The Al Sears Music Fest promises a weekend packed with swinging jazz, soulful R&B, and timeless American songbook classics! This annual celebration honors Macomb’s own musical trailblazer, Al Sears (1910–1990), a saxophone virtuoso, songwriter, and music industry pioneer who played with legends like Duke Ellington and helped shape the sound of early rock-and-roll.
- Enjoy everything from world-class performances to jam sessions by the next generation of talent.
- Starting at noon on Saturday and Sunday, fuel your festival fun with mouthwatering dishes from Sandra’s Authentic Mexican Food Truck and raise a glass at the bar.
- Explore a special exhibit at the Western Illinois Museum featuring photographs, recordings, and artifacts that tell the story of Sears’s remarkable career.
The festival has been made possible in part with a grant from the Performing Arts Society.
Mark your calendar, bring friends, and celebrate Al Sears and Macomb’s unforgettable place in American music history!
Al Sears Music Fest Schedule
Friday, September 19th, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm | American Legion Post 6
- 7:00 to 9:00 pm: WIU Jazz Studio Orchestra
Saturday, September 20th, from 12:00 to 9:00 pm | Western Illinois Museum
- Noon: Doors open, bar service begins, and Sandra’s Authentic Mexican Food Truck will be serving throughout the celebration.
- 12:00 to 2:00 pm: Allie Garland – Al Sears Music Fest spotlight on local talent
- 2:30 to 4:30 pm: Open Rehearsal with Bryan Anthony
- 5:00 to 6:30 pm: Richie Bliesener Quartet – Al Sears Music Fest spotlight on local talent
- 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Bryan Anthony – The American Songbook
Sunday, September 21st, from 12:00 to 5:30 pm | Western Illinois Museum
- Noon: Doors open, bar service begins, and Sandra’s Authentic Mexican Food Truck will be serving throughout the celebration.
- 12:00 to 1:30 pm: WIU Jazz Combo I – Al Sears Music Fest spotlight on local talent, with Zack Browning on trumpet, Josh Buczko on alto saxophone, Kevin Kurtz on baritone saxophone, Jacob Behm on guitar, Brett Daugherty on bass, Darren Woods on drums, and vocalist Ana Oliveira
- 2:00 to 3:00 pm: Community Conversation on Al Sears’s impact on music, integration, and the music industry, featuring Yoseph Henry, jazz musicians Whitney Ashe and John Cooper, and Bill Maakestad, one of the festival’s founders.
- 3:30 to 5:30 pm: Yoseph Henry: Where Jazz Meets R&B and Gospel Soul
***Courtesy of the Western Illinois Museum***
