Pictures from the Bix Fest, 2006-2008

Bix Beiderbecke was one of the great jazz musicians of the "roaring 20s", otherwise known as the Jazz Age. He died too young, but a festival in his honor takes place every summer in Davenport, Iowa.

Col Ballroom poster collection

The Col (short for "Coliseum") Ballroom is a Davenport landmark, where Bix first met Tram, and this place saw the likes of many other jazz greats too, as well as musical talents of other persuasions. Someone told me Jimi Hendrix signed his autograph on the wall in one of the back rooms. I also heard there are ghosts in this building.

But it is still very much alive today, especially during the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival held annually during the last weekend of July, where many more modern jazz legends feel blessed to have the opportunity to play on such a venerable stage.

Opening night of the festival finds Model A's lined outside the front door, ushering patrons into a true relic from the Jazz Age. Inside one will find a sizable dance floor, and long tables lined up in front, and a bar on each side, and a balcony in the back. Two searchlights from the back light the stage.

On the walls hang posters of past events that have taken place here, and I thought I'd share pictures of them: