What we’re about
Meet other local fans of jazz, blues, and world music while enjoying live performances by top-notch musicians.
The San Francisco Bay Area is home to an amazing live music scene, with an assortment of venues that provide an intimate and affordable way to experience music as it's meant to be: spontaneous, inventive, and alive.
There's so much music happening in the Bay Area, there is something available every weekend for every taste and budget.
So join us, and use this Meetup group to connect with other music fans. We're mainly about listening to live jazz, but we also post blues shows, as well as tango, flamenco, world music, and cross-genre. In addition, we occasionally post theater events and films that have a music-related plotline or other "hook."
If you know about a show you'd like to see listed, feel free to suggest the event to Meetup organizers for hosting, or you can post the show on the "Discussions" page and invite your fellow Meetup members to attend with you.
Hope to see you at an upcoming show!
Paula M. - Lead Organizer, Live Jazz (& Blues) Meetup Group
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- 68th Annual Monterey Jazz FestivalMonterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, CA
Hi--I'm dropping out of hosting MJF this year because I'll be hosting the final concert at Riggers Loft. There will always be future MJF to host but Riggers Loft was my favorite place the past 6 yrs. Quirky bands and the setting by the Bay was glorious, and it's going to end ;-( Would anyone be interested in hosting MJF? Mostly hosting the brunches and keeping track of people. LMK.
Motels within walking distance to MJF in off-festival rates, say $125/night, will be $250/night and up for festival dates, and the choice motels fill-up by June and by July none available in the Monterey-Carmel region. I usually use expedia.com to search for the motel near MJF. Expedia will let you reserve a room up to 1 week before the festival to pay or cancel without charge.
MJF is the grandfather of jazz festivals and its appeal is international besides regional Northern California. Some performers you've followed for years and some emerging talents will surprise you. Many of the artists have never been to the Bay Area and MJF might be the only place to see them live in California.
There are 2 venues and ticket formats, the Arena and the Grounds. The Arena is The Jimmy Lyons Stage for the major stars 14± in 3-days, and The Grounds has 4-stages for a wide variety of jazz performers 60± in 3-days that are all excellent, a few are from the Bay Area. The schedule: https://montereyjazz.org/festival/schedule/
The 3-day package tickets start: April 11th. The single-day ticket sale start May 11th.I’ve hosted 5 MJFs in 10 years. The group usually meets for a Friday 1:30p pre-festival lunch at Sushi by the Bay, and Saturday-Sunday 9a breakfast at Grandma’s Kitchen; all within walking distance to MJF. For those checking out Monday, I can host a brunch in Carmel Art District.
It's important to have a group to see the performances with. So, if you can develop a list of performers per stage/times to compare with others, common interests and adventurous interests can create a subgroup for a day, 2 or 3-days.Use the Comments section to discuss:
Where to stay; what to wear; what/where to eat; where to rest; no out/in gate privileges; and establish a ‘Home-base” in the Grounds for ‘updates”, chat and break-time. Share cell nos. for group message news.See MJF list of artists and their videos for both Arena and Grounds.
Ground stages: CS (Courtyard Stage), WE (West End Stage), GS (Garden Stage), and PC (Pacific Jazz Cafe).Fri 26th–
1:30p group lunch at Sushi by the Bay, 2 block walking distance to MJF.Sat 27th and Sun 28th–
9a group breakfast at Grandma’s Kitchen, 2310 N Fremont St, Monterey, CA_4 blocks from MJF.Mon 30th-
11a small group brunch in Carmel. Quick tour of Carmel Art District before a long drive home. - Black Cat Zydeco in San AnselmoSan Anselmo Ave & Tamalpais Ave, San Anselmo, CA
We saw them several month ago and they were fantastic! The Black Cat Zydeco is scheduled to play 6/26 Friday at 6-8:30p in Creekside Park (Not Courtyard). Bring your low-slung beach chair or blanket but this meetup is one of our group dancing series -- you won't be sitting much! Get there early so we can be a group. I'll get there around 5:30 to claim a patch of lawn but I cannot claim a larger spot if you're not there. You can bring food and wine or buy from the local vendors. That's all you need to start your weekend with a blast!
Press release: Dwight Carrier popularly known as, “The Black Cat” has become one of the most exciting Zydeco Accordionist of this era. He is deeply rooted in the “Carrier” family tradition, where music has always been a passion and implemented into much of their families past time. He embraces both his family tradition as-well as his Cajun Creole Culture. Dwight has always had a unique style that infuses his zydeco, blues, country and R&B influences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoC9JDYLJJUTickets: It's free, no charge. Public parking lots are free nearby but fill-up quickly. Pets not allowed.
Meetup is a social organization not an event calendar. In general, our members are avid jazz fans, middle age and up, enjoy socializing with food and drink, and we show-up on time. Please have good intentions when you rsvp; 'No-Shows' are no good. If your plans have changed please select Edit RSVP at bottom of page to take yourself off the Attendee List.This is an outdoor venue. If it rains/windy it'll be cancelled. Please bring cash to tip the musicians.
