Sioux Falls JazzFest 2013

Sheryl Crow will headline Sioux Falls JazzFest, Saturday night, July 20 courtesy of Midcontinent Communications. Crow has won nine Grammys; has had hots with Sting, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and Kid Rock; is a cancer survivor and passionate humanitarian. Crow will take the stage at 10pm Saturday, July 20. Let's take a look at all the other main stage performers:

The Nite Tripper himself, Dr. John will headline opening night, Thursday July 18 at 8:30pm. He is universally celebrated as the living embodiment of the rich musical heritage exclusive to New Orleans. His career started in the 50's, playing on some of the greatest records to come out of the Crescent City including songs from Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Joe Tex and Frankie Ford.

He became a sought after session musician in the 60's for Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison and played on the Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street. His solo career launched about this time as well and included his biggest solo hit Right Place, Wrong Time.Dr. John is a four time Grammy winner and will put on a great show Thursday night.

The North Mississippi All-Stars will headline the main stage on Friday July 19th at 10pm. They're a Southern rock/Blues band formed in 1996 by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson. They continually expand the tradition of the Mississippi hill country blues that has inspired them from the beginning. Rolling Stone magazine says they may be children of tradition, but they're digging deep in undiscovered country. Luther also recorded an album last year called 3 Skulls and the Truth with Mato Nanji of Indigenous and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos and is a guitar monster. This will be one of the highlights of the festival.

Playing before Sheryl Crow on Saturday night at 8pm is going to be another fantastic set, from Blues/Rock guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and his band. Bramhall's dad was the drummer with Lightning Hopkins' band and was a regular collaborator with Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan. Doyle himself toured with Jimmie Vaughan as a second guitarist when he was just 16! Shortly thereafter, he and Charlie Sexton formed the Arc Angels with Double Trouble, Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section of Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon.

Bramhall has toured as part of Eric Clapton's band over the past decade and his band opened for Clapton on the first leg of Slowhand's tour this year. This is another don't miss set for blues/rock fans.

For the past 37 years, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet has been making some of the most potent and popular Cajun music on the planet. Driven by Doucet's spellbinding fiddle playing and soulful vocals, the band is notorious for bringing even the most laid back audiences to their feet. Doucet was most recently in town last year with Tab Benoit at the Orpheum Theatre. Beau Soleil will play Saturday July 20 at 6pm.

Another man who was with Tab Benoit and Doucet on that Orpheum Theatre bill was Chubby Carrier. Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band will come to town this summer. Carrier is known as the world's premier Zydeco showman and have recorded ten CD's over the past 22 years. They tour the world and are frequent players at their home state New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Carrier will open for the North Mississippi All-Stars Friday July 19 at 8pm.

One of the fastest rising bands on the national blues scene is a family band from Kansas City called Trampled Under Foot. Siblings Nick, Kris and Danielle grew up in the music scene with their parents both being musicians. They won the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in 2008 and haven't looked back. They were the only band to get a standing ovation at last year's Blues Music Awards, which Danielle told me, is still the biggest thrill of her life, having all her heroes stand up and applaud her and her brothers. Looking forward to this set as much as any of the headliners. TUF will open the festival Thursday July 18 at 6pm, playing before Dr. John!

Our friends the Kris Lager Band will finally get a chance to play the big stage at JazzFest! This Lincoln, Nebraska Band brings a blend of blues, rock, soul, funk, Americana and more to the stage. At one time they toured with Mato Nanji as Indigenous, and now they tour the country sharing the stage with past JazzFest performers like Tab Benoit, Monophonics, Sena Ehrhardt Band, Los Lonely Boys and many many more. Get on the funk train and get ready for a party when KLB plays JazzFest this summer! Kris Lager Band will play the main stage Saturday July 20 at 3pm.

Mingo Fishtrap played the Icon Event Hall in Sioux Falls in March of this year. I got Facebook messages from people who were there RAVING about the band with the one word question "JazzFest?" You've got it! They're a soul/funk band based in Austin, Texas, formed in the mid 90's with a sound dancing between gutbucket soul, N'awlins grit-down funk and horn-fueled Motown pop! Young audiences are flocking to their shows and critics are giving rave reviews about their high energy live performances that encourage audience participation. Mingo Fishtrap will play Saturday July 20 at 4:30pm.

A frequent Sioux Falls visitor and friend will make their JazzFest debut Friday night, July 19 at 6pm as the Scott Holt Band comes to town. Holt is a fantastic guitar player, singer, storyteller and showman who graduated from the 'University of Buddy Guy' as he toured the world as part of Guy's band for over ten years before starting his own band. A GREAT way to kick off Friday night!

This year's JazzFest will also include the annual Jazz Camp featuring some of the areas top young jazz musicians being joined by jazz/classical performer/instructor Chris Vadala on Saturday afternoon at 1:30pm. Sioux Falls own Hegg Brothers Band will open the main stage entertainment on Saturday at noon. The Hegg Brothers will do double duty that day as they will also be on the second stage Saturday night at 7:30pm

Sioux Falls JazzFest is held in Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is one of the nation's largest free festivals. Last years three day festival drew a record 130,000+. Mark July 18-20, 2013 on your calendar now for JazzFest.

Second Stage Lineup:

Thursday July 18:

6:30pm-Bitterroot Band

8:00pm-The Tinder Box

Friday July 19:

6:00-Chris Borchardt

7:30-Mind Machine

9:00-Blues Bashers

Saturday July 20:

Noon-JazzFest Jazz Camp

1:15-The Coopers

2:45-FTX

4:15-Kyle Knutson

5:45-White Dads

7:15-Hegg Brothers

9:00-Phantom Balance

As in past years, parking will be available in Yankton Trail Park for $10 per vehicle. Shuttles will be available for $3 for round trip service.

Shuttle service times:
Thursday: 5pm-11pm (Lincoln High only)
Friday: 5pm- 12:30am (Lincoln High only)
Saturday: 11am-12:30am (Lincoln, Roosevelt, and O’Gorman)
For more shuttle information please visit: siouxfallsjazzfest.com/visitors/