Jazz is a truly original American genre of music. Then there is “Laz Jazz,” which is unique to St. Louis, and created by the Brothers Lazaroff and inspired by Americana, rock, jazz and soul. The Jewish duo is bringing back their Laz Jazz Fest for a second year on Saturday, June 29 at The Big Top in the Grand Center Arts District.

Laz Jazz Fest is a small-scale version of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival currently in progress in the Crescent City. Like the New Orleans Jazzfest, Laz Jazz Fest will offer unique food and incorporate multiple stages. In addition to the Brothers Lazaroff Band, the 2024 Laz Jazz Fest will feature the avant garde jazz group Sun Ra Arkestra, founded in Chicago in the mid-1950s. Sun Ra Arkestra was one of the first bands to incorporate the synthesizer into its music. The group combines big-band swing, space-age jazz, singing, dancing, chanting and Afro-pageantry.

The new Cosmos Tent second stage will be hosted by Blvck Spvde and The Cosmos, along with local Jewish singer-songwriter-guitarist Joey Ferber. Rounding out the Laz Jazz Fest line-up will be: DJ Boogieman, David Y Los Diablos (David Gomez), Mesonjixx, Jawwaad Spann and the Vintage Society with Dee Jazz, K Kudda Muzic, Helena Bishop, and Heal Center For the Arts.

Tickets are on sale now for $28-$68 from Metrotix. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the St. Louis Art Place Initiative and its mission to build wealth and equity for low to moderate-income artists through homeownership.