Whitaker Music Festival Returns For 19th Season | Arts & Culture

The Whitaker Music Festival returns to the Missouri Botanical Garden for the 19th year, offering a nine-week lineup of free Wednesday evening outdoor concerts.

The concerts are held each Wednesday May 30 through July 25 at 7:30 p.m. (last entry at 9 p.m.) at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd. in south St. Louis Outdoor Cohen Amphitheater, just west of the Climatron® dome.

The concerts are free to all. Garden admission is free after 5 p.m. Free parking on site and at lots two blocks west at the Shaw and Vandeventer intersection. An additional concert entry site will be open on Tower Grove Avenue and Magnolia located on the south end of the Garden.

The line-up features:

May 30: Marquise Knox, a 21-year-old blues prodigy.

June 6: Vince Martin, considered one of the finest vocalist and guitarists in the business.

June 13: Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers, a blend of hot jazz, swing and rhythm and blues.

June 20: The Rockhouse Ramblers, authentic honky-tonk music and colorful country swing.

June 27: Hamiet Bluiett, jazz legend who has remained a champion of the baritone saxophone.

July 4: Air National Guard Band of the Central States, combining military tradition with hits.

July 11: Ryan Spearman Band, singer, songwriter and folk music multi-instrumentalist.

July 18: Teresa Jenee, soulful, introspective vocalist and pianist.

July 25: Aaron Kamm and the One Drops, a reggae and blues staple of  St. Louis.

Thy Whitaker Foundation is the sponsor of the concerts.

For more information: www.mobot.org/events/whitaker; (314) 577-5100 or 1-800-642-8842 toll free.