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March means many things in Savannah — such as azaleas, tourists and humidity — but it also means a music lover’s smorgasbord. Meet some of the headliners at this year’s Savannah Music Festival.
It’s hard to argue with the draw of the festival, taking place March 24-April 9, which this year serves up more than 100 concerts throughout the city’s historic downtown during one of the loveliest seasons of the year. “It’s a wonderful time to be in Savannah,” said Rob Gibson, the festival’s executive and artistic director.
He would know: Gibson has been with the fest since the very beginning. In its earlier incarnation, Savannah Onstage, the city’s spring musical event kept to a mostly classical format. But upon his arrival in 2003, Gibson harnessed his promoter’s connections — he ran New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center program in partnership with Wynton Marsalis — to broaden the renamed festival’s palette. The bold move has created a loyal following: Each year an estimated 60,000 people attend the fest, Gibson said, and 39 percent of them come from 200 miles or more away. By January, Gibson said 2011 ticket sales were on track to match last year’s $1.2 million total.
For complete schedule and information, go to savannahmusicfestival.org.
Among this year’s highlights:
- Two SMF regulars with cool guests: Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck debuts a collaboration with pianist Marcus Roberts and his trio (March 29), while Dianne Reeves will present “Jazz Meets Brazil” with guitarist Chico Pinheiro (April 2).
- The premiere of Marc Neikrug’s “Death Cell Memoirs of An Extraterrestrial” (April 5) headlines the fest’s classical offerings, which also includes Baroque chamber music and works by Beethoven, Debussy, Ravel and Faure.
- Pianist and New Orleans icon Allen Toussaint.
- Brooklyn-based R&B revivalists Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
- A packed bluegrass lineup, featuring The Punch Brothers with Chris Thile (April 2), as well as mandolin master Doyle Lawson and his band Quicksilver (March 24)
- Afro-pop star Salif Keita (April 8), who makes his Savannah debut and headlines the fest’s global music lineup.
- A late burst of great rock acts, including The Avett Brothers (March 30), pedal-steel virtuoso Robert Randolph and the Family Band (April 1), indie-rock darlings and Mt. Pleasant natives Band of Horses (April 4) and Citizen Cope (April 5).
