FREE! 2025 AZZ-IS Rebel Jazz Fest

Free concert in Venice Beach

Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Location: Venice Pavilion (1 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291)

Free and open to the public. No tickets required.

What to expect: Live music, DJs, art, food, and community celebration

The festival honors the spirit of the original "AZZ IZZ," a 1970s jazz club in Venice, and the 1960 Newport Rebel Jazz Festival.

Website: https://www.thenonsemble.com/

Performers:

• Dwight Trible - We have seen this terrific and unique singer many times
• Billy Mohler - Great bassist, who we saw at the Angel City Jazz Fest in 2024, and with Dan Rosenboom at Vine in Long Beach
• Melanin Horns - led by trumpeter Tatiana Tate, we saw them at the Leimert Park Jazz Festival.
• Sumbacalasque - band of young musicians discovered by KJAZZ DJ Leroy Downs

The AZZ-IS Rebel Jazz Fest is a free, family-friendly event, and there is no ticket price for general admission. Donations are appreciated and help the organizers keep the festival going.

The festival is presented by the creative collective, The Nonsemble, in partnership with the Venice Heritage Foundation/Museum. You can find information on how to donate to support the festival on The Nonsemble's social media and website.

The term "Rebel" in the festival's name is a tribute to both a historic jazz event and the festival's own grassroots origin as a protest party. It signifies a commitment to the independent, revolutionary spirit of jazz music.

1960 Newport Rebel Jazz Festival
The name and spirit of the festival were inspired by the original "Rebel Jazz Fest" that occurred in 1960 in Newport, Rhode Island.

• A musician's protest: Jazz giants Charles Mingus and Max Roach organized this DIY festival in protest against the commercialization and mainstream approach of the established Newport Jazz Festival.
• "Thumb in the eye": The rebel festival was created as a "thumb in the eye" to the more commercial event, honoring authentic artists and their militant musical movement.

Article on the 1960 Rebel Jazz Festival: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-rebel-festival