EAST LANSING, Mich. — The 2021 Summer Solstice Jazz Festival (SSJF) will be presented to the community in a virtual/hybrid format* from June 25-27.
In partnership with the MSU College of Music, 18 bands will perform live sets at Murray Hall in MSU’s Billman Music Pavilion, which will be livestreamed on the SSJF Facebook page and YouTube channel for community members to enjoy virtually. Additionally, community members can enjoy viewing/listening to the festival’s livestream at several community locations. The schedule is provided below:
Friday, June 25 – 6-11:30 p.m.
Online on YouTube and Facebook
https://www.youtube.com/c/summersolsticejazzfestival
https://www.facebook.com/SummerSolsticeJazzFestival
Downtown East Lansing, Albert EL Fresco pedestrian space (Albert Avenue between M.A.C. Avenue and Abbot Road)
Audio only, 6-11 p.m.
Beggar’s Banquet (218 Abbot Road)
Audio and video, 6-9 p.m.
East Lansing Hannah Community Center, Albert A. White Performing Arts Theatre (819 Abbot Road)
Audio and video, 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, June 26 – noon– 11:30 p.m.
Online on YouTube or Facebook
https://www.youtube.com/c/summersolsticejazzfestival
https://www.facebook.com/SummerSolsticeJazzFestival
Downtown East Lansing, Albert EL Fresco pedestrian space (Albert Avenue between M.A.C. Avenue and Abbot Road)
Audio only, noon-11 p.m.
Beggar’s Banquet (218 Abbot Road)
Audio and video, 3-9 p.m.
Sunday, June 27 – noon– 8:30 p.m.
Online on YouTube or Facebook
https://www.youtube.com/c/summersolsticejazzfestival
https://www.facebook.com/SummerSolsticeJazzFestival
Downtown East Lansing, Albert EL Fresco pedestrian space (Albert Avenue between M.A.C. Avenue and Abbot Road)
Audio only, noon-8:30 p.m.
This year’s festival lineup includes the following musicians/groups: Arlene McDaniel Quartet, the Sunny Wilkinson Quartet, the Diego Rivera Quartet, Grupo Aye, the Juan Cortes Quartet, the Ciara Connolly Quartet, Jordyn Davis and Composetheway, Sam Corey, Roger Jones and Higher Calling, Gayelynn McKinney and McKinney Zone, Andrew Speight, Orquesta Ritmo, Heartland Klezmorim, Kammy Yedor, Noah Jackson, Randy Napoleon, Naima Shamborguer and the Pick and Roll Band and the Rodney Whitaker Group. The performer schedule and bios can be found on the SSJF webpage: https://www.eljazzfest.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=33.
The 2021 Summer Solstice Jazz Festival is produced by the City of East Lansing in partnership with the MSU College of Music. Major support for the 2021 festival is provided by the Michigan State University Office of the Provost, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union/Desk Drawer Fund and Michigan State University Outreach and Engagement.
*Due to the need to make determinations about the festival far enough in advance to plan logistics, it was determined early in the festival planning stages that it would not be feasible to hold a traditional, in-person festival in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of East Lansing and SSJF are proud to present robust live, virtual programming and viewing/listening locations for those wishing to gather for this year’s festival, with plans to bring back a traditional, in-person festival in 2022.