The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival is a free, annual music & arts festival in the heart of downtown Springfield, MA, brought to you by Blues to Green, a small but mighty community-based nonprofit. The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival is a program of Blues to Green, a nonprofit organization founded by Kristin Neville, wife of saxophonist Charles Neville of The Neville Brothers. Every August, t
he free festival offers:
o Music and culture of the African diaspora
o Jazz – modern, big band, New Orleans, & Afro-Cuban
o Blues, funk, soul, Latin, African, & world music
o National legends & local talent
o Local youth dance & theater troupes
o Arts & crafting activities for all ages
o Talks on music of the African diaspora & its connections with racial and climate justice
o Diverse local craft & food booths
The festival promotes arts access, social justice, environmentalism, & economic revitalization for Springfield. Free world-class music and family-friendly arts activities accessible to people of all incomes
2. Showcasing how Black and Latinx communities have shaped American music
3. Bringing together people of all ethnicities and backgrounds, urban and rural
4. Drawing visitors to enjoy Springfield and bring hundreds of thousands in economic stimulus
5. A platform for city artists, artisans, merchants, and nonprofits to reach thousands
6. Showcasing eco-friendly practices and programs
7. Developing Springfield into a thriving cultural hub of the Pioneer Valley
Inspired by the life and music of the legendary Charles Neville, the mission of Blues to Green is to utilize music and other arts to center the cultures of the African diaspora within American culture, nurture personal freedom, strengthen multicultural community, and catalyze action for racial and climate justice.
