Fillmore Jazz Festival

Not that San Fran– isn’t already the BEEEZNEEEZ, …for shizzle my san frizzle’…but the Fillmore Jazz Festival just hands down placed this town within my fave– 5!!!
Okay — so this time last year, I flew down «Souf’» for a reunion and had to ditch family to attend the Essence Festival… While NOTHING compares to Naw’linz, the Fillmore Jazz Festival serves as ABSOLUTE competition and darned if it’s not held on the same (4^th of July) week annually!!!
Located on Fillmore between Jackson and Eddy, this affair seemingly attracts people in droves!!!
From Asian cuisine to Cajun and from pottery to painting, all that I can say is that I’m elated that I/​we had the chance to partake in something so lovely and believe it or not, it was all quite impromptu.
I mean, if Stella can get her groove back then I don’t see anything wrong with the hundreds of THOUSANDS of people getting their groove on at this place!
While home to a number of artist booths, the festival offers 12 inclined blocks of «free» festivities and I can’t help but think to myself (sighs…), this is sooo– not LA!!!
Whereas in Los Angeles, you’d drive up only to look for and then pay for parking, then admission and probably even be invoiced for the air you’re breathing, this event proved that fun can still be, well… FREE of charge!!!
While I love supporting local businesses (despite this not being local by any means), this gi’normous proceeding is just what some need to garner new business and/​or retain the old. That within itself is to be commended as well.
Extra prop’s to the cops providing «crowd control». Once again, unlike LA, where people tend to run rampant while unrestrained, the officers up this way were all the more laid back, completely befitting to the already serene atmosphere. A few of them posed for pictures and even gave us fist pounds! ;-)
Each block literally possessed its own music and theme and while saturated with both tourists and locals, the caliber and quality of those having attended was right up my alley.
What’s left to be stated???
Fillmore…I’d DEFINITELY like to FEEL MORE!!! Sadly, I/​we have to wait another darn year just to do so!

What a great festival! The Jazz artists were fantastic and the food vendors did a fabulous job! I had such a good time that I wrote about it in my food blog. You can read more in detail at

The feel is New Orleans, laid back and enjoy the music and the food. Each block has its own music. Lots of police walking around. Quite windy at certain points. In front of Extreme Pizza, I really liked the young lady playing the keyboard and singing with the guy on the trumpet. They were like 15 year old. Very impressive.

Ok greatest thing about this event is how massive it is! Every block seems to have a main stage, and all the performers were incredible. Each stage has a little turf set up in front of it so you can sit; perfect for kids and families. In addition to the stages, there are random DJs set up, and we walked by a funk band set up in a corner that had a crowd of over 100 people. Jazz, blues, funk, and even a little bit of latin music!
The vendors are pretty typical– jewelry, scarves, artwork, etc. Lots of food vendors (Kettle chips, Bear naked) handing out free samples.
Food– all the restaurants are open along Fillmore in addition to street food options. I had calamari and fries which was… ok. I may have settled too soon. My friend had shrimp and grits that seemed like a much better choice. Lots of BBQ but not many street food desserts options to my despair. That’s ok, Fillmore Bakeshop was wide open! A few different beer and wine vendors too which is always fun.
Even though there were tons of people, it wasn’t too hard to walk around, and I could always find a good view of the stage. A really great vibe– I’ll definitely be back next year.
There’s tons of residential parking on the next streets over which is another plus! If it wasn’t so windy I would have spent the whole day there.

For a free festival, this blew my expectations of how it was going to turn out. There were about 5 – 6 stages with different bands. It was packed with numerous people so I wouldn’t recommend coming here if you are anti social or agoraphobic. I came here on my birthday and it was a nice inexpensive way to spend the day.
Fillmore street is long and there were plenty of vendors to fill the space between the stages. A few from corporations but many were small businesses. I sampled many food related and skincare products. I bought some cherry flavored almonds and a couple bars of handmade soap. I received a few freebies from the corporation booths. There were plenty of brick and mortar stores for my friend and I to pop in and browse while taking a break from the busy street.
There were food tents but I didn’t eat anything. My friend dragged me away from them because of his aversion to veggie corndogs. From what I saw, there were some vegetarian options. However, you can always stop by one of the many restaurants along the street if you aren’t satisfied with what is available.
My friend was freaking out because of all the mascots running around. Two of them were the California brown bear and a silver gorilla playing some instruments. He kept yelling, «Who the Hell is underneath that?!» LOL.
We ended up exploring the whole street and both came to two favorites. I wish I could remember the two bands. Excellent music from both of them. The only negative was one of the stages featured a man singing covers of mainstream pop, rap, and hip hop radio music. It was really unnecessary and made no sense being present in a jazz festival.
I hope to be back for this upcoming jazz festival in memory of my friend.

if i can give it more stars i would. what a way to end the fourth of july weekend!!! its a must!

This is my absolute favorite street fair in San Francisco.
Held over the 4^th of July weekend each year, it’s a mix of artisan vendors, stellar jazz performances over four stages along a route stretching from Ellis to Jackson, and of course, the variety of street fair food.
The best reason to come is the Jazz Music!
Where else can you enjoy such a variety of music with the caliber of entertainment all for free. It’s fantastic.
With regards to the foods, I like:
New Orleans/​Cajun foods like the jambalaya, crawfish etoufee, gumbo.
Fresh fried Monterey calamari.
Sweet potato pie (!)
1300 Fillmore’s shrimp & grits (!!)
If you’re hankering for the sounds of what you might find in New Orleans (you know all the soul or funk or whatever), make it to the Ellis Street stage right by Yoshi’s. It’s the best.

Denise Perrier (et al) over at the Eddy Street stage are definitely worthy of more stars. She really inspired me to move… and isn’t that the point of jazz? As J.J. Johnson said, «Jazz is restless. It won’t stay put and it never will.» Between her sultry vocals and the awesome instrumentalists (especially that fierce saxophone player!), I was transported to the days of debutantes in West Egg, full of floating rounds of cocktails and twinkling lights.
However, listening to her was the only time I truly felt like I was at a JAZZ festival. I started at Eddy, and am glad I came back to and ended my afternoon at that point, because everything else was a commercial mess of excess. I must admit, I was disappointed to see SO MANY booths full of unnecessary material goods (though I appreciated some of the craft/​handmade/​smaller boutique ones), with just the tiniest pockets of music (not even jazz — I hardly think a DJ spinning Rihanna mashups can be considered jazz, even if I am RiRi’s #1 girl).
It was certainly fun walking through the 12 (!) blocks of festival, but it was mostly the same thing over and over (i.e., the aforementioned booths of STUFF) and a dearth of bebop and big band. Lots of people watching, cool stores and restaurants along the street, and even things for the kids… hello, bouncy castles! But I hope the next time I attend, there will be more real jazz, full of soulful notes and rich syncopation a la Denise Perrier and gang.

Awesome, awesome, awesome outdoor event! Here are my reasons why:
1. It takes up an entire street for miles! (12 blocks total)
2. IT’S FREEEEEEEEEEEEE
3. There are plenty of booze tents!
3.5 There are plenty of food tents!
4. The businesses up and down Fillmore St. remain open (and we know that that shops, banks, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, etc. are abundant on this major thoroughfare). You can feel free to pop in and out of them as you please if the street food and booze doesn’t float your boat.
5. There are plenty of music stages with patches of fake grass laid down. Smart people brought lawn chairs.
6. It celebrates a part of town that has a very rich history of jazz. Read about it here:
7. It’s an incredible excuse to get outside and appreciate the terrific NorCal weather we sometimes take for granted
8. 100,000 people will visit (that says something, right?!)

The music was not as good as in years past. Terri Odabi was one of the best though with her powerful voice. It seemed like there was less music in between booths. There were a lot of cool booths selling interesting and cool stuff, plenty of food, drinks and police presence in case. The farmer’s market area was a nice addition if you drove or live nearby. Regardless of years past, it’s still one of the best festivals in the bay area, though. San Francisco is always great people watching and some of the vendors excluding corporations have interesting stuff to sell or check out. There are a lot of great restaurants lining the street too if you’d like to sit down, drink, eat and use a real restroom.

Always a great event for us, the various bands, DJ and Food was great. We enjoyed this event with our kids this year (14) and (9) and they also had a great time. A good tip is to bring your own folding chair that way you can have a seat and enjoy the music in various areas as you stroll through the event. It is really fun for everyone with different styles of music.

Went Sunday. Music was on point. Vendors were on point and affordable. Felt fabulous walking amongst gorgeous people. Second time going and this year was Better than last. Damn these ladies were singing their butts off. Purchased some tanks, a ring, desserts and something else that I can’t recall… too Much fun

I have sold my photography here since 1987, and, though a great show in the past, it has really slid down hill I ver the past few years. The promoter, Restivo Events, tries hard to fill the show. And that is the problem– filling the show with more and more commercial booths, and buy/​sell junk. It used to be a quality art festival. Now it is diluted with not-​so-​unique items, Verizon, ATT, and other big business booths.
Fun for free music– not so free for the artists paying $ 600 – 1,200 per booth for low sales.

Excellent music on a lovely street. Some street vendors plus local stores and restaurants.
Parking nearby could be challenging but we found a metered parking space. The festival has food vendors on site also, but mostly fried food which smells great but is really greasy.

YES, San Francisco hosts some of the finest festivals in the Bay Area.
YES, they often have the best performers on stage.
YES, there are more vendors here than every other festival.
The downside is… it’s packed to the core. You move around like a cattle in an over populated ranch. San Francisco weather is like a Katy Perry song, your hot then your cold. And the food is always the same old thang… Saigon BBQ of bbq chicken on a skewer, noodles, fried rice, garlic fries and calamari. Boring! And the other thing that’s bothersome? You are NOT allowed to walk around the festival with an alcoholic beverage in your hand. You are confined into a white picket fenced, astro turf area to finish your Pinot Noir. Who wants to down their Pinot in such an unpleasant setting?
Okay, okay, I gotta stop ragging on this festival. There are great things about this festival. The music. If your into jazz, the music can really take you away and make your toes tap uncontrollable. But if your not there early enough, expect standing room only with little or no view of the performer. And being a tiny nerd… doesn’t help anyone. Can’t see a darn thing.
The only thing I like about this festival is that I get to go buy my macaroons at this bake shop on Fillmore Street. If I could, I would ditch this festival, but bigger forces prevent me from doing so… but you should know, you will get squished.

I don’t know if this is coincidental or planned, but I do find it interesting that the type of music is remarkably different north and south of Geary. There tends to be more old school type jazz above Geary as you head towards Pacific Heights and more hip-​hop south of Geary with DJ’s as you head towards Western Addition.
Tons of different food options, including the local merchants sponsoring their own ‘jazz’ festivities. One of the courtyards had a band and a make shift dance floor where couples were showing off their swing moves. There are general pens for alcohol consumption (beer and wine) but it seemed as if people can still walk around with it, especially since many of the establishments like the Jazz Heritage Center were selling it as well. The good weather also adds to the energy in the atmosphere. Great vibe and peeps!

Definitely one of the hit street festivals of the year! My bf and were walking past the farmer’s market on Fillmore when we noticed that there were WAY more booths than usual. I asked him, «Uhhhh, is it usually like this?» and he replied snarkily, «Yeah, it’s like this EVERY week. You’ve never seen it?»
Well I was pretty sure he was wrong at that point, but I just let him win at the moment and gave him a glare. Then we passed a huge flyer that said, «FILLMORE JAZZ FESTIVAL» and then I couldn’t help but shove it in his face, «SEE?!»
Anyyywayyy, this festival is awesome! Many huge jazz stages with top jazz artists. Chill beer and wine gardens everywhere. From street food vendors to free things like free Pinkberry, free Wonka ice cream, free Vitamin water, everything!
I ended up getting a falafel sandwich for $ 8 from the «Shawerma King» which wasn’t that good. My bf got a Banh Mi from an Asian booth for $ 4. As usual at street fairs, the food here is pretty overpriced and not that good for the price. But hey, how often can you get Diabetes inducing things like funnel cake and churros?! They definitely have your standard deep fried unhealthy foods and surprisingly MANY vegetarian options too! They had vegetarian corn dogs and other dishes with tempeh in them. Definitely a vegetarian friendly food fest :) Yayy!
Anyway, if you’re in the area when this festival comes around, be sure to check it out! Lots of free food with plenty of opportunities to get schwasted with some chilllll jazz music in the back.
Great way to spend a weekend morning :) But come early! It gets ridiculously packeeedd, and don’t even BOTHER trying to find parking. It’s like ridiculous.

Still one of my favorite street festivals in the city since it doesn’t cater to the drunken Marina masses as much as others, or the entertaining (but often equally offsetting) San Francisco party scene like Folsom Faire, Howard (How-​Wierd) Faire, or Castro.
Watched some from Wine Jar (great vantage point for the stage), and some from our friend’s deck overlooking the main stage at corner of Sutter/​Fillmore (intermixed with Dodge Beer, Cornhole and the Giants game like any true San Franciscans). Very impressed with the bands (although the variety spanned much more than the commonly accepted definition of «jazz»).
Naturally the food is $$$, but the food, especially the BBQ oysters were popular.
Still one of my favorites (and thank you Samsung for setting up the Galaxy s3 booth so I could demo yet another iPhone killer)

I was there when booths were still setting up :)
The location was great, the fact that buildings helped to shade some of the area/​festivities :) Especially since the booths at the events were in the closed off streets between buildings. That’s why there’s the minus ½ star. I know it’s not their fault. But the streets that had the thin barrier closing it off didn’t stop some of the cars from signaling/​speeding/​turning into the closed streets… yea, we got a lot of people honking at pedestrians because they were trying to turn on closed streets thinking the pedestrians were blocking their way.
Also another minus ½ because of all the homeless/​bums there… I know that SF had a lot of them, but it’s a lot more annoying when you have to hold onto your purse and money really tight because they are eyeing your money… don’t get me wrong, cops were everywhere but their backs are turned to look at the stage performers, not the booths. Why? Because a homeless man that constantly came back to the same spot near this booth ended up reaching over and grabbing their money when they went to get an order for a customer. The lady working did yell «Oh my god, the money’s stolen.» We also heard her say that it was about $ 500. I believe her, the food was pretty damn expensive at the festival…
:) The music and random people dancing around was cool. Food was highly expensive but great. First of all, if you are paying $ 8 – 10 for a plate and complain that the food isn’t that great or too little, you’re going to the wrong booth!
:) There are booths for the same price, same food (different companies though) that gives WAY MORE food than others. :) hunt them down for a good amount of yummie food. There’s people doing ballon animals for the children as well, and find the vitamin water guys in the red shirt. :) you’ll get a free small bottle of drink: D …
** cool thing is, it’s at the Fillmore, not so far around the corner will you not see… JAPANTOWN! ** :D

«Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without». — Confucius
Music brings people together. We share the same emotions, same joy, same happiness that only music can give us.
At the Fillmore Jazz Festival, even a guy with to left feet like myself wanted to «put on my my my my boogie shoes». I couldn’t help but smile. The joy derived from great music is contagious. I heard some classic Marvin Gaye, Brownstone, songs I grew up listening to.
Then I saw a few older couples dancing. I saw tap dancing. How can you not love that? I think even if a person came to the Jazz Festival in a bad mood, they will leave in a good mood. Music has a way of soothing the soul.
I don’t care if you are old school, new school, or no school at all. With great music, dancing, weather, FOOD, and people, everybody leaves the Fillmore Jazz Festival a winner.
To the Jazz Festival and to my friend Double M:
«You are the perfect verse over a tight beat». –Brown Sugar

JAZZ, HIPHOP, JAZZ!!!
(5 stars)
I love street festivals. Jazz Festival is up and down Filmore (many many and many blocks) of food, music (live jazz), crafts, and arts. And the crowd, not judgemental yahknow mature and all, older crowd, and (finally) my kind of people — colored people. Every block was a stage of performers. There was even a Hawaiian band that had a 30 minute set. The beauty of the event were seeing older couples dressed in their gear and dancing together to the live jazz bands. I hope whoever my hustand is and I are like that when we’re old. Such an awesome event. Packed, but awesome.
HEFFER-​STYLE STATUS.
**SEE PICTURES**
DEEP FRIED KOOL-​AID ($ 5) — Fried delicious goodness. the stand is posted towards the bottom of Filmore. CRACKIN. never had anything like it. It was like fried batter (donut holes) that had a hint of kool-​aid of the flavor chosen (grape or cherry). GO FOR GRAPE. and then a side of thick kool-​aid like glaze for dipping. It was SO good.
FRIED ZUCHINI — there are several stands that are selling this; got my fix at the top end of filmore. It was more of the «healthy» take of fried foods. Suprised how it tasted after the first bite and loved it. Trying to attempt this at home one day.
One of close friends and I were just walking around aimlessly (with our liquor) and he ran into his oldskool friend and his friends. Group of 2 became group of 13. We found ourselves inside Rasselas Jazz Club in mid-​day because it seemed to be the cracking spot. Hiphop, 90’s, jazz, reggae, all great stuff being played. Alot of people were just jamming inside and were squeezed ourselves in, had a few shots, and jammed to the music. It was totally like a day party on Filmore. We had our own «brown» corner in the club. Nobody hating, everyone getting along and having a great time. LOVE THAT ABOUT SF COMMUNITY!!!
Thank you for a fun filled Saturday =)
Will I be back? Cannot wait until next yr.
JABA APPROVED… Until the next review…