For the past seven years the Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival has been a staple among summer festival goers. This year the festival will be even bigger and better, with dozens of food, wine and merchandise vendors and what is expected to be a packed crowd following the cancellation of the 2020 festival due to COVID.
This year’s festival will take place Saturday June 26, 2021 from 2:00pm until 10:00pm at Inola Blue Ridge.
About the Blue Ridge Wine & Jazz Festival
The Blue Ridge Mountains Wine and Jazz Festival is brought to you by Ellijay-based Kharisma Entertainment and Bin 322, Blue Ridge’s premier wine bar and live music hotspot. Enjoy great music, a large variety of wine from regional vineyards and a wide range of food options from popular vendors.
Be sure to bring a blanket and/or lawn chairs to kick back and hear some amazing jazz music and enjoy wine by the glass or by the bottle.
Benefitting a great cause
The focus of the Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival is for the North Georgia Mountains to be recognized as “A Cultural Tourism Destination”, to feature regional wines being produced locally, provide financial support and opportunities for area students of Jazz music, and awareness to the community as to the importance of this legendary American music style.
The Blue Ridge Mountains Wine and Jazz Festival is a 501(c)3 designated annual event. The goal of this annual charitable event is to support music education and cultural exposure for students of jazz music through funding and offering them the experience to perform, intern and volunteer at the event.
Music Lineup
Fred Johnson- 3:00pm
Fred Johnson has spent the past 25 years presenting international seminars on the power of creative expression as a tool for personal well being and healing. He is an accomplished vocalist and percussionist and is recognized internationally as one of the world’s greatest vocal jazz improvisers. He has performed on stage with or as the opening act for such musical greats as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Herbie Mann, Nat Adderly, Joe Zawinul, David Sanborn, Richard Elliot, Ramsey Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Patti La Belle, Patti Austin, George Benson, BB King and many others. As a student for 9 years of a master teacher from the West African natural healing indigenous music traditions, he brings to the contemporary world a fusion of ancient sound traditions coupled with 21st century science on the power of the vibration universe.
Rhythm Jets- 4:30pm
The Rhythm Jets is a high energy jazz/world fusion rhythm and sax driven ensemble based in Atlanta, Rhythm Jets boast an action packed lineup – featuring sax, piano, B3, lap steel and electric guitars and steel drums – whose members have worked and/or performed with Earl Klugh, BoyzIIMen, Bob James, Stewart Copeland, Susan Tedeshi, Jeff Beck and Chuck Mangione. Led by visionary front man, alto and tenor saxophonist Vance Kelly, the band’s infectious and eclectic new EP VELOCITY is quickly picking up speed with a growing fan base and international radio airplay. Rhythm Jets artfully balances high octane jams with more romantic, dreamy tunes and tropical flavored whimsy. Your heartbeat will pick up major VELOCITY listening to them!
Roman Street- 6:00pm
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah & Josh Thompson. They are internationally trained and specialize in improvisational fusion of Classical, Gypsy and Contemporary Jazz, Latin, and Nuevo Flamenco. A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today, they keep it simple—the beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing. With fans in every corner of the globe, several Billboard Top25 songs, and a 5th studio album just released (Sept. 2016), Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion.
Kharisma Jazzmatic Funk- 8:00pm
A 10-piece jazz funk band, was originally formed ten years ago in the town of Ellijay located in the North Georgia mountains. Surrounded by southern rock, country, and blue grass bands, husband and wife team, Terry and Venae Ellis, brought together a group of talented musicians who were passionate about playing jazz, R&B, and funk music.
About Inola Blue Ridge
This year the Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival will be hosted at Inola Blue Ridge. Nestled in a forest near Blue Ridge is a colonial style village that includes many quaint buildings such as the Wythe House Mansion, the Wetherburn’s Tavern and a Virginia chapel from the 1700s . Built by an eccentric visionary in the 1980s, the estate is taking on a new life as an upscale mixed-use property. Developer Rick Skelton and Susan Council are combining Williamsburg charm with contemporary mountain life and creating a place of joyous occasions, warm camaraderie, and splendid living.
Tickets
Tickets for the Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival are $50 for general admission, or you can reserve a VIP table for $800 that includes entrance into the festival, reserved VIP seating for 6 guest under the Pavilion, catered buffet dinner, and 2 complimentary bottles of wine with a commemorative wine glass for each guest. You can purchase general admission tickets here or reserve your VIP table here.
Vendors
If you are a food or merchandise vendor and are interested in setting up at the 2021 Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival, applications are now being accepted. Please visit this page to sign up.
