The Jefferson St. United Merchants Partnership (JUMP) will host the 16th Annual Jefferson St. Jazz & Blues Festival June 17-18, 2016. The Festival kicks off Friday evening with the Bridging the Gap Mixer on the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and culminates on Saturday afternoon, into the evening, with a live music concert featuring legendary acts Latimore, Lakeside Band with Mark Wood, and Midnight Star, all at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall Park.
The longest running event of its kind, the festival pays homage to music and its placement on historic Jefferson Street. Aptly titled “black downtown”, Jefferson Street has been home to acts like Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Ray Charles, and the world renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers – who brought back the name Music City from the Queen of England in the 1800’s.
“We are honored to carry on the legacy set before us by the many acts that called Nashville home and those that passed through,” said JUMP President/CEO and Metro Councilwoman-at-Large Sharon Hurt. “For years, African American artists were relegated to arrive for their performances through the back door of most venues. All these years later we are proud to remember those legends at the center of the most popular parts of our city – Jefferson Street, Germantown, and Downtown Nashville.”
The two-day festival will kick off Friday, June 17 for an evening of rhythm and blues with local artist Will Davenport, all the oldie-but-goodie hits provided by DJ C-Wiz on the wheels of steel, and plenty of room for dance partners to two step. (7 pm –1 am)
On Saturday June 18 at noon, the Children’s Pavilion will kick off the day on the lawn of the Bicentennial Mall with performances from local high school bands, dance troupes, and activities for all ages. Immediately after, from 2pm – 10pm, in the Amphitheater, artists will take the main stage to pay tribute to those recently passed artists – local blues favorite Marion James and the iconic Prince, followed by headliners Latimore, Lakeside Band with Mark Wood and Midnight Star.
The Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership is a full service organization that serves Jefferson Street and the surrounding community through advocacy, commerce and development that respects is culture and heritage. Today, both individuals and organizations make up JUMP’s active membership of doctors, lawyers, dentists, master barbers, musicians, ministers, writers, hair stylists, retailers and restaurateurs, all with one thing in common; keeping Jefferson Street and North Nashville alive and thriving. For more information visit www.JumpNashville.com. For more information on any of the events, visit www.nashvillejazzandbluesfest.com
Here’s the Jefferson Street Jazz & Blues Festival lineup for June 18:
2:00 – Marcus Johnson with Sonja Hopkins
3:00 – Tina Brown – A tribute to Marion James
4:00 – Julius and the Genius Band with the Music of Prince
5:00 – Stacey Mitchhart
6:00 – Latimore
7:00 – Lakeside Band with Mark Wood
8:00 – Midnight Star
