The third annual LuluFest will take place on May 17 and 18 in Austin. The focus of this two day event will be women bandleaders — both seasoned and up-and-coming, who are making their music the focus of their lives, and will feature instrumentalists as well as vocalists.

The festival will be modeled after Ritenuto’s Wall Street Jazz Festival in Kingston, NY. which for 12 years produced a yearly festival of women-led bands, “where the traditions meet the progressives, and all the leaders are women.” LuluFest has expanded on that idea, to encompass not only jazz, but latin and western swing, thereby giving it a broad appeal to the greater Austin audience.

This is NOT a women’s festival; to the contrary, most of the bands are generously peopled with men. The principle behind the festival is simply that the women leaders and their concepts of the music are being presented here, thus setting it apart from most other festivals in the country (and the world) at this juncture in history.

LuluFest 2019 is thrilled to present pianist/composer/ vocalist Dawn Clement, award winning violinist / song writer Carrie Rodriguez, Jazz Pianist / composer Pamela York, renowned baritone saxophonist Claire Daly, Jay Clayton Trio and we will feature the all-women band from Cuba, MAQUEQUE led by saxophonist Jane Bunnett.

Presented by Ritenuto Foundation, Inc., a 501c3 Not For Profit Corporation, in collaboration with the St. Edward’s University Music Department and Parker Jazz Club.