Where’s Fred? Home celebrating New Orleans & more!

Fred Wesley and his New JBs are excited to announce they’ll be performing at the New Orleans Jazz Fest on Thursday, April 30! The 2026 edition of @jazzfest takes place April 23 - 26 and April 30 - May 3. Visit www.nojazzfest.com/ for tickets and more info.

The news leads the many reasons Fred has to celebrate, including an upcoming trio tour and a successful run of gigs leading to the well-deserved holiday break he’s now enjoying. 

Starting January 29, 2026, at Ronnie Scott’s in London, he’ll be back at it, and his schedule includes shows in fun places ripe for planning weekend trips. Just in time for Christmas, tickets are on sale now in Seattle, New Orleans, London, Paris, Barcelona … scroll down and check the calendar for much more.

Looking back, Fred’s November featured tours with his Generations Trio and his New JBs. 

In December he got to play some be bop, his first musical love, in Pittsburg, a jazz center of the world and the hometown of New JBs bassist Dwayne Dolphin, who’s anchored Fred’s band since 1990. 

Q&A during the November funk workshop produced in Paris by Kdense Association.

The New JBs backstage in Pau, France, with opening band the Supersoul Brothers.

New JBs onstage at Union Chapel, London, November.

Onstage in Pittsburgh with The Dwayne Dolphin Allstars, featuring Dave Kikowski on piano and Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums. Looking further back, click here to enjoy Fred's special 2025 Nola Funk Fest session on Youtube.

Upcoming dates:

Jan. 29-31 -- London

Feb. 19-22 -- Seattle

Feb. 26 -- Budapest, Hungary

March 1 -- Vienna, Austria

March 4 -- Berlin, Germany

March 5 -- Zurich, Switzerland 

March 6&7 -- Barcelona, Spain

March 9 -- Seville, Spain

March 10 -- Granada, Spain

March 11 -- Malaga, Spain

March 12 -- Paris

March 13 -- Malmo, Sweden

March 14 -- Creil, France

April 30 -- NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FEST!!!