Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival announces 2020 lineup

The Rehoboth Beach Jazz festival may have just wrapped up a few months ago, but the event is already preparing for its 2020 swing. 

The 31st annual festival has already set records with their presale tickets. With a variety of classic acts like Blood, Sweat, and Tears and up-and-coming artists like Damien Escobar and 16-year-old pianist, Joey Alexander, the event continues to grow, bringing in around 15-to-20 thousand people every year, according to Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival President Dennis Santangini.

Since the early 1990s, the forefathers started the festival to bring in tourists during the offseason. Rehoboth began shutting down in October, so the Delaware Celebration of Jazz decided that would be the best time to start their concerts.

“What makes this event so special and upscale is Rehoboth,” Santangini said. “Other festivals don’t have the draw of the Boardwalk, ocean, and tax-free shopping in the vicinity. It’s an attraction in itself. We help fill the restaurants and hotels in the off season, and Rehoboth being such a great town helps.

The festival has quickly become one of the most prestigious jazz events in the United States. “Once an artist plays in Rehoboth, that’s another feather in their cap,” Santangini said. “It’s great for their advertisements and resumé, and that’s great for us.”

One of the biggest draws, other than the location, is the lineup itself. Santangini noted that the festival thought out of the box this year, bringing in new artists and different types of jazz. While jazz is an overall genre, there is a variety of subcategories within, and it’s important to hit all of those for the array of attendees.

The Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival is not just about the music. Proceeds go towards the Tunnel Cancer Center at Beebe Hospital and music education programs at surrounding schools.

The current lineup for the festival is listed below. For more information and ticket sales, visit rehobothjazz.com.

Thursday, Oct. 15

• Blood, Sweat and Tears with opening artist Vincent Ingala, 7:30 p.m. at the Cape Henlopen Performing Arts Center.

Friday, Oct. 16

• JJ Sansaverino, 12 p.m. at Dogfish Head Brewery (free admission)
• Damien Escobar with opening artist Eric Darius, 8 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church.
• Matt Marshak, 2:30 p.m. at Rusty Rudder Deck.
• Najee with opening artist Maysa, 9 p.m. at the Cape Henlopen Performing Arts Center.
• Brian Simpson and Marcus Anderson, 10 p.m. at the Rusty Rudder.

Saturday, Oct. 17

• Peter White and Euge Groove, 12:30 p.m. at the Cape Henlopen Performing Arts Center.
• Club Phred (free admission), 1 p.m. at the Rusty Rudder Deck.
• Marc Antione and Alex Bugnon, 2:30 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church.
• Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jazz All-Stars, 4 p.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.
• Mindi Abair and the Wild Hearts, 4 p.m. at the Rusty Rudder.
• The Rehoboth Beach All-Stars, 8 p.m. at the Cape Henlopen Performing Arts Center.
• Joey Alexander, 8 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church.
• Mindi Abair and the Wild Heart, 9 p.m. at the Rusty Rudder.
• Boney James, 9:30 p.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.

Sunday, Oct. 18

• Grand Jam, 3:30 p.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.
• Closing Party with buffet, 3:30 p.m. at the Rusty Rudder.