31 YEARS | 31 DAYS | ATLANTA
Memorial Day Weekend Celebration — May 24 - May 26

Saturday, May 24 – 2 PM - 10 PM
Sunday, May 25 – 2 PM - 10 PM
Monday, May 26 – 2 PM - 10 PM

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The Atlanta Jazz Festival, an annual musical showcase, celebrates jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz greats in venues throughout metro Atlanta during the entire month of May and culminates in a 3-day music festival on Memorial Day Weekend at Woodruff Park. It is the mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival to expose and entertain a diverse audience of jazz aficionados, young jazz enthusiasts and musical artists to the rich heritage and variety of jazz as an authentic form of traditional music. The 31st annual Atlanta Jazz Festival builds on the success and heritage of previous festivals by continuing to offer 31 days filled with jazz performances and events again this May.

WHEN: 31 Days of Jazz – May 1 through May 31, 2008.

Atlanta jazz Festival Memorial Day weekend Celebration – May 24 through May 26, 2008.

Where: Various venues throughout Atlanta. Neighborhood Jazz Series includes venues in Castleberry Hill, Virginia Highlands and Midtown. Memorial Day Weekend Festival is at Woodruff Park, Atlanta, GA.

COST: Admission to the Memorial Day Weekend Festival is FREE. Other events during the 31 Days of Jazz may have a cost.

ACTIVITIES: More than 100 entertainers perform during the 31 Days of Jazz and the Memorial Day Weekend concert series. Events throughout the month include various daytime and nighttime events in Atlanta area parks, free and ticketed evening events at nightclubs, concert halls, eclectic venues and restaurants in Atlanta.

The 2008 Memorial Day Weekend concert series includes many legendary jazz sensations, as well as the newest up-and-coming artists on the jazz scene today. This year’s line-up will features such critically acclaimed artists as Rua 6, Bernard Linnette Interactive featuring Charito, Serenata Band, Gordon Vernick & the GSU Faculty Jazztet, Joe Jennings & Howard Nicholson’s Lifeforce, the Ojeda Penn Experience, Ron James and the Truth, Jaspects and Mike Phillips. In addition to the great Atlanta artists, this year’s festival will feature the Future of Jazz Competition winners and the Youth Jazz Band Competition winners.

Unique jazz events take place throughout the city the entire month of May. Our Neighborhood Jazz Series will highlight three neighborhoods in the city limits; Castleberry Hill, Virginia Highlands and Midtown. Each neighborhood will host an array of events in several different categories. Our Nightlife Series includes live jazz at bars and nightclubs, including Studio 281, Vino Libro, Apache Café and The High Museum of Art. Jazz lovers can also enjoy music in eclectic Atlanta spots such as Fernbank Museum of Natural History, The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, as well as diverse lunchtime jazz performances on Broad Street in the beautiful, historic Fairlie-Popular district of Downtown Atlanta.

Memorial Day Weekend Celebration: Experience the best in jazz with performances Saturday, May 24 through Monday, May 26 from acclaimed local favorites! Taking place in Woodruff Park with artist vendors, fantastic festival food options and great jazz makes the Memorial Day Weekend festival a perfect event for the entire family! Visit www.atlantafestivals.com for the most updated schedule of performances and events.

MARTA: While limited street parking is available on a first come basis, we suggest taking Marta. There are two train stations adjacent to opposite ends of the park, Five Points Station and Peachtree Center Ave Station.

SPECIAL NEEDS: Woodruff Park is fully accessible for wheelchairs. The most accessible entrances will be the Peachtree St entrances of the park.

SPONSORS: The Coca-Cola, Budweiser Select, Publix, Brand Atlanta, MARTA, WCLK 91.9 FM, JazzTimes, Spelman College, BET J, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Central Atlanta Progress, and Epiphone, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, SmartMusic, TD Entertainment, JW Pepper.

WHAT YOU SHOULD LEAVE AT HOME:

• No Pets
• No Grills
• No Tents
• No Bicycles
• No Skating
• No Staking

A full 2008 Atlanta Jazz Festival artist line-up and schedule of events is available online.

For more information on the Atlanta Jazz Festival, please call the information hotline at 404.853.4234 or visit the website at www.atlantafestivals.com.

For General Information Contact:
Official Atlanta Jazz Festival Hotline
P) 404.853.4234
www.atlantafestivals.com

For All Press Inquires Contact:
Bria Bryant
The Opulent Influence Agency
404.935.0808
bbryant@opulentinfluence.com