Savannah Music Festival

Dobet Gnahoré
2026-03-27 18:00 (America/New_York) | Ships of the Sea, 41 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA, 31401, United States
Dobet Gnahoré is a virtuosic singer, dancer, percussionist, and songwriter who has taken the modern Afropop sounds of her native Ivory Coast in exciting new directions. Known for her jaw-dropping dance moves, powerful stage presence and richly emotional vocal style, Gnahoré has earned numerous accolades throughout her career, including a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2010 for her collaboration with singer India.Arie. Motivated by the struggles facing African children, Gnahoré dedicated her most recent album Zouzou to the youth who will define the future of the continent. It served as the launch of a new orphanage project in Côte d’Ivoire, and affirms her commitment to promoting positive change and opportunities for the next generation. This is Dobet Gnahoré’s SMF debut.

Yonder Mountain String Band
2026-03-28 17:00 | Ships of the Sea, 41 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA, 31401, United States
The Grammy-nominated, pioneering, and progressive jamgrass ensemble Yonder Mountain String Band has redefined bluegrass music by pushing the envelope into realms of rock and roll and soulful improvisation for over 25 years. Yonder Mountain String Band is one of the most innovative groups on the live music scene and is comprised of founding members Adam Aijala (guitar, vocals), Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals), and Ben Kaufmann (bass, vocals), alongside multi-instrumentalist Nick Piccininni (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, vocals). Their newest album, Nowhere Next, is a mix of bluegrass, rock, and country, with soulful, funky grooves, and their live performances feature the band at their most vibrant and unrestrained. This is their SMF debut.

NOON30: Reverie Road
2026-03-31 12:30 | Kehoe Iron Works, 660 E Broughton St, Savannah, ga, 31401, United States
Reverie Road is a genre-defying Celtic powerhouse ensemble, uniting founding Solas members Winifred Horan (fiddle) and John Williams (accordion) with former Gaelic Storm fiddler Katie Grennan and Steinway Artist jazz and Raga pianist Utsav Lal. Together, these four exceptional musicians are celebrated as some of today’s most accomplished traditional and virtuosic folk music artists. Reverie Road takes the rich tapestry of Irish music and weaves it into a cinematic experience, full of expressivity and sophistication. Their performances push the boundaries of tradition, offering stunningly innovative interpretations that retain the heart of the genre while embracing a modern twist. Whether you’re a lover of traditional music or curious about its modern evolution, Reverie Road delivers an exhilarating, boundary-pushing performance that will leave your heart soaring and your toes tapping.

NOON30: Darrell Scott & Rob Ickes
2026-04-03 12:30 | Ships of the Sea, 41 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA, 31401, United States
The Darrell Scott String Band is a bluegrass/folk band featuring Darrell Scott on dobro, piano, and guitar, Bryn Davies on upright bass, Matt Flinner on mandolin and banjo, and Shad Cobb on fiddle. The band’s music explores Scott’s Kentucky roots and features string-based instrumentation, with a sound that’s rooted in bluegrass and folk. Scott has collaborated with other accomplished musicians such as Steve Earle, Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, John Cowan, Kate Rusby, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Mary Gauthier, Dan Tyminski, and many others. He tours regularly with his own band and as a member of Steve Earle’s Bluegrass Dukes.

Rob Ickes is a San Francisco Bay Area native and world-renowned dobro player known for his innovative style and mastery of the instrument. Inspired at thirteen by dobro legend Mike Auldridge, he began a lifelong musical journey that led him to Nashville, where he co-founded the bluegrass band Blue Highway in 1994. Ickes has earned a record-setting fifteen International Bluegrass Music Association Dobro Player of the Year awards and contributed to Grammy-winning albums. After leaving Blue Highway in 2015, he teamed up with Trey Hensley, earning a Grammy nomination for their 2016 debut, Before the Sun Goes Down.

NOON30: Le Vent du Nord
2026-04-04 12:30 | Kehoe Iron Works, 660 E Broughton St, Savannah, ga, 31401, United States
Le Vent du Nord is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed band at the forefront of Québec’s vibrant Francophone folk scene. Blending traditional roots with original compositions, their powerful, rhythm-driven sound draws from Celtic influences and diverse global traditions. Since their debut in 2002, they’ve performed over 2,200 concerts across four continents, released 12 albums, and earned numerous honors, including two Junos, a Félix, a Grand Prix du Disque Charles Cros, and a Canadian Folk Music Award. Renowned for their dynamic live performances and inventive collaborations with artists like The Chieftains, Breabach, and Constantinople, the five musicians continually redefine folk music, fusing tradition with contemporary flair to create a sound that is both timeless and boldly modern. This is their second SMF appearance, following a 2017 debut.

Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers / Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars
2026-04-04 18:00 | Kehoe Iron Works, 660 E Broughton St, Savannah, ga, 31401, United States
#SMF2026 CLOSING PARTY!

Dwayne “Dopsie” Rubin is a Louisiana native from one of the most influential zydeco families, and has carved his own energetic and soulful path in modern zydeco music. Teaching himself accordion by studying videos of his father and Clifton Chenier, Dwayne developed a fiery style that blends tradition with innovation. At 19, he formed Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, a powerhouse band whose members together bring over a century of experience. As a singer, songwriter, and accordionist, Dwayne writes both lyrics and music, crafting songs rich with blues and old-time zydeco flair. His passionate performances radiate talent, energy, and authenticity.

Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars is a local gem of the New Orleans music scene, and is quickly gaining devoted fans from far and wide. Seamlessly blending the sounds of the early Creole jazz bands with New Orleans R&B, Second Line music, calypso, and their own ethereal, mystical, and magical original music, their live shows always leave audiences wanting more.

LISTEN ON BANDCAMP
