Northfield to Host First Annual Jazz Fest

Northfield will host its First Annual Jazz Festival Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15 as part of the community’s ArtSwirl, held annually to celebrate the proliferation of the arts in this historic river town located just south of the Twin Cities.

The Jazz Festival kicks-off in high style on Friday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. with a very special performance by Butch Thompson and his All Stars, (Butch Thompson, piano; Kim Cusack, clarinet; Charlie DeVore, cornet; Bill Evans, trombone; Steve Pikal, bass; and Tom Andrews, drums). yes">  Well known for his long tenure on American Public Media’s very popular “A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor,” Thompson is considered the premier traditional jazz pianist in America today. The performance will be held in Northfield’s historic Grand Theater. Doors open one hour prior to the show and tickets ($10 adults/$6 students) will be available at the door.

On Saturday, August 15, Northfield’s scenic Central Park will provide the backdrop for a day-long outdoor line-up of free musical performances featuring a broad range of local jazz ensembles, including the Joe Strachan Quartet (Noon-1 p.m.), the Over and Back Band, (2-3 p.m.), and Occasional Jazz (4-5 p.m.).

The Jazz Festival is part of the Sixth Annual ArtSwirl, a celebration of the arts in Northfield, running Thursday, August 13 through Sunday, August 16. ArtSwirl celebrates Northfield’s diverse array of music, dance, theater, and literary and visual arts—offering something for everyone of all ages, including theater in the park, music under the stars, gallery crawls and studio tours, hands-on crafts for kids, film screenings and poetry readings, and much, much more. The Northfield Arts Guild also kicks off its 50th anniversary year during ArtSwirl, hosting many special activities in Central Park on August 15 in conjunction with the Jazz Festival. A complete schedule of ArtSwirl events and activities can be found at www.artswirl.org.

Home to Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges, Northfield is located 35 miles south of the Twin Cities. The Grand Theater is located at 316 Washington Street in downtown Northfield. For more information, call (507) 663-1773 or visit www.thegrandnorthfield.com. Central Park is located on Winona Street between Third and Fourth Streets in downtown Northfield.

Northfield’s First Annual Jazz Festival and Sixth Annual ArtSwirl are a co-production of the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) and Carleton College, with additional support from the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) and the Northfield Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

For more information, contact NDDC Executive Director Ross Currier at (507) 663-0319 or rcurrier@nddc.org.