozens of students have also been awarded the Outstanding Performer certificate at the festival. The Jazz Ensemble has also received the prestigious DeeBee award in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental Studio Orchestra from DOWNBEAT magazine. The band has been featured with many national touring artists including: Bill Watrous, David Liebman, Tom Harrell, Doc Severinsen, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Mel Torme, Diane Schuur, Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, Bob Mintzer, Jamey Aebersold, and many others.

“…the UKJE characterizes the best of today’s college band output.” -DOWNBEAT 

 

Other Jazz Events!

Sunday Oct. 5th – 6PM on the lawn at Shaker Village

The Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival is supported by our generous sponsors and donors.  Every donation helps us to continue the festival as a FREE event.  The Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival is a nonprofit 501c3 organized under the Mercer Chamber Foundation, Inc.  Should you like to become a sponsor or make a donation please contact us.  Donations are tax-deductible.

DONATE HERE!

Your Donation Will Make A Difference!

The Ky Heritage Jazz Festival is a non-profit organized under the Mercer Chamber Foundation, Inc. 501(c)(3). Your generous tax-exempt donation will help us to organize and keep the Festival free to attend!

How To Donate Online With PayPal:

  1. Click “Donate” to navigate to our Pay Pal site
  2. Enter a dollar amount you wish to donate
  3. Click optional ”add USD to cover the fees” if you wish to also cover Pay Pal processing fees
  4. Select how to pay: 
  • Donate with Pay Pal – enter email or mobile number to access your account
  • Donate with Debit or Credit Card on PayPal –  enter card info, billing address, and contact info
  • Donation Designation: 
  • Please make sure to specify in the Note section “Jazz Fest Donation” (if not specified as “Jazz Fest” in the note section, your donation will be credited to the MC Foundation at large).
  • You will receive email confirmation of your donation from Pay Pal as a receipt

How To Donate by check:

  1. Make check payable to Mercer Chamber Foundation, Inc.
  2. Note on memo line “Jazz Fest Donation”
  3. Mail or bring check to:

                        Mercer Chamber Foundation

101 South Main Steet 

Harrodsburg, KY 40330

You can also pay using VENMO donating to the Mercer Chamber Foundation, Inc, charity by designating the KY Heritage Jazz Festival.

 

Thanks you for making a difference !

Jazz 4
Jazz 3
Jazz Image 2
Jazz Image
2024-09-20-KY-Heritage-Jazz-Festival-DAY1-198
2024-09-20-KY-Heritage-Jazz-Festival-DAY1-151
2024-09-20-KY-Heritage-Jazz-Festival-DAY1-148
2024-09-20-KY-Heritage-Jazz-Festival-DAY1-049
2024-09-20-KY-Heritage-Jazz-Festival-DAY1-016