From Sept. 3rd through the 8th, the luxurious Grand Wailea transforms into a haven (heaven?) for the soulful rumblings of the blues and the almost mathematical precision of jazz. That’s when the Maui Jazz & Blues Festival plays, sways, and sings itself onto the resort’s gorgeous grounds.
Although it’s only the third installment, the fest is already an, ahem, hit, having sold out in its first two iterations. Translation: you need to get your tickets – fast.
There are a variety of different ways to experience the fest and a number of different pricing tiers, with some events, such as the Jazz & Blues Sneak Peak from 7 – 9 p.m. Sept. 6, charging absolutely nothing. So be sure to research all your different options and find out what works best for you.
That said, we’re not going to leave you hanging like the last note on a Coltrane solo. So here are the basics for the official Festival Night Sept. 7, when an all-star roster of musicians takes the stage. Although it appears that the 10-person VIP package (which includes front row seats and your own wait staff for $1,000) is only available on Sept. 5, single VIP ($100) and general admission ($50) tickets are still available for Festival Night.
But like we said: get ‘em fast.
Highlights on that evening include “King of the Accordion” Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers; Delfeao Marsalis, son of the first family of contemporary jazz; and Hawaii’s own Paula Fuga, who’s performed with superstars such as Ziggy Marley and Jack Johnson.
But don’t let yourself get too hung up on that night, if you can’t make it or didn’t buy tickets in time (for shame!). There’s still plenty going on.
One housekeeping note: the fest organizers don’t allow you to bring chairs and coolers nor outside food and beverages.
