The Durango Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival is an annual event in beautiful Durango, CO, featuring the world’s greatest ragtime and traditional jazz musicians. We celebrate American musical heritage with ragtime, blues, early jazz, stride, novelty, boogie woogie, and so much more!
We descend upon the beautiful mountain town of Durango, Colorado, for four days of concerts, silent movies, seminars, after hours jam parties, and much more. All events will take place at the Durango Arts Center and the Historic Strater Hotel, only two blocks apart. The Diamond Belle Saloon is one of the most ideal venues for this type of music in the country, and the DAC has a gorgeous 9-foot grand piano for our concerts. CELEBRATE America’s first truly original music — ragtime and jazz — in an incredible location!
HOTEL ROOM FESTIVAL PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE
Call the Strater Hotel and use codeword “ragtime” for a discount
(970) 247-4431
Thursday, April 16
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Cascade Canyon Train Ride with Live Music at the Durango Station and Onboard! (all musicians)
9:15 AM-2:30 PM
*Optional event—separate tickets must be purchased through the D&SNGRR
Durango Arts Center
FESTIVAL SAMPLER CONCERT (all musicians): 7:30-9:30 PM
Strater Hotel: Diamond Belle Saloon and The Office Spiritorium
AFTER HOURS PARTY: 9:30-1:30 AM
Friday, April 17
Strater Hotel: Pullman Room
10:00-11:00 AM SEMINAR
Frederick Hodges Presents “The Amazing History of Silent Film Music”
DAYTIME MUSIC SETS*
11:00-11:30 AM Richard Dowling
11:30-12:00 PM Craig Ventresco
12:00-12:30 PM Frederick Hodges
*Danny Coots, drums will join other musicians
Durango Arts Center
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE RAGTIME REVUE (all musicians)
A Patriotic Concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States!
2:30-4:30 PM
Durango Arts Center
EARLY JAZZ CONCERT (all musicians): 7:30-9:30 PM
Strater Hotel: Diamond Belle Saloon and The Office Spiritorium
AFTER HOURS PARTY: 9:30-1:30 AM
Saturday, April 18
Strater Hotel: Pullman Room
10:00-11:00 AM SEMINAR
Adam Swanson Presents “Blossom Seeley: The Queen of Syncopation”
-The life and career of ragtime era singer Blossom Seeley, who became a star of vaudeville, radio, movies, and TV.
DAYTIME MUSIC SETS*
11:00-11:30 AM Domingo Mancuello
11:30-12:00 PM Don Neely
12:00-12:30 PM Adam Swanson
*Danny Coots, drums will join other musicians
Durango Arts Center
SILENT MOVIE WITH LIVE MUSIC
THE CIRCUS (Starring Charlie Chaplin, 1928)
Frederick Hodges, piano: 2:30-4:00 PM
Durango Arts Center
GRAND FINALE CONCERT (all musicians): 7:30-9:30 PM
Strater Hotel: Diamond Belle Saloon and The Office Spiritorium
AFTER HOURS PARTY: 9:30-1:30 AM
Sunday, April 19
Strater Hotel: Mahogany Grille
FAREWELL BRUNCH: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
