Neighborhood music celebration returns for 17th edition

The Highland Jazz and Blues Festival will return for its 17th edition on Saturday, Sept. 18. It’s presented by Lagniappe PRIME, LLC and will feature music and entertainment for the entire family in Columbia Park in Shreveport’s historic Highland neighborhood. Eight bands will play on two separate stages from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with food, activities and vendors throughout the park.

For the first time, the festival will feature a live art competition called the “Clash of the Artists,” featuring four local artists who will create a painting live on the BOM Gazebo Stage. The artists will have two hours to paint their concept of how music brings the community together. If you go, you’ll get to vote on your favorite. The winner will be announced before the headlining performance of the New Orleans Nightcrawlers on the Oschner LSU Health Shreveport Pavilion Stage at 4:30 p.m. A community vote on social media chose the artists in the competition. They are J. Ben Moss aka Plois, Sebastian Williams, Linda Moss and Michael Miller.

More than 70 food and art vendors are expected to be at the event, and there will be a children’s area sponsored by Lang Orthodontics featuring multiple activities throughout the afternoon.

A shuttle sponsored by AEP SWEPCO will run from the Centenary Gold Dome to the park from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to assist in your finding a parking place.

On the music side, Grammy-nominated vocalist/guitarist Buddy Flett will kick off the festival on the Oschner LSU Health Shreveport Pavilion Stage. At the same time, The Rougarou Trio will take the stage in the BOM Gazebo at 11:15 a.m. Others on the lineup are Betty Lewis, Ohm Haus, Tree Fiddy Trio and Junior the Third.

Twice during the afternoon, festival-goers will get an opportunity to experience a taste of New Orleans with a promenade through the park with the Shreveport Second Line Brass Band. Headliners, the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, are popular members of the Crescent City brass band scene. They combine traditional jazz, modern funk and “a booty-shaking, hanky-waving, rhythmic base that would set even the most rhythmically impaired among us to stomping” (Replay magazine). The group won a Grammy in 2021 for Best Regional Roots Music Album and has appeared on the animated TV series “The Simpsons.”

Started in 2003, the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival is presented as a gift to the community from the Highland Area Partnership. Proceeds from the sale of posters, T-shirts, beverage sales, donations and sponsorships are used to pay for the event each year.

For more information on the event and the participants, you can go to www.highlandjazzandblues.org.

Oschner LSU Health Shreveport Pavilion Stage

11:15 a.m. – Buddy Flett

12:45 p.m. – Betty Lewis

2 p.m. – Tree Fiddy Trio

2:45 p.m. – Shreveport Second Line Brass Band

3 p.m. – Junior the Third

4:30 p.m. – New Orleans Nightcrawlers

BOM Gazebo Stage

11:15 a.m. – The Rougarou Trio

12:45 p.m. – Ohm Haus

2 p.m. – Clash of the Artists Competition

4 p.m. – Shreveport Second Line Brass Band