Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival Returns In 2025—Here’s When

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Music lovers, mark your calendars: the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival is tuning up for a return to the Green later this summer.

This year’s annual festival will take place as a one-day event on August 16, from noon to 10 p.m. on the Morristown Green.

Continuing a tradition started in recent years, the festival will pay tribute to two of its beloved founders, Linda Smith and Michael Fabrizio, who passed away in June 2021. Headlining the free, daylong event is Grammy-nominated blues singer and guitarist Samantha Fish, who is expected to draw thousands to Morristown.

Fish is a powerhouse in the blues world, with multiple honors to her name—including Blues Music Awards, Blues Blast Awards, 22 Independent Blues Awards, and 13 Offbeat 'Best of the Beat' Awards. A Grammy nominee and regular feature on SiriusXM’s Bluesville Radio, she continues to earn acclaim for her guitar work and vocals.

This year’s lineup also includes Dani G and Friends, a talented jazz group featuring Grammy-nominated saxophonist John Michalak. At 2 p.m., the U.S. Army’s Jazz Ambassadors Big Band will take the stage, performing swing classics by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman. They’ll be followed by New Jersey’s top blues band, Blues People, and then the soulful King Solomon Hicks.

This year, the festival returns to its roots, returning to its traditional date on the third Saturday of August after a few years in September.

“We are excited to be back in August,” Mayor Tim Dougherty said. “From vibrant jazz to soulful blues, there is something for every music lover. It’s no wonder that we attract fans from far beyond the metro area -- people come from all over the country and even internationally. We are deeply thankful to our generous sponsors for making this amazing Festival a reality!”

Since its debut in 2011, the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival has become a beloved end-of-summer tradition, drawing top musicians and thousands of fans to the area. The event also benefits local businesses, with many nearby restaurants, hotels, and shops offering special deals for festival-goers.

Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to relax while enjoying the music.

Here’s the lineup for this year’s festival:

• 12 p.m. – Dani G and Friends
• 2 p.m. – The Jazz Ambassadors
• 4 p.m. – Blues People
• 6 p.m. – King Solomon Hicks
• 8 p.m. – Samantha Fish

Sponsors for this year’s festival include Morristown Municipal Airport, Bijou Properties, Hampshire Co. LLC, Inglesino Webster, M-Station Urban Renewal Associates, Deloitte, Headquarters Plaza/Second Roc Jersey Associates, Jeff Rawding AIA, Uma Flowers, the Morristown Parking Authority, Trustees of the Morristown Green, and the Best Western Plus/Morristown Inn.