Organizers are inviting all hired musicians to perform next year

NORTHAMPTON—Due to the current regulations regarding community health and limitations on public gatherings brought on by COVID-19, the Northampton Jazz Festival has made the decision to postpone its 2020 festival scheduled for the first weekend in October. 

The Northampton Jazz Festival is a celebration of jazz music held yearly in downtown Northampton, collaborating with local businesses and performers to provide the community with musical performances. From jazz strolls to intimate venues with Grammy Award winning performers, this weekend has become a staple of the community. 

This year’s lineup was to include musicians who have performed on Broadway, held Billboard Top 100 titles, and been celebrated in DownBeat jazz magazine. Festival leaders intend to secure as many of these musicians for the 2021 season as they can; the event will be held on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, 2021. 

The organization plans to maintain a strong social media presence to connect jazz lovers with live concerts they can safely watch from home. Furthermore, the Board of Directors is working under the guidance of both city and state public health officials to collaborate with local musicians, city partners, and downtown businesses.

Through these means, festival leaders are working on a plan to provide downtown Northampton with quality jazz performances in a safe way. As Massachusetts transitions through its four-phase reopening, more details will be confirmed. While the festival cannot continue as intended this year, organizers hope to bring a celebration of jazz music to the community in a different and safe form.

President Ruth Griggs who has been leading the festival for three years said, “We are truly saddened by the reality that this coronavirus has forced on us, but our most important goal is to provide a pleasurable, meaningful, and safe experience for our jazz fans, jazz musicians, and to our community partners. Unfortunately, we recognize that we just won’t be able to achieve that in this pandemic environment.”

For more information, visit www.northamptonjazzfest.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/northamptonjazzfest or on Instagram at @northamptonjazzfest or email to: info@northamptonjazzfest.org.

The post Northampton Jazz Festival to Postpone its 2020 Season appeared first on Beetle Press.