GRandJazzFest, presented by DTE Energy Foundation, expands to two days in 2013—Saturday, August 17, and Sunday, August 18—and offers ten diverse jazz bands and performers, all free to the concert-going public.
Like the 2012 inaugural GRandJazzFest, the second annual festival will be held at Rosa Parks Circle, in downtown Grand Rapids. Festival organizers will announce the lineup in the coming months. Last year’s six bands and performers were all Michigan-local. This year’s lineup will feature Michigan and nationally known jazz performers, and include a national headline act.
Festival Founder Audrey Sundstrom said lineup diversity is key: “Jazz has so many sub-genres: Latin, straight-up, contemporary, and big band, to name a few. We’ll celebrate this incredibly diverse American music art form during a very festive weekend this summer!”
DTE Energy Foundation is again the presenting sponsor. “It’s great to support another weekend of free cultural activities that make downtown Grand Rapids the place to be,” said the foundation’s Roger Royer.
On January 23, Grand Rapids city commissioners approved GRandJazzFest as one of twenty-four events it will co-sponsor in 2013, a distinction given only to events that have proven to be successful and enrich the community. “[GRandJazzFest 2012] brought large numbers of people downtown and contributed to the vibrancy and culture of the city,” said Todd Tofferi, Grand Rapids Office of Special Events director.
More than four thousand people attended GRandJazzFest’s 2012 event.
In addition to DTE Energy Foundation and the City of Grand Rapids, sponsors and collaborators for the 2013 event to date include the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Gilmore Collection, GR and Jazz, Ellis Parking, Fifth Third Bank, Hilger Hammond, IntentPR, Meijer, Mike July Web Design, and San Chez Bistro and Café.
“We are so grateful to DTE Energy Foundation, the City of Grand Rapids, and all of our sponsors for their support!” Sundstrom said. “We’re seeking additional sponsors from last year and new sponsors, to bring a full weekend of free jazz performances to West Michigan!”
People could get a taste of what the 2012 jazz festival was like by viewing the “recap” video on YouTube.
More information on GRandJazzFest—including the upcoming schedule and sponsorship/volunteer opportunities—could be found at www.grandjazzfest.org, and at the festival’s Facebook and Twitter sites.
Source: Intent Public Relations LLC Photo: Tim Motley
