Next Friday, the 12th annual Montavilla Jazz Festival (MJF) will kick off a weekend full of 26 featured concerts in five venues across the neighborhood and locations in Portland’s Eastside. The three-day celebration of musical artistry starts on Friday, August 29th, and runs through Sunday, the 31st, featuring free-donation-based and paid ticketed events. Each year, MJF brings music fans of all ages to the neighborhood and expands Portlanders’ appreciation for jazz.

The yearly late summer music programming spans indoor venues and outdoor locations such as Mt. Tabor Caldera Amphitheater and Montavilla’s SE 79th Avenue Street Plaza. The MJF website has a detailed list of event locations, times, and links to secure tickets or reservations when necessary. Portland Metro Arts at SE 90th Avenue and Stark Street will present two nights of performances, with The 1905 and Alberta Rose Theatre hosting additional MJF performances.

Thanks to Prosper Portland’s Scale Up Grant in 2024, MJF leaders say the festival doubled attendance with more than twice the number of performances as the previous year. They hope that trend will continue with a second year of grant support. MJF is the only Portland festival focused on original music from the city’s jazz artists. Performances will feature the rising stars and creative artists connected to Portland.

MJF now offers a three-tiered pass system for concerts in Montavilla. A free with donation “Tabor Village Weekend” grants attendees access to four concerts over two nights at Mt. Tabor Park’s Caldera Amphitheater, and six SoundsTruck NW Stage concerts at the Montavilla Plaza on SE 79th Avenue and Stark Street. People purchasing the “Jazz Adventure” pass can use an MJF Shuttle running from the park through Montavilla to the Plaza and Portland Metro Arts. The up to $249 “VIP Experience” pass grants seating and parking perks. Additional concerts, ticketed individually, will take place at the Alberta Rose Theatre and The 1905.

For the third year, MJF honors the late Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish’s contribution to the city’s jazz community by presenting an award in his name. On August 31st, presenters will deliver this year’s Nick Fish Jazz Community Award to bandleader, broadcaster, and percussionist Nick Gefroh. The city’s jazz community credits Gefroh with starting the first Latin Jazz band in Portland and significantly shaping the regional jazz landscape.

People interested in attending should look at the event schedule and secure their access. All festival events require passes for entry. Everyone in the neighborhood should plan for a busier weekend around event locations starting on August 29th. Check with local businesses offering MJF specials around the festival, as some will host DJs and late-night sets.

Correction: An earlier version of this article indicated that it was taking place this Friday instead of the following Friday, August 29th. Montavilla News regrets this error.