About this Event
We are so excited to continue to bring you First Friday at First "LIVE" for our 2026 Jazz Series -- Atlanta’s first choice for extraordinary jazz performed by many of the best musicians and vocalists to grace a jazz stage anywhere on the globe!
Be sure to join us in November for a very special performance with Nnenna Freelon as part of her Atlanta Residency along with the Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR) and Emory University. This very special performance will be held in the Sanctuary of First Congregational Church, followed by a reception and book signing.
Nneena Freelon is an internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist, composer, writer, and seven-time GRAMMY Award nominee whose extraordinary career spans nearly four decades. Known for her luminous voice, magnetic stage presence, and deeply expressive storytelling, Freelon has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and has collaborated with many of the great artists in jazz and beyond. A member of the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, she continues to push artistic boundaries through music that blends jazz tradition, improvisation, soul, and the intimate stories of lived experience.
Beyond her celebrated musical career, Freelon is also an accomplished writer and storyteller whose work explores love, loss, resilience, and the transformative power of creativity. Her recent album Beneath the Skin, featuring her first collection of original songs, and her book Beneath the Skin of Sorrow: Improvisations on Loss reflect her profound ability to turn personal experience into universal connection. Through her music, writing, and award-winning storytelling projects, Nnenna Freelon continues to inspire audiences with her artistry, authenticity, and unwavering belief in the healing power of song.
Once again, thank you for joining us for our First Friday at First "LIVE" for our 2026 Jazz Series! We look forward to seeing you in 2027 with another incredible lineup!
Please note, due to the relocation of this concert to the sanctuary of First Church, we will not be offering our usual First Friday dinner menu. . The public is invited for great music, fun, and fellowship. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Season Ticket Pass and Season Ticket Table holders are are not required to pay additional fees. General Admission tickets are $35. Funds raised at church-based events will be used to support other church programming and ministries.
For further information about First Friday at First or the purchase of Tables, General Admission or Student Tickets, please contact First Church at 404-659-6255 and ask for the church administrator during regular office hours or contact the First Friday team at [email protected].
PARKING -
- HANDICAPPED PARKING: Guests with handicapped parking permits visible will be allowed to park in the front or rear of the Commons, as spaces are limited.
- MAIN CHURCH LOT: Parking for guests/volunteers will continue to be available in the main church lot, where you will access the Commons via the back gate and staircase.
- ADDITIONAL PARKING: Alternate parking with be available at the corner parking of John Wesley Dobbs and Courtland Street (across from First Church). You may walk to Ellis Street and turn right, or access the Commons via the back gate and staircase of the MAIN CHURCH LOT.
PLEASE CONSIDER CARPOOLING OR RIDESHARING!
COVID-19 Protocols
As part of our return to First Friday at First events, we are anxious to continue providing a safe and comfortable environment given current COVID-19 guidelines. We continue to reduce the number of seats per table and wearing of masks indoors is optional.
To attend our concerts, we ask that you stay at home if you are currently suffering from any of the following symptoms: fever, respiratory illness, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath.
Event venue & nearby stays
125 Ellis St NE, 125 Ellis Street Northeast, Atlanta, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.