Indy Jazz Fest returns next month, featuring a lineup of musical icons and innovators — and tickets go on sale July 11.
Presented by Citizens Energy Group, Indy Jazz Fest is the premier event of the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation — celebrating the history and legacy of jazz music in Indianapolis since 1996. The annual festival brings local, national and international artists together on a handful of intimate stages throughout the city, culminating in a Grand Finale, headlined by Brian Culbertson, Terence Blanchard, Nicole Henry and the Indy Jazz Fest All-stars at the Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park on Sept. 20.
“Indy Jazz Fest is excited to once again feature a collection of performers from international stars to Indy-based treasures,” David Allee, director of Indy Jazz Fest, said in a statement. “We strive to program a wide selection of styles under the ‘jazz’ umbrella, appealing to many demographics throughout the community, and encourage people to use this opportunity to experience perennial favorites and explore new sounds.”
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Indy Jazz Fest is bringing back its “All Around Town” model again this year with the Sunset Series. Beginning Sept. 9, an intimate line-up of night concerts will take over The Jazz Kitchen and The Cabaret stages, featuring “world-class jazz performers and an up-close listening experience,” according to a press release.
Indy Jazz Fest 2025 Schedule
Sunset Series: Kenny Garrett — $30-$60
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
Sept. 9-10 | 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Kenny Garrett, saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master, kicks off the Indy Jazz Fest Sunset Series with a dynamic performance playing straight-ahead, gospel and global rhythms.
Sunset Series: Charlie & The Tropicales — $25-$40
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
Sept. 12 | 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Charlie and The Tropicales join Grammy Award-winning vocalist and violinist Mireya Ramos of Flor de Toloache for a take on “New Orleans music done rocksteady,” classic cumbias and traditional calypsos and other melodies from Cuba, Trinidad and Venezuela.
Naptown Block Party — $50
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
Sept. 13 | 5-11 p.m.
Highlighting Indy’s established and emerging talent, the Naptown Block Party features one-off performances from Hoosier favorites on two stages throughout the night.
Jazz Meets Samba: An Afro Brazilian Journey — $30-$60
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
Sept. 14 | 6 p.m.
Presented by IU Africana Studies, Magary Lord, Juliana Ribeiro and Lasana Kazembe bring audiences an evening exploring the intersections of sound, celebrating the Afro-Brazilian roots of samba alongside the Rob Dixon Quintet.
Sunset Series: Indianapolis Jazz Collective — $24-$50
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
Sept. 16 | 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Led by Indy Jazz Fest Artistic Director Rob Dixon, the Indianapolis Jazz Collective welcomes guest soloists to the Jazz Kitchen stage.
Sunset Series: Brandee Younger — $30-$60
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
Sept. 17 | 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Known for “revolutionizing the harp for the digital era,” Grammy-nominated harpist Brandee Younger seamlessly blends sound across musical genres.
Sunset Series: Gunhild Carling — $
The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite B
Sept. 17 | 8 p.m.
Known for her mastery of vintage jazz, Swedish musician and performer Gunhild Carling brings a variety of musical talent and skill to the Cabaret Stage.
Sunset Series: Keyon Harrold — $35-$55
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
Sept. 19 | 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and vocalist Keyon Harrold presents audiences with a genre-defying sound, seamlessly blending elements of jazz, hip-hop, soul and R&B.
Indy Jazz Fest Grand Finale — $55+
Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
Sept. 20 | Gates open at 3 p.m.
The 2025 Indy Jazz Fest comes to a close with headlining, award-winning artists such as Brian Culbertson, Terence Blanchard and the E-Collective, and Nicole Henry with the Indy Jazz Fest All-Stars.
Ticketing
Tickets for all Indy Jazz Fest events go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on July 11 and are available at indyjazzfest.net.
Tickets for Sunset Series events are also available on each host venue site, including thecabaret.org and thejazzkitchen.com. Tickets for the Indy Jazz Fest Grand Finale on Sept. 20 are also available at ticketmaster.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
