Northwood senior DaMetrius Haggerty designed the 2025 festival poster.

Highland Area Partnership announces music lineup, presents poster art

Special to 318 Forum

The Highland Area Partnership announced that the 21st Annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival, presented by Ambetter Health, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, at Columbia Park in Shreveport’s Historic Highland Neighborhood.

The festival will showcase memorable musical performances on three stages, a children’s area, a pet area, artisans, food trucks and more. The is free to attend.

The musical lineup features powerhouse performers, emerging artists, and local and regional favorites. Headlining this year’s festival is a second-generation Bluesman and one of the strongest modern proponents of Louisiana Swamp Blues, Kenny Neal. He grew up playing music with his dad, along with Slim Harpo and Buddy Guy Kenny. Other musical acts on the main Pavilion Stage include the Curtis Mills Collective, Josh Madden and his Blues Brothers Tribute Band, Doug Duffy and BADD, and Grammy Award nominee Buddy Flett. On the Gazebo Stage, the musical acts include Everett Street Jazz, Daniel Scott Quintet, Stilettos, Floyd Grigsby and the 5GK Band, and The Shreveport Bone Society.

The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival is introducing a third stage this year called the Inspiration Stage. It will also showcase performances by aspiring musicians from local schools including the Creswell Blazin’ Beatz, Bossier Parish Schools Talented Arts Program, Caddo Parish Schools Talented Arts Program, North DeSoto Middle School Jazz Band and Benton High School Jazz Band. This stage will also include an interactive, educational and fun performance from Lady Chops, Northeast Louisiana Arts Council 2024 Performing Artist of the Year and former off-Broadway “Stomp” cast member.

The three stages will fill the park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition to the music, there will be more than 70 food and artisan vendors throughout the park, a children’s area with hands-on art activities from local nonprofits, and a pet area for furry friends. A free shuttle service sponsored by BOM will run continuously during the day. Merchandise and official poster sales will be located next to the Pavilion Stage.

Last year, the Highland Area Partnership created a contest to design the official poster for juniors and seniors in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. This year, it included DeSoto Parish juniors and seniors. The submissions were juried by local artists and cultural bearers, with the winner chosen solely based on the artwork. The artist chosen is DaMetrius Haggerty, CCTC Media Arts & Advertising Design Senior at Northwood High School.

“DaMetrius is one of those rare seniors who is mature well beyond his years. He always is inquisitive about learning new design skills and coming up with unique ideas. In the last two years here at CCTC, he has grown so much by obtaining multiple design certifications and completing quite an array of interesting design pieces for his portfolio,” said Michelle Lindholm, CCTC Media Arts & Advertising Design instructor.

The poster design concept originated from a historical jazz nightclub setting with various blue tones and a spotlight highlighting the jazz musicians. The Highland Area Partnership presented Haggerty with $500 for his work on the official poster.

“The board of directors and myself are very proud of the lineup and poster artwork for the 21st Highland Jazz and Blues Festival,” said Emerie Eck Holtzclaw, executive director. “This festival is for the community, by the community, which makes it a wonderful experience for everyone in attendance.”

More information about the festival weekend activities can be found at www.highlandjazzandblues.org.