Elkhart Jazz Festival heats up

CLAYTON SIDENBENDER, The Elkhart Truth, Ind.
·2 min read

ELKHART — Scorching heat will not likely keep people from enjoying the 2024 Elkhart Jazz Festival this weekend.

More than 100 hours of music are scheduled on five stages in addition pop-up performances in smaller venues like bars and restaurants. Some events are ticketed and others are not.

Also on tap are near-record temperatures.

Chris Roller, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said the high temperature for Saturday will be 94 to 95 degrees. If the temperature does reach 95, it will break a record, he said. The humidity will be high as well.

Roller recommends that people carry water and find shade during outdoor events – and to slip into indoor performances when they can.

High temperatures are expected to fall back into the 80s after storms come through Sunday morning.

Kris Brownlee, a talent coordinator for the Jazz Festival, said misting stations will help people to stay cool too. The misting stations will be at Main and High streets, Central Green, and Main and Marion streets.

Brownlee said he was looking forward to headliner Keb’ Mo’ scheduled to perform on Friday night at the Lerner Theatre.

“It’s a good middle-of-the-road entertainment for those who may not be interested totally in jazz and maybe are shying away from the jazz festival,” Brownlee said. “We have a blues guitarist, Keb’ Mo’.”

Brownlee is particularly excited about vocalist Stella Cole performing Saturday night at the Elkhart Library stage. He was also looking forward to Connie Han’s performance.

“She’s really an internet sensation,” Brownlee said of Cole. “She got her start just posting videos on Instagram. She has easily 700,000 followers on Instagram.”

Cole is performing at the Elkhart Jazz Festival before her debut album comes out later this year.

The music, the warm weather, the camaraderie and the party atmosphere all combine to make the festival a signature event, and often a memorable one, Brownlee said.

“It does so much for the community,” Brownlee said. “It brings people to downtown Elkhart.”