About the Festival
We're returning this May to downtown Indiana!
The free jazz and blues festival annually features a lineup that includes nationally and internationally known artists, regional acts, and student musicians playing in a classic American small town.
The inaugural festival was attended by over 1,200 people. Festival headliners have included blues guitarist Sonny Landreth, the Poogie Bell Band featuring trumpeter Sean Jones, The New Mastersounds, Elevations with special guest Warren Wolf, Richie Cole, Jevon Rushton, Trudy Lynn, Reggie Watkins, and Joanna Connor.
Subsequent editions have showcased acts such as:
• Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Famer Dwayne Dolphin and multiple Blues Music Award winner Vanessa Collier (2019);
• Pittsburgh’s Lady of the Blues Miss Freddye and jazz sextet Firm Roots (2021);
• award-winning composer, drummer and percussionist Hugo Cruz and Brooklyn-based six-piece psychedelic soul band Gentleman Brawlers (2022);
• Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon and Late Show drummer Joe Saylor;
• five-time Blues Music Award winner John Németh (2024).
For its 2025 edition, the Westsylvania Jazz and Blues Festival (WJBF) will partner with the inaugural Westsylvania Arts Fest (WAF).
The events will be held concurrently Memorial Day Weekend in downtown Indiana. Admission will remain free of charge.
WAF is a collaboration among the Indiana Arts Association, the Artists Hand Gallery, the Fox Clark Gallery, and WJBF’s parent organization, the Indiana Arts Council.
Live jazz and blues performances, slated for May 24, will be enhanced by:
• Juried visual artist booths featuring fine arts and novel crafts
• An open arts exhibition with awards for excellence, including a “people’s choice award"
• Hands-on workshops and participatory events for artists of various experience levels
The steering committee continues to include representation from jazz quintet the Dad Band—founders of WJBF, and the Indiana arts and business communities. It is supported by a generous donation from Delaney Chevrolet of Indiana, Pennsylvania, and by community and regional partnerships, corporate sponsors and individual patrons.
Contact Us
Steering Committee
Chair
Dave Ferguson
dfergusn@iup.edu
Committee
Matt Baumer
Cate Planisky
Judy Holliday
Chuck Olson
Linda Mitchell
Heather Link
Zachery Karcher
Tracy Levitz