Arts, Attractions, Community, Entertainment, Events, Music, News November 1, 2022

Feb. 10-19: Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series brings Gladys Knight and Mavis Staples to St. Augustine, Florida

The second installment of the series will welcome renowned artists who have collectively earned 24 Grammys

St. Augustine, FL – The Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series will return to Fort Mose Historic State Park, the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States, from February 10 to February 19, 2023.

The second installment of the series will comprise of six unforgettable performances by some of the most recognized jazz, blues, R&B, and soul artists in the industry. In a continued effort to honor the history and historical significance of the site, the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series 2023 will welcome 10-time Grammy Award-winner, and “Empress of Soul,” Gladys Knight, three-time Grammy Awardwinning soul, gospel, and R&B national treasure Mavis Staples, eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader Christian McBride’s New Jawn, the “future of blues” Mississippi-born, and Grammy Award-winning guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, two-time Grammy Award-winning eclectic folk singer, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens, and the critically-acclaimed, Grammy Award-nominated Americana singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Valerie June.

Collectively, the artists performing in the 2023 series have won 24 Grammy Awards, and earned a total of 72 Grammy nominations. Tickets for the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series in February 2023 go on sale this Friday, November 4 at 10 a.m. via The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and DiscoverFortMose.com

The 2023 series will once again benefit the Fort Mose Historical Society in their efforts to raise awareness for the historic site. Fort Mose is the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. In 1738, an estimated 100 Africans made Fort Mose their home and sanctuary in seeking liberation from English enslavement amidst a large-scale power struggle between European powers in the New World. Pulling from Native American, Spanish and English cultural customs, the founding residents of Fort Mose created a new cultural community. I

n 1994, Fort Mose was designated as a Historic National Landmark. In February 2022, the inaugural Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series received overwhelming praise for powerful performances in a truly one-of-a-kind setting. The event welcomed 3,000 people from across the country to Fort Mose State Park and raised $51,972.42 in support of Fort Mose Historical Society’s ongoing efforts of building an on-site fort representation, and development of interpretive resources.

The original fort was destroyed during the Battle of Bloody Mose in 1740. In its first year, the series welcomed award-winning artists including Gregory Porter, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Amythyst Kiah, and Tank and the Bangas.

LEARN MORE: www.discoverfortmose.com

The Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series is produced by St. Johns County Cultural Events, which operates The St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, with support from St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, St. Augustine Distillery, Fort Mose Historical Society and Flying Saucer Presents.  

FORT MOSE JAZZ & BLUES SERIES 2023 Live at Fort Mose Historic State Park in St. Augustine, Florida Tickets go on sale Friday, November 4 at 10:00 AM

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