SHREVEPORT, La. — Organizers of the 22nd Annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival have announced the music lineup and official poster winner for this year’s event, which is scheduled for Sept. 19 at Columbia Park in Shreveport’s Historic Highland neighborhood.
The free festival will feature performances on three stages, along with food vendors, artisans, children’s activities and a pet area.
New Orleans-based funk band Dumpstaphunk will headline the festival. The group has built a national following over nearly two decades and has performed with artists including Carlos Santana, Bob Weir, George Clinton and Dave Matthews.
Additional performances on the Pavilion Stage will include The Good Dudes, Sweet Magnolia, the Shreveport Regional Jazz Ensemble and a tribute to the late Shreveport musician Buddy Flett featuring guest performers.
The Gazebo Stage lineup includes the Bossier City Big Band, River City Groove, Snake Doctors, The Eric Craig Band and Loose Association.
Festival organizers also announced the return of the Inspiration Stage, which will feature performances by student musicians from the Bossier Parish Schools Talented Arts Program, Caddo Parish Schools Talented Arts Program and North DeSoto Middle School Jazz Band. The stage will also host a performance by percussionist Lady Chops, a former cast member of the Off-Broadway production “Stomp” and the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council’s 2024 Performing Artist of the Year.
More than 70 food and artisan vendors are expected to participate in the event. Organizers said a free shuttle service will operate throughout the day.
The Highland Area Partnership also announced the winner of its annual festival poster contest, which was open to high school juniors and seniors in Caddo, Bossier and DeSoto parishes. This year, 26 entries were submitted.
The winning design was created by Sara Villarrial, a graphic arts student at Haughton High School’s Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning program. Villarrial received a $500 award for her work, which will serve as the festival’s official poster.
Emerie Eck Holtzclaw, executive director of the Highland Area Partnership, said organizers were pleased with this year’s lineup and poster selection. Holtzclaw also noted that Buddy Flett, a Grammy-nominated musician and longtime festival participant who recently died, would be honored during the event through a tribute performance.
Additional information about the festival is available at www.highlandjazzandblues.org.