The Savannah Music Festival (SMF)—known for its unique mix of jazz, classical, American and global roots music programming presented in venues across Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District—is pleased to announce its 2025 festival lineup, which will run from Thursday, March 27 through Saturday, April 12, 2025.

“In 2025, programming continues to lean into the intersection of roots music from around the world, grounded in traditions from the southeastern United States,” says Savannah Music Festival Artistic Director Ryan McMaken. “Additionally, we are fortunate to work with and present world-renowned classical artists from across North America and Europe, in addition to a wide-ranging series of acclaimed artists in jazz.”

Highlights of the 2025 festival lineup include theater shows with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Angélique Kidjo, Warren Haynes Band, Branford Marsalis Quartet, Marcus King, Shovels & Rope / Langhorne Slim, Taj Mahal Quintet and others, dance programs with BalletCollective and Step Afrika!, and the six-concert Philip Dukes & Friends chamber series. 

Classical luminaries abound, including Danish String Quartet, Julia Fischer & Jan Lisiecki, Michelle Cann and a co-production with Savannah VOICE Festival celebrating the 60th anniversary of Sherrill Milnes’ Metropolitan Opera debut. A variety of acclaimed jazz artists will be making a stop in Savannah including Lakecia Benjamin, Emmet Cohen and New Jazz Underground, Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedrito Martínez, Endea Owens & the Cookout, Edmar Castañeda Quartet, Catherine Russell & Sean Mason, Allison Miller’s “Rivers In Our Veins” and Jenny Scheinman’s “All Species Parade.”

International roots music remains a mainstay in 2025, including the return of DakhaBrakha from Ukraine and Anda Union from Mongolia, and the debut of the southern Italian traditional group Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, Kiki Valera y su Son Cubano, Irish trad trio Cillian Vallely, David Doocey and Alan Murray, and the 30th anniversary of the Irish-American powerhouse Solas. Mali meets France with Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto, plus South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo will make a return appearance.

In American roots music, bluegrass projects include a co-bill featuring International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2024 New Artist of the Year Award winner East Nash Grass and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, a new collaboration between fiddle phenoms Michael Cleveland and Jason Carter, and a celebration of Hazel Dickens’ musical legacy by all-female ensemble Della Mae with special guests Laurie Lewis and Dickens’ longtime collaborator Alice Gerrard. Cajun music champions BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet make their festival debut in their 50th anniversary season, heartland singer-songwriter John Moreland plays District Live, jamgrass pioneers Leftover Salmon perform at Victory North on opening night, Victor Wooten & the Wooten Brothers make their festival debut, American stringband Hawktail teams up with the Swedish group Väsen on a bill with Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky, Texas country/rockabilly hero Junior Brown plays closing weekend, and the great Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas play the annual Zydeco Dance Party. 

The 2025 Encounters Series encompasses artist talks, documentary film, Q&As and lecture/demonstrations, and begins with DakhaBrakha’s Borscht Workshop on the eve of the festival on March 26, 2025. At this event, a family recipe for borscht will be prepared and explained, while ensemble members sing traditional Ukrainian folk music. Additional Encounters activities will be announced in advance of the festival season. 

 TICKET INFORMATION/DISCOUNTS/EXPLORER PASSES

Savannah Music Festival tickets start at $39 and can be purchased online at savannahmusicfestival.org, by phone at 912.525.5050 or in person at the Savannah Box Office, located at 216 E. Broughton St. 

Tickets go on sale on Friday, November 22 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets to Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit on April 12, 2025 at the Johnny Mercer Theater must be purchased through the Civic Center Box Office (https://www.savannahcivic.com/johnny-mercer-theatre), throughTicketmaster, or in-person at the Civic Center or Enmarket Arena Box Office..

In addition to discounts for students, military, educators and seniors, Savannah Music Festival offers discounts for purchases of tickets to more than three concerts (5% off), more than five concerts (10% off) or more than 10 concerts (15% off). Tickets to most classical concerts are available to patrons age 40 or younger for a discounted rate of $20.

Thanks to the generous support of the Wall Lynch Family, Savannah Music Festival will bring back the successful Explorer Pass program, which offers all Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools students and a family member or chaperone free tickets to general admission Savannah Music Festival performances.