Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival
- Dates
- Aug 4 to 8, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Hotel Blackhawk Gold Room
- Price
- $20 to $155
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 10, 2026
Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival returns to Hotel Blackhawk Gold Room, Davenport, IA, Aug 4 to 8, 2027. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Bix Jazz Festival honors cornetist Bix Beiderbecke with traditional jazz in Davenport, Iowa. It is presented by Common Chord, and the 2026 edition was the 55th. In 2027 the festival returns to downtown Davenport, with sessions in the Gold Room at the Hotel Blackhawk and special events across a five-day run from August 4 to 8. The 2026 schedule included a riverboat cruise, a graveside concert at Oakdale Memorial and a silent movie with live music. Organizers say a main goal is introducing Bix's music to new listeners while keeping ticket prices as low as possible.
How it works
The 2027 festival runs August 4 to 8 in Davenport, with special events on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and music sessions on Friday and Saturday. Early bird tickets go on sale in early February, and the full lineup and schedule are announced on March 10, Bix's birthday. In 2026, single-session passes cost $20 on Thursday and $50 on other days, the All Session Pass was $155, and door admission after 7:30 PM was $15. Under 18s were free, and reserved table seating was an add-on.
Who it suits
This suits traditional jazz and Bix Beiderbecke fans, along with newcomers: the organizers say a main goal is introducing Bix's music to new listeners and keeping ticket prices low for people trying the festival for the first time. Under 18s were admitted free in 2026, and a late-evening door price made it easy to catch a single night. Sessions have included dinner breaks and table seating for a longer sit.
What people love
Longtime fans treasure the open-air, riverfront tradition of hearing classic jazz played in Bix's hometown.
Last time around (2026)
The 2026 edition, the 55th, staged at a riverside casino resort, presented local and national traditional-jazz acts, solo piano sets, a riverboat cruise and silent-film screenings.
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Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
Nearest airport MLI.
How do I get to Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival. The nearest major airport is MLI, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No passenger rail serves the Quad Cities: the long-planned Chicago-Moline Amtrak service was still not running as of 2026 (the Moline station is built but inactive). The nearest working Amtrak station is Galesburg, IL, about 45 miles southeast, served by the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, and the Illinois Zephyr/Carl Sandburg Chicago corridor trains. There is no longer a scheduled bus connector from Galesburg to Davenport, Burlington Trailways, the region's former Amtrak Thruway carrier, ceased all scheduled routes on 27 Sep 2025, so from Galesburg it is a ~55 min drive (rental car or prearranged ride). A realistic option mainly for rail-first travelers on the Chicago corridor, not an airport substitute.
Book / infoBy bus & public transit
Greyhound serves Davenport at the Ground Transportation Center, 304 W River Dr in downtown Davenport, with multiple daily departures (about 5/day on the Chicago run). The GTC is ~8 miles south of the casino: finish with a ~15 min rideshare, or CitiBus Blue Line (Route 5) partway (see public-transit entry). Note: Burlington Trailways, which historically also served this stop, shut down all scheduled intercity routes on 27 Sep 2025, so older listings naming it are stale.
Book / infoTransit exists but does not reach the casino door, and it takes three systems/legs. MetroLINK Route 20 Blue stops at MLI terminal door 6 twice an hour (roughly 6:10am-6:10pm weekdays; reduced weekends) and runs to Centre Station in downtown Moline. Crossing to Iowa means connecting to Davenport's Ground Transportation Center (CitiBus Brown Line/Route 7 links the GTC with MetroLINK's District Station in Rock Island). From the GTC, CitiBus Blue Line (Route 5) runs north via 53rd St to the Walmart on Elmore Ave, still roughly a mile short of the casino, with a final walk along suburban arterial roads. CitiBus runs Mon-Sat only, no Sundays/holidays. Realistic for budget travelers headed to central Davenport; for the casino itself, plan on a rideshare for at least the last leg.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Uber (UberX, UberXL) and Lyft both operate at MLI with pickup near the terminal entrance; the airport's official ground-transportation page also lists taxi operators Yellow Cab (563-723-8000) and Max's Cab Company (563-324-9000 IA / 309-788-4100 IL), plus appointment-based sedan services (Act II Transportation, Express Midwest). The casino is about 13 driving miles from MLI via I-74/I-80 (~20 min). The casino is several miles farther north, so budget roughly $20-35. This is the practical door-to-door option, no advance booking URL, hail in-app on arrival or phone the cab companies.
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. The venue is a suburban casino resort with large free surface lots, no prepay platform, no event parking fee. Rhythm City's own transportation page states complimentary valet parking is available Thursday through Saturday starting at 8am, which conveniently matches the festival's Thu-Sat session schedule. Hotel-listing pages (Expedia et al.) corroborate free self-parking on site, including accessible/van spaces.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at MLI
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
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Where
Venue
Hotel Blackhawk Gold Room
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 6
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTypically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTypically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates5350 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates400 Jason Way, Davenport, IA 52806
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates301 Jason Way, Davenport, IA 52806
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMid-range hotels 4
7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTypically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates4653 Progress Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52807
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf, IA 52722
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTreat yourself 2
200 East 3rd Street, Davenport, IA 52801
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates215 Main Street, Davenport, IA 52801
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirport hotels 2
2721 69th Avenue Court, Moline, IL 61265
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates2550 52nd Avenue, Moline, IL 61265
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirbnb & private camping
The Quad Cities Airbnb market is modest and spread across Davenport, Bettendorf and the Illinois-side cities; the casino sits in a highway-retail zone with little short-term-rental inventory immediately around it, so most units mean a 10-15 min drive. Late July/early August is the Quad Cities' peak event season, so book early, but with the venue hotel and a dense budget-chain cluster within 2 miles, Airbnb is a preference play here rather than a necessity.
Search AirbnbAn indoor, seated jazz festival at a casino is about the least camping-shaped event on the calendar, but for road-trippers who prefer a tent or camper to a hotel, Hipcamp lists private-land sites in the rural Mississippi River country around the Davenport area (eastern Iowa farms and river-valley acreage), all car-based and generally 20-40+ min out. Link points to Hipcamp's Davenport-area directory (verified live, HTTP 200, 15 Aug 2026).
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Hotel Blackhawk Gold Room
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Entry rules
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
Price history and tiers
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Quick answers
When is Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival 2027?
Aug 4 to 8, 2027
How much are Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival tickets?
$20 to $155 per person, from the official ticket page. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.
Where is Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival held?
Hotel Blackhawk Gold Room, Davenport, IA.