Come Celebrate the Living Legacy of Miles Davis in His Birthplace!

Experience nationally acclaimed contemporary jazz in an intimate riverfront venue, with tickets starting at just $10. The evening will feature regional favorites, wine, food vendors, and premium VIP experiences—all celebrating the living legacy of one of music's greatest innovators.

GET YOUR TICKETS!
https://www.metrotix.com/events/detail/alton-jazz-wine-fest-2026

As the world marks the 100th anniversary of Miles Davis’ birth, there’s no better place to celebrate his enduring influence than Alton, Illinois, where he was born. On Saturday, August 29, from 6–10 p.m., the Alton Amphitheater hosts the Alton Jazz & Wine Festival, featuring artists who embody the creativity, innovation, and fearless spirit that defined one of music’s greatest pioneers. Rather than looking back, this festival celebrates how Miles Davis’ legacy continues to inspire and shape jazz today.

Featured Performances:

The evening begins with Kasimu Taylor’s 100 Miles Tribute, celebrating the musical traditions of St. Louis and East St. Louis that helped shape the world Miles Davis grew up in.

Next, Playadors bring their signature blend of jazz, funk, soul, and R&B, showcasing jazz as a vibrant, evolving art form.

Headlining the festival is acclaimed Virginia collective Butcher Brown, one of contemporary jazz’s most exciting bands. Their latest release, A Supreme Blue, draws inspiration from Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue and John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, carrying forward the spirit of experimentation and reinvention that continues to define jazz.

More Than the Music:

Enjoy wine by the glass or bottle, food vendors, and views of the Mississippi River. Before the festival, visit Alton’s Miles Davis Memorial Statue and downtown mural to experience the city where one of the world’s greatest musical innovators began his journey.

Event Schedule:

5:00 p.m. – Gates & Box Office Open
6:00 p.m. – Kasimu Taylor’s 100 Miles Tribute
7:15 p.m. – Playadors
8:30 p.m. – Butcher Brown
10:00 p.m. – Event Concludes

Ticket Options:

• General Admission: $10
• Reserved Front Row Lawn Seating: $20
• Front Row Table for Two: $80
• Front Row Table for Four: $160
• Reserved Table for Two: $60
• Reserved Table for Four: $120
• VIP Parking: $20
• Charcuterie Box: $25
• Bottle of Wine: $25

Note: The above pricing does not include standard ticketing fees

About the Musicians:

Kasimu Taylor: "100 Miles" Tribute
"We aren’t just a group of random musicians coming in to read chart transcriptions of Miles Davis tunes. The narrative isn't just a history lesson on a page—we are the living continuation of that exact same lineage." - K. Taylor

Our band comprises active St. Louis and East St. Louis musicians. We grew up, trained, and cut our teeth playing in the exact same geographic and cultural ecosystem that birthed Miles Davis. The inflections, the phrasing, and the heavy emphasis on groove and blues that defined Miles' early years are baked into our DNA. Many tributes treat Miles like a historical artifact. Because of who we are and where we are from, this is a living, breathing celebration. We are bringing the authentic regional sound, the specific St. Louis trumpet tradition and musical community, straight to the Alton stage

This is a full-circle homecoming. Miles' story started in Alton, moved through East St. Louis, and spread to the world. Having a powerhouse lineup of contemporary St. Louis and East St. Louis players bring that sound back to Alton creates a perfect, full-circle moment for the festival.

Playadors
This St. Louis ensemble brings a fresh feel to the 70’s jazz-funk fusion sound, featuring a lineup of St. Louis's finest musicians. Playadors infuse their music with heavy grooves, intricate melodies, and soulful vocals - performing both original compositions and reimagining classics. It’s easy to see, at the band’s high-energy performances, that Playadors are a celebration of life, love, and the power of music to bring people together. With a rapidly growing fanbase and a reputation for delivering unforgettable live shows, Playadors are poised to make their mark on the music scene.

Butcher Brown
Headlining the festival is acclaimed Virginia collective Butcher Brown, one of today's most exciting voices in contemporary jazz. Their latest release, A Supreme Blue, created in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning musician Nicholas Payton and released during Miles Davis' centennial year, reimagines two of jazz's most influential albums: Miles Davis' Kind of Blue and John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. The project demonstrates how today's artists continue to build upon the groundbreaking work of jazz's greatest innovators while carrying forward the spirit of exploration and reinvention that defined Miles Davis' career.

Born in Alton in 1926, Miles Davis changed the course of jazz by continually reinventing it. This August, celebrate his legacy where it all began. Purchase your tickets today! https://www.metrotix.com/events/detail/alton-jazz-wine-fest-2026

Thank you to our sponsors!!!!!!
Republic Services, Coleman's Country Campers, Liberty Bank, OSF Healthcare, Big Z Media, and The Grandpa Gang