The Blue Note Jazz Festival’s Black Radio Experience returns with a stunning lineup of world-class musical acts and gourmet food and wine. Held this Labor Day weekend from August 30 to September, the headliners are John Legend, Jill Scott and Andre 3000. In addition, several other top-name acts will appear across three stages, including Nile Rodgers and Chic, Andra Day and Ledisi. Coupled with the backdrop of the luxurious Meritage Resort & Spa, the Blue Note Jazz Festival will be a premier highlight in the breathtaking Napa Valley Wine Country.
The Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents The Black Radio Experience
Meritage Resort and Spa
875 Bordeaux Way
Napa, CA 94558
www.bluenotejazz.com/black-radio-experience
Dates: Friday, August 30, 2024 to Sunday, September 1, 2024.
Tickets and Parking Passes
Only single-day passes remain available online for $175 + fees. Single-day parking passes appear to be sold out. However, 3-day VIP Parking ($312.81) and 3-day General Parking ($171.56) remain available. You must have a festival pass prior to purchasing parking.
How to Get to the Blue Note Jazz Festival at the Meritage Resort
The 2024 Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents The Black Radio Experience will be held on the grounds of the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, California. The wine country resort is located about four miles south of Napa and 11 miles north of Vallejo. Due to the expected traffic on all three days, you should try to arrive at the Blue Note Jazz Festival as early as possible.
Where to Park
The main parking lot is adjacent to the festival grounds off Highway 221. You will be guided onto Napa Valley Corporate Way to the lot. From the lot, it is a five-minute walk to the festival’s main entrance. VIP parking is located onsite at the festival grounds.
Related: Famous Stops Along the Mississippi Blues Trail
Headliners for the Blue Note Jazz Festival
John Legend
What can I say about John Legend that hasn’t already been said? The man’s voice is like velvet, and his ability to blend contemporary R&B with old-school soul is nothing short of mesmerizing. That’s not to mention he’s one of the biggest names in the music industry and loved by fans worldwide. If you’ve ever found yourself humming “All of Me” at random moments, you’ll understand why his set is a must-see.
Jill Scott
Now, Jill Scott—she’s something else entirely. There’s this raw, emotional depth to her performances that just hits you. Besides, haven’t you always been a fan of how she weaves poetry into her music, making every song feel like a story you’re hearing for the first time? Trust your instincts, you don’t want to miss this.
(credit: André 3000)
André 3000
Ah, Hey Ya, André 3000! If you’re into innovative, genre-defying hip-hop music, this is your guy. Half of the legendary duo OutKast, André’s known for pushing boundaries, and you can bet his performance will be nothing short of electrifying. Aren’t you already wondering what he’ll pull out of his hat for this one? Just make sure to head over to the Estate Cave on any day of the Blue Note Jazz Festival!
Related: America’s Best Fall Getaways
Nile Rodgers & Chic:
Get ready to dance because Nile Rodgers and Chic will be bringing the party. With hits like “Le Freak” and “Good Times,” this set is guaranteed to get everyone on their feet. After all, how often do you get to see living legends in action? If you need more convincing, how about “Dance, Dance, Dance” and “I Want Your Love.” That’s not to mention hit songs he has written for other artists, Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” and Diana Ross’s “Upside Down.” Make sure to see his performance on Sunday on the Blue Note Stage. A six-time Grammy Award winner, Nile Rodgers is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Andra Day
If you’re looking for something soulful and powerful, Andra Day is the one to watch. Her voice has this incredible ability to stir emotions—you might even find yourself tearing up a bit (and that’s okay). Don’t miss her debut performance of the classic hymn ” I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.” Ms. Day and this song will be in her new film from Lee Daniels, “Deliverance, tomorrow on Netflix.
Related: Underrated Attractions in Los Angeles
Ledisi
Ledisi’s voice? Simply stunning. She’s got this way of taking jazz and R&B and blending them into something that’s entirely her own. Her set is going to be one of those moments you look back on and think, “I was there.” A New Orleans native, Ledisi is also a high-profile actress, appearing in films like “Selma” and with Gladys Knight in “Spinning Gold.”
And that’s not even the full lineup. You’ve got Common and Pete Rock bringing their unique blend of jazz and hip-hop, Marcus Miller showing off his legendary bass skills, Cimafunk with his infectious Afro-Cuban beats, and of course, DJ Jazzy Jeff spinning the kind of tracks that make you want to stay on the dance floor. That’s not to mention the artist in residence, five-time Grammy Award winner Robert Glasper. Best known for his Black Radio album, Glasper will appear with Martha Ambrosius on Saturday and Musiq Soulchild to close the festival on Sunday. In all, nearly 30 top musical acts will be performing across three stages.
A Guide to the Blue Note Jazz Festival at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa
The festival is hosted by radio personalities Heather B and Sway Calloway.
Friday, August 30
Among those to appear on the first day of the Blue Note Jazz Festival are Common and Pete Rock, Andra Day and Marcus Miller. That’s not to mention three performances by André 3000 and his New Blue Sun Live at the Estate Cave Finally, the evening will be capped by headliner Jill Scott on the Black Radio Stage beginning at 8:30 p.m. In addition, there will be an after party at 10:30 p.m. on the Blue Note Stage featuring Pete Rock and Madlib.
Saturday, August 31
American jazz drummer starts off the day with a performance on the Blue Note Stage at 1 p.m. Equally important are performances from Derek Hodge with Color of Noize and Robert Glasper with Marsha Ambrosius. Furthermore, André 3000: New Blue Sun Live returns to the Estate Cave for three more performances. Of course, one of the premier highlights of the Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents The Black Radio Experience is John Legend. The 12-time Grammy Award winner will appear on the Blue Note Stage at 8: 30 p.m.
Sunday, September 1
The final day of the Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents The Black Radio Experience will feature Robert Glasper and Musiq Soulchild. However, you must not miss seeing legendary guitarist Nile Rodgers and Chic from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. That’s to say nothing of earlier acts like Christian McBride, Ledisi and Cimafunk. Thankfully, André 3000: New Blue Sun Live will command the stage at the Estate Cave.
Food and Wine
In addition to world-class music, the Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents The Black Radio Experience will offer gourmet food and wine. This includes representatives from Volcan tequila, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Monster Energy Drink. Don’t forget to visit the Black Vines Wine Garden, featuring premium wines from Black winemakers and vintners. For instance, you can sample wine from LVE by John Legend, Mom Juice and J. Moss, among others. Lastly, tickets are still available for the special Food, Wine & Cocktail Experiences, featuring leading chefs from the Bay Area and across the country. For example, Fernay McPherson, Daryl Bell, Kem Hughley and Joseph Paire will all host special Experiences at the festival.
About the Blue Note Jazz Festival
The Blue Note Jazz Festival is an annual jazz festival that’s hosted by the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. Held since 2011, the original event is typically held in June at several music venues across the city. In 2016, a new Blue Note Jazz Club opened in Napa. By 2022, a second Blue Note Jazz Festival was added in the Napa Valley Wine Country. Last year, the Napa festival brought in headliners like Mary J. Blige, Nas and Chance the Rapper. This year’s Black Radio Experience continues that legacy by celebrating from Black culture and its vital contributions.
Related: American Music Museums to Visit
About the Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University.