The inaugural L.A. Jazz Festival, featuring stars such as John Legend, Janelle Monáe, Parliament/Funkadelic and Raphael Saadiq, has been canceled at the last minute.
Organizer Martin Ludlow blamed the cancellation on unexpected public safety and municipal costs linked to the festival’s final permits.
The festival was scheduled to run from Aug. 7 to 23 across Los Angeles. Its main event, “Jazz on the Beach,” was set for Aug. 22 and 23 at Dockweiler Beach.
The lineup also included Charlie Wilson, Ezra Collective, Free Nationals, Poncho Sanchez and Big Freedia. Organizers expected the festival to attract 250,000 people.
The event also planned free jazz shows, late-night club performances, a Caribbean Street Carnival, youth programs and jazz seminars.
Ludlow announced the festival at a City Hall press conference in February. Mayor Karen Bass attended the event.
In a statement, Ludlow said the organizers canceled the festival due to “significant, unanticipated last-minute public safety and municipal costs associated with the final permitting of the On The Beach Festival.”
The cancellation has upset musicians and vendors who had already spent money preparing for the event.
“Not cool for us musicians who lost money on flights and rehearsals for this,” one musician wrote on CBS LA’s Instagram page.
Another person described the situation as “Terribly disorganized … a real train wreck.”
Jazz musician Isiah Collier also arrived in Los Angeles after touring Europe. He learned at the last minute that his performance and those of other musicians had been canceled.
The festival website now carries a message saying, “August 22-23. Updated event info coming soon.”
Ludlow said organizers plan to bring the festival back in 2027 and beyond.
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