SUDBURY --
Sudbury’s Jazz Festival is the latest to adapt to the changing times.
What is typically an outdoor festival and social gathering in August is now bringing local talent to the downtown every Saturday.
Downtown Sudbury BIA, Jazz Sudbury, and the Sudbury Arts Council put the idea into action, and are hoping it continues every Saturday until the middle of October.
“We thought it would be a good time to try and do an activity, this is not an event, the size of a rib fest or a yard sale,” said Downtown Sudbury BIA executive director Maureen Luoma.
“But to do an event that would activate the streets, feature our local musicians, and artists and bring something for the community to enjoy.”
To kick off the first ever “Downtown Sudbury Jazzed Up” three local bands and three local artists headlined the day.
Every Saturday different musicians will be apart of the event.
“There’s only a certain amount of jamming in your basement or virtual performances you can do. Just to be able to actually come out and share spaced and have a live audience even if they’re distanced from each other, I still think that is super important to them,” said Katherine Smith from Jazz Sudbury.
Organizers say they are hopeful that the program will help bring much needed support for downtown shops and restaurants. Supporting local is something they are trying to promote.
“We are hoping to support the downtown business so that it’s still here for us after all this is said and done,” said Linda Cartier from the Sudbury Arts Council.
Come summer 2021 organizers are hoping Jazz Festival can return but say they are planning on continuing with “Downtown Sudbury Jazzed Up” as a way of showing Sudbury live music leading up to the event.
