JazzFest is stepping up its tempo this year with the addition of Jazz After Dark.
The 15th annual event will be held on Murfreesboro’s historic downtown square this Friday and Saturday with live jazz, food and fun all day. But once the sun sets and the stars come out, the music moves indoors.
Such a relationship between JazzFest and downtown bars and restaurants seemed natural, according to event chairman Mike Bickford, who also owns Screen Art.
“Once JazzFest is over with then the true jazz fans will patronize the restaurants and have a place to go to carry on into the wee hours of the morning, if they want,” he explained.
“It’s more of a partnership to synchronize what’s going on up on the square that night with the local (bars and) restaurants. As a result of Jazz After Dark, they could very well pick up new patrons that wouldn’t have otherwise gone there. It’s exposure to a whole demographic that they wouldn’t otherwise tap into, or would have to spend a fortune to get to.”
Currently, four venues have committed to offering live jazz for the inaugural Jazz After Dark event, according to coordinator Mike Zelenak, owner of Maple Street Grill and Maple Street Uncorked.
Liquid Smoke, Bluesboro, Maple Street Uncorked and 3 Brothers Deli & Brewhouse will all be offering music Saturday night.
“Everybody seems pretty excited about it,” Zelenak said.
“It just makes sense for us to be able to do something like that. Usually, after (JazzFest) was over, people would just leave the square. Since they’re already here listening to jazz, which is already what they like, why not get them in here listening.”
Rob Fortney, owner of Bluesboro and co-owner of 3 Brothers Brewhouse & Deli, agreed, saying that Jazz After Dark provides an opportunity for attendees to listen to local jazz artists.
“It’s a reason to stick around and see local jazz up close and personal,” he said. “I would like to see seven or eight of these businesses (in the future) offering either single jazz artists or multiple jazz artists and see local jazz artists participating because there’s a ton of local jazz artists here.” MP |
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