In February 2022, Fort Mose Historic State Park will be the host of the inaugural Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series from February 18 to February 26. To honor the history and celebrate the cultural significance of Fort Mose, the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series will comprise five unforgettable performances over three weeks from some of the biggest names in their respective genres.

Confirmed performances for the inaugural Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series include: two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Gregory Porter, the legendary 18-time Grammy Award-winning Count Basie Orchestra, breakout Americana and roots singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah, New Orleans’ deep-groove R&B and jazz group Tank and the Bangas, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

Tickets go on sale Friday, November 5 at 10:00 AM via The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and DiscoverFortMose.com. Proceeds of this series will support the construction of an on-site fort representation and the development of additional interpretive resources. The original fort was destroyed during the Battle of Bloody Mose in 1740.

Fort Mose is the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. In 1738, an estimated 100 Africans made Fort Mose their home and sanctuary in seeking liberation from English enslavement amidst a large-scale power struggle between European powers in the New World. Pulling from Native American, Spanish and English cultural customs, the founding residents of Fort Mose created a new cultural community. In 1994, Fort Mose was designated as a Historic National Landmark and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series is produced by the St. Johns County Cultural Events Division, which operates The St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, with support from St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, St. Augustine Distillery, St. Johns Cultural Council, Fort Mose Historical Society, and Flying Saucer Presents.