This year, the festival welcomes 25 electrifying musicians from North Carolina State University, bringing the smoky, high-octane pulse of America’s great jazz clubs straight to the heart of Athens. Trading their campus in Raleigh for the Athenian stage, the "Wolfpack" arrives with an authentic Big Band sound: roaring brass sections, inexhaustible swing, and the kind of sharp improvisations that keep an audience on the edge of their seats.

Their repertoire is a masterclass in jazz history, paying homage to the legendary greats while pushing into contemporary interpretations that prove the genre is more alive than ever. From Duke Ellington and Count Basie, to Duke Pearson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Mark Taylor, Alan Baylock, and everything in between, the NC State Jazz Orchestra will make every effort possible to please a wide variety of musical tastes.  It’s a live set where youthful exuberance meets world-class musical pedigree, creating an infectious, celebratory atmosphere. Get ready to find your rhythm because when swing is this authentic, staying still isn’t an option.