Jazz festival in Idyllwild will get underway this afternoon throu the weekend

The 21st annual Idyllwild Jazz Festival in the Pines will get underway this afternoon and continue through the weekend, featuring around two-dozen artists including an American Idol finalist on multiple stages at a mile-high venue.

The event will be centered at the Idyllwild Arts Academy campus, with the majority of performances in the Holmes Amphitheater.

Singer-songwriter Casey Abrams, who finished in the top 10 of contestants on American Idol in April 2011, will be among the featured acts at the three-day fest. Others scheduled to play include Black Swan Blues, Euphoria Brass Band, Greg Jones Band, the Peter Sprague Quartet, Rocky Zharp, Stars on the Water, The Straight Jackets and international performer Yve Evans.

Performances are scheduled in the French Quarter, Stephens Hall and the amphitheater.

Along with musical entertainment, there will be numerous food and crafts vendors, as well as informational booths about the academy, which uses funds from the festival to support scholarships for aspiring musicians, according to organizers.

Adult admission is $65 for a daylong pass. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

More information on the musical line-up and tickets can be found at http://www.idyllwildjazz.com/ .