Major Music Events in St. Louis

MAJOR MUSIC EVENTS IN ST. LOUIS

St. Louis and music share a special connection.

Located at the crossroads of the country, St. Louis soaked up the diverse assortment of musical styles and sounds that traveled to, from, and through the area. When the earliest forms of the blues migrated north from their birthplace in Mississippi Delta, they melded with the ragtime strains popular in St. Louis at the time, and the result is a sound known as the St. Louis blues. In fact, W. C. Handy's immortal "St. Louis Blues" went on to become the most recorded blues song in history, and American music icons like Chuck Berry, Ike & Tina Turner, Albert King, and Little Milton honed their craft here, then took music into a dizzying array of directions.

Today, music remains an integral part of the St. Louis scene. Whether it's blues, jazz, ragtime or rock ' n' roll, you'll find it here in St. Louis. Here's a look at some of St. Louis' best annual music events:

Rosebud Ball
Mid-February
Scott Joplin State Historic Site

An evening of live ragtime music featuring local artists in the re-created Rosebud Café. The café is next-door to the historic home where ragtime great Scott Joplin wrote many of his significant pieces. 314-340-5790, www.mostateparks.com/scottjoplin.htm

Soulard Mardi Gras
Mid-February to early March
Soulard Neighborhood

It's 11 days of fun, frivolity, parades, beads and more during St. Louis' annual Mardi Gras celebration. On the Saturday prior to Fat Tuesday, the historic Soulard neighborhood comes alive with the Grand Parade, and a post-parade party that includes national and local bands performing live in the streets.
314-771-5110, http://www.mardigrasinc.com/

Sounds at the Station
Every third Thursday, April - September
St. Louis Union Station

A free concert series held on the third Thursday of each month from April - September. Local bands perform under the historic Train Shed at St. Louis Union Station and the music is an eclectic mix at this popular outdoor cocktail party. 314-421-6655, www.stlouisunionstation.com

Twilight Tuesdays
Tuesday nights, May - mid-June
Missouri History Museum

Free, outdoor concerts held 6:30 - 8: 30 p.m. on the front lawn of the Missouri History Museum. Concerts moved indoors during inclement weather. While the series features all types of music, the emphasis is on blues and jazz.
314-746-4599, www.mohistory.org

Rib America Festival
Memorial Day Weekend
Soldier's Memorial Plaza

Held in downtown St. Louis, "Rib Fest" features four days of barbecue and hot national bands ranging from rock and oldies hits to blues and R&B. Headliners have included such bands as Buddy Guy, Cowboy Mouth, KC & The Sunshine Band, .38 Special and many others. 314-622-4550, www.ribamerica.com

U.S. Bank St. Louis Jazz Festival
Early June
Shaw Park

Jazz fest is a day-long event featuring nationally known jazz artists in the relaxed, yet elegant setting of Shaw Park in nearby Clayton. Headliners have included Cassandra Wilson, Dr. John, the Neville Brothers, and more.
314-863-0278, www.saintlouisjazzfest.com

Blues on the Mississippi/Oldies on the River
Friday and Saturday evenings in June
Jefferson Barracks County Park

Under-the-stars concert series featuring local blues bands on Friday nights, switching to live oldies bands on Saturday nights. The venue is historic Jefferson Barracks, site of the country's first major military installation west of the Mississippi, and the concerts a laid-back affair with lawn seating.
314-615-0305, www.stlouisco.com/parks

Whitaker Jazz Festival
Wednesday evenings, June - mid-August
Missouri Botanical Garden

Six Wednesdays of cool jazz on warm summer nights under the stars. The free concerts feature a variety of artists performing after-hours concerts in the beautiful surroundings of the renowned Missouri Botanical Garden.
314-577-9400, http://www.mobot.org/

Sunday Serenades/Musical Mondays
June-August, Sunday and Monday evenings
Compton Heights Concert Band

The Compton Heights Concert Band performs Sunday Serenades evenings at Francis Park in Southwest St. Louis, and Musical Mondays at the bandstand in historic Tower Grove Park. This Sousa-style band performs marches, show tunes, Broadway hits and more. 314-776-2227, www.chband.org

Fair Saint Louis
July
St. Louis Riverfront

On July 4th, St. Louis celebrates the nation's birthday with a free blow-out bash underneath the Gateway Arch. In addition to free concerts from nationally-known artists like Coldplay, Joss Stone, and Hootie & The Blowfish, there's plenty of food and beverage options and a spectacular fireworks display.
314-434-3434, www.celebratestlouis.org

Live on the Levee
July - early August
St. Louis Riverfront

After the fair, the Live on the Levee weekend concert series kicks off, with free shows - and more fireworks - on Friday and Saturday nights through early August. 314-434-3434, www.celebratestlouis.org

Big Muddy Blues Festival
Labor Day Weekend
Laclede's Landing

St. Louis' only blues festival takes place each year on Laclede's Landing, a historic district along the Mississippi River. National and local bands perform on multiple outdoor stages throughout the afternoons and evenings of the two-day event. 314-241-5875, www.lacledeslanding.com

Taste of St. Louis
Late September
Downtown St. Louis

This three-day celebration of food, fun, music and art. Held in the heart of downtown, "Taste" includes a battle of the bands competition, an art village, restaurant row, an "Iron Chef" competition, and free concerts from bands like The Radiators, Soul Asylum, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Bowling for Soup, and Puddle of Mudd. 314-306-1162, www.tastestl.com

Great Music in a Great Space
October - March
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

The Saint Louis Cathedral Concert Series presents a series of classical and sacred music concerts, featuring nationally and internationally known vocalists and musicians. The performances take place in the grandeur of St. Louis' "New Cathedral," which is renowned for its collection of mosaics. 314-533-7662, www.stlcathedralconcerts.org

In addition to all of these music-related events, St. Louis is home to some of the best theater and performing arts organizations in the country. For more information about performances by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (http://www.slso.org/), Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (http://www.opera-stl.org/), or concerts at the acoustically-perfect Sheldon Concert Hall (http://www.sheldonconcerthall.org/), visit our Calendar of Events section at http://www.explorestlouis.com/, or check out the Music, Dance & Theater news release in the Web site's media section. There you'll also find info on the diverse collection of theatre companies, and performing arts opportunities throughout the bi-state region.

Updated: May 29, 2008

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	Your readers should call 1-800-916-0040 (USA and Canada) or 1-314-421-1023 for a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitors Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis online at www.explorestlouis.com
	MAJOR MUSIC EVENTS IN ST. LOUIS St. Louis and music share a special connection. Located at the crossroads of the country, St. Louis soaked up the diverse assortment of musical styles and sounds that traveled to, from, and through the area. When the earliest forms of the blues migrated north from their birthplace in Mississippi Delta, they melded with the ragtime strains popular in St. Louis at the time, and the result is a sound known as the St. Louis blues. In fact, W. C. Handy's immortal "St. Louis Blues" went on to become the most recorded blues song in history, and American music icons like Chuck Berry, Ike & Tina Turner, Albert King, and Little Milton honed their craft here, then took music into a dizzying array of directions. Today, music remains an integral part of the St. Louis scene. Whether it's blues, jazz, ragtime or rock ' n' roll, you'll find it here in St. Louis. Here's a look at some of St. Louis' best annual music events: Rosebud Ball Mid-February Scott Joplin State Historic Site An evening of live ragtime music featuring local artists in the re-created Rosebud Café. The café is next-door to the historic home where ragtime great Scott Joplin wrote many of his significant pieces. 314-340-5790, www.mostateparks.com/scottjoplin.htm Soulard Mardi Gras Mid-February to early March Soulard Neighborhood It's 11 days of fun, frivolity, parades, beads and more during St. Louis' annual Mardi Gras celebration. On the Saturday prior to Fat Tuesday, the historic Soulard neighborhood comes alive with the Grand Parade, and a post-parade party that includes national and local bands performing live in the streets. 314-771-5110, http://www.mardigrasinc.com/ Sounds at the Station Every third Thursday, April - September St. Louis Union Station A free concert series held on the third Thursday of each month from April - September. Local bands perform under the historic Train Shed at St. Louis Union Station and the music is an eclectic mix at this popular outdoor cocktail party. 314-421-6655, www.stlouisunionstation.com Twilight Tuesdays Tuesday nights, May - mid-June Missouri History Museum Free, outdoor concerts held 6:30 - 8: 30 p.m. on the front lawn of the Missouri History Museum. Concerts moved indoors during inclement weather. While the series features all types of music, the emphasis is on blues and jazz. 314-746-4599, www.mohistory.org Rib America Festival Memorial Day Weekend Soldier's Memorial Plaza Held in downtown St. Louis, "Rib Fest" features four days of barbecue and hot national bands ranging from rock and oldies hits to blues and R&B. Headliners have included such bands as Buddy Guy, Cowboy Mouth, KC & The Sunshine Band, .38 Special and many others. 314-622-4550, www.ribamerica.com U.S. Bank St. Louis Jazz Festival Early June Shaw Park Jazz fest is a day-long event featuring nationally known jazz artists in the relaxed, yet elegant setting of Shaw Park in nearby Clayton. Headliners have included Cassandra Wilson, Dr. John, the Neville Brothers, and more. 314-863-0278, www.saintlouisjazzfest.com Blues on the Mississippi/Oldies on the River Friday and Saturday evenings in June Jefferson Barracks County Park Under-the-stars concert series featuring local blues bands on Friday nights, switching to live oldies bands on Saturday nights. The venue is historic Jefferson Barracks, site of the country's first major military installation west of the Mississippi, and the concerts a laid-back affair with lawn seating. 314-615-0305, www.stlouisco.com/parks Whitaker Jazz Festival Wednesday evenings, June - mid-August Missouri Botanical Garden Six Wednesdays of cool jazz on warm summer nights under the stars. The free concerts feature a variety of artists performing after-hours concerts in the beautiful surroundings of the renowned Missouri Botanical Garden. 314-577-9400, http://www.mobot.org/ Sunday Serenades/Musical Mondays June-August, Sunday and Monday evenings Compton Heights Concert Band The Compton Heights Concert Band performs Sunday Serenades evenings at Francis Park in Southwest St. Louis, and Musical Mondays at the bandstand in historic Tower Grove Park. This Sousa-style band performs marches, show tunes, Broadway hits and more. 314-776-2227, www.chband.org Fair Saint Louis July St. Louis Riverfront On July 4th, St. Louis celebrates the nation's birthday with a free blow-out bash underneath the Gateway Arch. In addition to free concerts from nationally-known artists like Coldplay, Joss Stone, and Hootie & The Blowfish, there's plenty of food and beverage options and a spectacular fireworks display. 314-434-3434, www.celebratestlouis.org Live on the Levee July - early August St. Louis Riverfront After the fair, the Live on the Levee weekend concert series kicks off, with free shows - and more fireworks - on Friday and Saturday nights through early August. 314-434-3434, www.celebratestlouis.org Big Muddy Blues Festival Labor Day Weekend Laclede's Landing St. Louis' only blues festival takes place each year on Laclede's Landing, a historic district along the Mississippi River. National and local bands perform on multiple outdoor stages throughout the afternoons and evenings of the two-day event. 314-241-5875, www.lacledeslanding.com Taste of St. Louis Late September Downtown St. Louis This three-day celebration of food, fun, music and art. Held in the heart of downtown, "Taste" includes a battle of the bands competition, an art village, restaurant row, an "Iron Chef" competition, and free concerts from bands like The Radiators, Soul Asylum, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Bowling for Soup, and Puddle of Mudd. 314-306-1162, www.tastestl.com Great Music in a Great Space October - March Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis The Saint Louis Cathedral Concert Series presents a series of classical and sacred music concerts, featuring nationally and internationally known vocalists and musicians. The performances take place in the grandeur of St. Louis' "New Cathedral," which is renowned for its collection of mosaics. 314-533-7662, www.stlcathedralconcerts.org In addition to all of these music-related events, St. Louis is home to some of the best theater and performing arts organizations in the country. For more information about performances by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (http://www.slso.org/), Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (http://www.opera-stl.org/), or concerts at the acoustically-perfect Sheldon Concert Hall (http://www.sheldonconcerthall.org/), visit our Calendar of Events section at http://www.explorestlouis.com/, or check out the Music, Dance & Theater news release in the Web site's media section. There you'll also find info on the diverse collection of theatre companies, and performing arts opportunities throughout the bi-state region. Updated: May 29, 2008 ###
	MEDIA NOTE: For more information or photography of St. Louis, send an e-mail to pr@explorestlouis.com or call Becky Sharp at 1-314-992-0652. For up-to-date information about St. Louis, your readers should call the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at 1-800-916-0040 or check out our website at www.explorestlouis.com. This news release is also available in electronic form. To obtain an electronic version, e-mail your request to pr@explorestlouis.com or go to St. Louis’ online media center at www.explorestlouis.com/media.