JazzFest Michigan Returns with Five Days of Entertainment
JazzFest Michigan returns to the bustling streets of Old Town, Lansing, this week, to celebrate its 30th anniversary – Author: Anne Erickson
JazzFest Michigan returns to the bustling streets of Old Town, Lansing, this week, to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The annual event happens from Wednesday (July 31) through Sunday (Aug. 4) on Turner Street at Cesar Chavez. Per usual, the event features a range of performers and activities all in the heart of Old Town. This is always one of my favorite music events to attend each year, because it draws solid acts, a great crowd and it’s not so big that you feel lost in it.
JazzFest Michigan Returns to Old Town
The JazzFest Michigan opening event happens Wednesday, followed by the Lawrence “Lo” Leathers Foundation Benefit on Thursday. Then, JazzFest Michigan takes over on Friday and Saturday, followed by Gospel Fest on Sunday. This year’s performers will be at four venues, all of which are in Old Town: the MICA Stage, MessageMakers Stage, Tripp Stage and UrbanBeat Stage. Performers include Freddie Cunningham and F&J Inc, Olivia Van Goor, Tumbao Bravo, Bashiri Asad, Marbin, Planet D Nonet, Matt Von Roderick and many more.
Festival organizers describe JazzFest Michigan as a special event for Old Town, Lansing.
“Thirty years ago, when you walked through north Lansing, you would see mostly empty and boarded-up buildings,” they write on the event’s official Facebook page. “In the 1980s, a handful of artists set up studios and opened a few art galleries in the vacant buildings. In 1995, MICA produced the first JazzFest Michigan, which placed a spotlight on the historic commercial district we now know as Old Town. The journey has been steady.”
They add, “MICA helped establish Old Town as one of the first urban Main Streets in the nation. Now there are myriad thriving businesses, galleries, restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, restored and new buildings, loft apartments and waiting lists of people wanting to live here. MICA is thankful to be able to serve as the catalyst for this community transformation and recognizes the significance that arts and artists play in sustainable economic development of a region.”
JazzFest Michigan’s Wednesday kick off concert is free, with limited seating. The Thursday benefit show is $20 or a donation, and the Friday and Saturday shows are $15 for both days included. Sunday Gospel Fest is $20. All of the prices also come with some small additional fees. Tickets are available via the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Arts website. More information is available on the event’s Facebook page.
If you want to commemorate the experience, festival T-shirts and posters will be for sale on Friday and Saturday. Also, artist Nicole Butcher will be signing festival posters at MICA Gallery on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For those who want to get their drink on, you can. Old Town, Lansing, is designated as a “Social District,” so festival-goers can buy, drink and walk on the streets with appropriately labeled alcoholic beverages purchased at Old Town’s establishments during the festival.
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