MTSU Jazz Ensemble 1, MTSU Faculty Combo also to perform
MURFREESBORO — Main
Street JazzFest 2014 will carry deep MTSU ties, with Dr. Gloria Bonner
co-chairing this year’s edition of the highly anticipated local music
tradition.
Now in its 18th year, the annual musical
celebration is set for Friday and Saturday, May 2-3, in downtown Murfreesboro.
The event features free admission, free parking and free entertainment as well
as a wide variety of food vendors in the heart of the city.
Bonner, special assistant to President Sidney A. McPhee in
the Office of University Community Relations, said the festival is expected to
attract thousands of jazz enthusiasts to downtown.
Volunteers are still needed for the two-day event, which
will be held on two stages. To sign up to help, visit http://mainstreetjazzfest.net/volunteer/.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Bonner, who is co-chairing the
event with husband Ray Bonner. “We’re encouraging families and community
members to just hang out with us downtown.”
An added attraction this year is “Jazz After Dark,” which
will showcase various artists playing live at select venues downtown after
JazzFest officially ends Saturday night. Among those performing will be the
latest rendition of famed R&B/soul group The Drifters.
The Southeast Tourism Society has named JazzFest one of the
Top 20 Events in the Southeast for May 2014.
“This is a true music festival,” said Kathleen Herzog,
director of Main Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Inc., a nonprofit
dedicated to downtown revitalization “It’s a diverse, multicultural family
friendly event. You don’t want to miss this.”
Area high school bands will once again kick off the festival
Friday night beginning at 6 p.m. Music resumes at 11 a.m. Saturday, featuring a
free children’s area from noon to 6 p.m. and a free jazz clinic led by
singer/songwriter Kevin Whalum at 3:30 p.m. at the Center for the Arts
downtown.
Saturday afternoon’s musical lineup includes the
Murfreesboro Youth Jazz Orchestra, MTSU Jazz Ensemble I and MTSU Faculty Combo.
Saturday night’s lineup will feature regional and local talent including the
Marcus Finnie Band, Dara Tucker, Joe Davidian and Friends, Joe Johnson, and the
129thArmy Jazz Band.
Emceeing the festivities will be Greg Lee Hunt, program
director at WMOT-FM 89.5, MTSU’s 100,000-watt public radio station. WMOT staff
will be on hand for attendees to take advantage of various giveaways including
CD’s, gift certificates, etc.
For more information and the complete lineup, visit www.mainstreetjazzfest.net.
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