The Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley is taking a pause for its third year. The annual event is coming back in 2025, however, organizers didn’t want to leave music lovers high and dry this summer. In its place will be the more intimate The Black Radio Experience, taking its name from Robert Glasper’s seminal album series. This new music festival is happening this Labor Day weekend on Friday, August 30th through Sunday, September 1st at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, California.
Artist-in-Residence Glasper leads the all-star lineup featuring headlining sets from R&B pop star John Legend, neo-soul goddess Jill Scott and rapper-turned-flutist André 3000. Special guests scheduled to perform with Robert include Musiq Soulchild and Marsha Ambrosius who will both bring a healthy serving of R&B to the table.
Multiple genres of Black music will be on display throughout the weekend. Of course, jazz artists galore will be there, among them Marcus Miller, Christian McBride, Terrace Martin, Derrick Hodge, Joel Ross and Kendrick Scott. Festivalgoers will also get to experience disco and funk from Nile Rodgers & Chic; soul and R&B courtesy of Andra Day, Ledisi and Eric Roberson; hip-hop by Common, Pete Rock, Madlib and DJ Jazzy Jeff and eclectic sounds coming from Cimafunk, Tank And The Bangas and RC & The Gritz.
The Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley debuted in 2022 with a lineup that showcased an impressive slate of artists, including Maxwell, Yasiin Bey, BJ The Chicago Kid and Thundercat. They followed with the Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley 2023 featuring performances by artists such as Mary J. Blige, Nas, De La Soul and Lalah Hathaway and additional experiences for attendees. While we await word on its return next year, The Black Radio Experience is filling the gap.
Guests can look forward to artist, food and beverage activations; a wine garden; pool parties and after parties led by turntable masters DJ Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock, Madlib, Bryan-Michael Cox, DJ Aktive and DJ Jahi Sundance. Sway Calloway is on board to host this exclusive, grand affair.
The Black Radio Experience sounds like it will be quite an experience indeed, and we’re pretty sure that you’re going to want to be there. Three-day passes are on sale now at three different levels – General Admission, GA+ and VIP. Passes for parties and parking are also on sale as are hotel packages to stay on-site at The Meritage Resort & Spa. For more information and to purchase passes, visit The Black Radio Experience website.
