We're thrilled to present a preview of the exciting artists we’ve lined up so far for May 2012!

TAJ MAHAL, legendary Grammy Award-winning blues artist, will headline the Festival, kicking it off on May 4th.

CLASSICAL CONCERTS this year were hugely popular and drew overflowing crowds. Strings at the Shrine, Music and a Movie and Bravo Beethoven! were particular highlights and I'm pleased to say they'll be back in 2012! The internationally acclaimed Avalon String Quartet, cellist Jeffrey Solow, violinist Paul Rosenthal and pianist Yoni Levyatov are just some of the distinguished performers who will form the core of our team of classical artists.

Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers will bring the house down with their mix of jazz, New Orleans R&B and salsa styles: “Hands down the best thing to come out of the jump/swing revival…the gal can sing her tail off.” –Paul de Barros, Seattle Times

Barney McClure, jazz pianist extraordinaire, educator and composer, will offer his ever-popular cabaret workshop plus a host of concerts and workshops. To cap off his residency, Barney, on the Hammond B3 organ, and his Trio will be joined by jazz diva Dee Daniels.

The California Honeydrops, a young 5-piece band from Oakland, dig deep into the roots of American music. As an “amalgam of blues, jug band sounds, vintage jazz, rock-n-roll, and classy R&B- good timin’ music par excellence….they get people out of their seats and onto the floor, dancing, clapping and singing along.” –N. Darwen, The Gospel Truth, Leeds,UK

Of course, you can count on your favorite Festival events - the free noon concerts, the popular Blues Cruises, the Family Concert and Community Day on Campus, where there’s fun, food and festivities for the whole family.