The Green Room

Photo Credit: Andy Manis

For many music fans, commemorating the memory of an amazing concert means one thing: merch. Whether it’s Swifties waiting in line for a coveted sweatshirt or jazzheads grabbing a signed vinyl, taking a piece of the concert home with you can be fun. In that spirit, the team behind Madison Jazz Festival has designed unique annual Jazz Fest t-shirts to celebrate the weeklong festival, from June 7-16, 2024.

“I've been helping to design the shirts since 2019, based on Festival branding by jazz musician Jamie Breiwick, founder of B Side Graphics,” said Jolynne Roorda, co-director of Arts + Literature Laboratory.

This year’s design is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Union Theater and Arts + Literature Laboratory, inspired by some of our favorite festival tees from around the country, including Bonnaroo, Coachella, Newport Jazz Festival and more. The shirts were printed here in Madison by Wildwood Productions, a locally owned and operated screen printer located on Madison’s east side since the 1980s. The high-quality shirt was thoughtfully chosen for soft texture, low shrinkage and easy care. 

Roorda said,"I love running into other people wearing Madison Jazz Fest t-shirts. There's a certain recognition and sense of connection, even if we're both wearing different years, because we have a shared memory of experiencing amazing jazz performances. I'm often stopped in other states by people who have attended the Festival, and it's clear that it's a favorite memory of their time in Madison, too."

See how the t-shirt designs have evolved over the past few years:

2022 Madison Jazz Fest Shirt.

2023 Madison Jazz Fest Shirt.

2024 Madison Jazz Fest Shirt.

The Madison Jazz Festival t-shirt will be available for purchase at most Jazz Fest events, including the ones at the Memorial Union Terrace, while supplies last. You can also stop by Arts + Literature Laboratory (111. S. Livingston St. Suite 100) during the team's regular hours through June 14. There are only a few hundred shirts available, so make sure to snag yours early before they sell out. If you missed getting one of our previous t-shirts from 2022 and 2023, there are a few limited sizes left, which will be available on the Terrace June 15-16. 

(P.S. - Jazz Fest volunteers also get a free t-shirt! To become a volunteer, contact Arts + Literature Laboratory.)  

The first event of the 2024 Jazz Fest, on June 7, is  B.I.T. Duo Performs "Puccini, My Love" at Arts + Literature Laboratory. Advance tickets are also on sale now for Raul Midón at Cafe CODA and for Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo at Arts + Literature Laboratory. Learn more here.

All Wisconsin Union Theater-hosted 2024 Madison Jazz Festival events are free and will be held at the Terrace, with a rain location of Shannon Hall in Memorial Union: https://union.wisc.edu/about/news/2024-madison-jazz-festival/.