Idaho State University Announces 2026 Jazz Fest Featuring Guest Artist: Sheela Bringi’s Bird Clan

The Idaho State University School of Performing Arts will host its annual Jazz Fest on February 13-14, bringing together hundreds of regional high school musicians, ISU students, and internationally recognized guest artists for two days of clinics, collaboration, and live performance.

This year’s festival features Sheela Bringi’s Bird Clan, an Indian-American fusion ensemble based in Denver. Bringi’s music blends traditional Indian instruments and vocal styles with contemporary jazz, creating a vibrant and innovative sound. Over the two-day festival, she and her band will work closely with fifteen high school jazz ensembles from across the region, as well as students in ISU’s Commercial Music Program.

Evening performances will showcase the festival’s guest artists in two unique settings.
• Friday, Feb. 13 — Station Square, 7-9 p.m.
A free, intimate performance featuring Sheela Bringi’s Bird Clan in Historic Downtown Pocatello.
• Saturday, Feb. 14 — Jensen Hall, Stephens Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
A culminating concert featuring the Bird Clan with the ISU Commercial Music Big Band. Tickets may be purchased at the ISU Box Office at Stephens Performing Arts Center or by calling (208) 251-4380.

Jonathan Armstrong, Director of Jazz Studies at ISU, says this year’s festival brings something truly special to Southeast Idaho: “Jazz Fest this year will feature the brilliant Colorado-based musician Sheela Bringi to work with the ISU Commercial Music Program as well as hundreds of regional high school jazz musicians,” Armstrong said. “She will be bringing her unique and exciting take on Indian–Jazz fusion music with a monster band. This kind of innovative musical performance is a rare treat in Southeastern Idaho.”

ISU Voice Area Coordinator Jenna McLean notes that Jazz Fest is intentionally carving out its own space among regional festivals: “Because several other traditional jazz festivals exist in Idaho and the mountain west region, we are beginning to really lean into our own unique offering of the connection between jazz and world music,” McLean said. “The thru-line there is strong and important, and giving regional students the chance to explore this with the guest artists themselves is really special and specific to our festival. I personally have already learned so much from rehearsing Sheela’s music with the students, and its influence will continue to permeate through the creativity of our students for years to come.”

Jazz Fest has become one of ISU’s largest recruitment and community engagement events of the year, creating direct connections between visiting musicians, local families, and the campus arts community. With Bringi’s fusion ensemble headlining the festival, ISU anticipates one of its most exciting and culturally rich festivals to date.

This year’s Jazz Fest is made possible in part through generous support from the Idaho Commission on the Arts and Visit Pocatello, whose contributions help bring exceptional artistic and educational opportunities to Southeast Idaho.

More information about concerts and festival details is available at isu.edu/sopa.