The 2008 Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival is pleased to announce its initial slate of bookings for this year’s event, which promises to deliver swinging music throughout Fernandina Beach, FL from October 5-12.  World-renowned tenor saxophonist and Swing Bros. recording artist Harry Allen will highlight the performances during the weeklong festival, where fans will enjoy a kaleidoscope of styles ranging from traditional New Orleans jazz and big band swing to Bebop and Latin themes. 

Additional acts set include the popular Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band, Brazilian sounds from Jeff Rupert & Dirty Martini with vocalist Michelle Amato, the infectious salsa of Latino Impacto, the 19 piece U.S.Navy Big Band Southeast, hot Dixieland from The Spare Rib Six, and The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band, featuring Bonnie Eisele. 

Nightly jam sessions will follow each of the evening shows, and a complete schedule will be announced soon. A not for profit corporation, the 2008 festival will also distribute proceeds towards a scholarship program to fund college educations for aspiring jazz musicians. And as it has done in previous years, the event will schedule educational programs and workshops at area schools and senior centers throughout the week.

“The festival concept,” said Creative Director Les DeMerle, “is to bring great jazz talent to Amelia Island, and this year we are excited about establishing our scholarship program, which will complement the educational forums already in place.”  Increasingly, the festival has attracted tourists to this quiet N. Florida beach town. 

"We're very excited about the lineup for this year's Jazz Festival," said Gil Langley, Managing Director of the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council. "The festival is a major event for the island. Each year it gets better, offering both educational opportunities for young people and unsurpassed entertainment for jazz fans."

For more information, please contact the Festival Hotline at (904) 504-4772

Or visit our website: www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com