JazzFest Seeks Local Musicians for 2016

Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues is currently seeking submissions from local musicians to perform at the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival – JazzFest 2016, July 14-16 at Yankton Trail Park. This year marks the 25th celebration of JazzFest.

Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues has created a home for local and regional musical acts on JazzFest’s second stage that includes a wide variety of musical genres. “We are looking forward to having local and regional musicians celebrate the 25th year of JazzFest with us. Each year different and exciting, so we are anxious to see who will be submitting materials to perform there this July. ” said Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Executive Director Robert Joyce.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, March 30, 2016.

Interested musicians can send press kits that include audio samples to:

JazzFest 2016 – 2^nd Stage Submissions
c/o Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues
301 S. Main Avenue
P.O. Box 1285
Sioux Falls, SD 57101

Or email electronic press kits to [email protected].

JazzFest 25 Guitar Art Project to Hit the Road

The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues JazzFest 25 Guitar Art Project will travel to Rapid City for public display in February. The guitars will be on exhibit at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City, SD from February 26th through March 26th.

In honor of the 25th Celebration of JazzFest in July 2016, the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues (SFJB) began the JazzFest 25 Guitar Art Project. Artists throughout South Dakota have individually designed artwork on the canvas of a white Fender Stratocaster guitar. Each artist has been sponsored by a regional business. The guitars will be brought together throughout the year for public displays in Sioux Falls and the region leading up to the festival in July 2016.

The project is to not only join the music and art communities in Sioux Falls, but also help Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues bring awareness to incredible artists in the state, as well as celebrate the 25^th JazzFest in 2016. “This is a milestone year for the festival and we wanted to not only find a way to celebrate all year long, but we thought about how to include visual artists into this project as well,”  Executive Director Robert Joyce states, “so it was exciting to take an iconic image such as the Fender Strat and give it to amazing artists throughout the region and watch them transform it into another piece of art.”

“I think a guitar by itself is a work of art. Add a coat of paint and a little creativity and it becomes special,” stated Sioux Falls artist Steve Brummond.

Additional dates for public viewing in 2016 will be released at a later date.

The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues would like to thank the Sioux Falls Arts Council and South Dakota Arts Council for helping make this project possible. Additionally, a special thanks to the creative artists and their sponsors. Sponsors for the artists currently include CAPITAL Services, HenkinSchultz Creative Services, Hy-Vee, KELOLAND TV, Sanford Health, Midcontinent Communications, Townsquare Media/Results Radio, Vern Eide Motorcars, Metabank, Koch Hazard Architects, Wells Fargo, Nyberg’s Ace, Avera Health, Eide Bailly, Beth Ormseth, Face It TOGETHER, L.G. Everist, Inc., CNA Surety, CorTrust Bank, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, Sammons Financial Group, TSP, Inc., and SFJB Board of Directors.

Mark Colby to Join JazzFest Jazz Camp 2016

Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues announces the guest artist for JazzFest Jazz Camp. Mark Colby will be joining JazzFest Jazz Camp in 2016!

“Mark is a talented educator and musician, who has performed with hundreds of great jazz musicians during his career.  We are excited to have him as our guest artist for this year’s camp and know he’ll do wonderful things with the kids this July.” said Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Executive Director Robert Joyce.

Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues JazzFest Jazz Camp 2016 will be July 12-16 and will take place on the campus of Augustana University. At camp, students will learn from incredible instructors and guest artist Mark Colby through a variety of offerings. Camp class offerings include Jazz improvisation, Jazz Theory, History of Jazz, Combo Rehearsal, Big Band Rehearsal, Lessons, Concerts, Master Classes, evening concerts with faculty, guests, and students.

A huge highlight at camp is performing on stage at JazzFest! The top camp band will perform on the Main Stage at JazzFest with Mark Colby. JazzFest is the biggest jazz and blues festival in the upper Midwest! Featuring past performances by Joe Walsh, Gary Clark Jr., Gov’t Mule, George Thorogood, Sheryl Crow, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Little Feat, Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, North Mississippi Allstars, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Bettye LaVette, Tower of Power, Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, and many, many more.

New!
This year, a vocal component has been added to JazzFest Jazz Camp. Vocalists will learn to sing with an ensemble, combo and develop “jazz” singing skills. Special lessons will be available such as style, interpretation, vocal technique, introduction to music theory, scat singing and more. Plus, top vocalists will be featured with the jazz combos at JazzFest.

Eligibility: All incoming 7th through completed 12th grade musicians and vocalists may apply for submission.

Learn more HERE

JazzFest 25 Guitar Art Project on Display

The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues JazzFest 25 Guitar Art Project is now on display at the Koch Hazard Architects gallery. These guitars will be on display for public viewing between now and January 22nd.

Where: Koch Hazard Architects
Address: 431 N Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Dates: Nov. 30, 2015 – Jan. 22, 2016
Hours: 8am – 5pm, Monday through Thursday

Koch Hazard Architects has enjoyed being a part of the celebration. “Pairing visual artists with musicians is a powerful and fun way to celebrate JazzFest 25, we love supporting the project,” said Stacey McMahan, Principal at Koch Hazard Architects.

Additional dates for public viewing in the spring of 2016 will be released at a later date.

The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues would like to thank the Sioux Falls Arts Council and South Dakota Arts Council for helping make this project possible. Additionally, a special thanks to the creative artists and their sponsors. Sponsors for the artists currently include CAPITAL Services, HenkinSchultz Creative Services, Hy-Vee, KELOLAND TV, Sanford Health, Midcontinent Communications, Townsquare Media/Results Radio, Vern Eide Motorcars, Metabank, Koch Hazard Architects, Wells Fargo, Nyberg’s Ace, Avera Health, Eide Bailly, Beth Ormseth, Face It TOGETHER, L.G. Everist, Inc., CNA Surety, CorTrust Bank, Lynn Jackson Schultz and Lebrun, Sammons Financial Group, TSP, Inc., and the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Board of Directors.

JazzFest 25 Guitar Art Project

In honor of the 25th Celebration of JazzFest in July 2016, the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues (SFJB) began the Guitar Art Project in 2015. Artists throughout South Dakota have individually designed artwork on the canvas of a white Fender Stratocaster guitar. Each artist has been sponsored by a regional business. These guitars are currently being displayed at each sponsor’s business location in Sioux Falls. The guitars will be brought together throughout the year for public displays in Sioux Falls and the region leading up to the festival in July 2016. The dates for the festival are July 14-16.

The project is to not only join the music and art communities in Sioux Falls, but also help Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues bring awareness to incredible artists in the state, as well as celebrate the 25^th JazzFest in 2016. “This is a milestone year for the festival and we wanted to not only find a way to celebrate all year long, but we thought about how to include visual artists into this project as well,” Executive Director Robert Joyce states, “so it was exciting to take an iconic image such as the Fender Strat and give it to amazing artists throughout the region and watch them transform it into another piece of art.”

“I think a guitar by itself is a work of art. Add a coat of paint and a little creativity and it becomes special,” stated Sioux Falls artist Steve Brummond.

A public display of the Guitar Artwork will take place on November 20^th at the Orpheum Theater at the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues show of John Németh. Following this display, guitars will be placed at the Koch Hazard Architects gallery from November 28^th to January 22^nd.   Additional dates for public viewing in the spring of 2016 will be released at a later date.

One of the sponsors of the Guitar Art Project, Koch Hazard Architects, has enjoyed being a part of the celebration. “Pairing visual artists with musicians is a powerful and fun way to celebrate JazzFest 25, we love supporting the project. (The guitar) is sitting in my office, I think there is a bad case of guitar-envy going around.” said Stacey McMahan, Principal at Koch Hazard Architects.

“The guitar artwork will be displayed throughout Sioux Falls and the area leading up to JazzFest in July, and then we hope the guitars will hit the road and travel throughout South Dakota for a year pending some grant funding,” says Joyce.

The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues would like to thank the Sioux Falls Arts Council and South Dakota Arts Council for helping make this project possible. Additionally, a special thanks to the creative artists and their sponsors. Sponsors for the artists currently include CAPITAL Services, HenkinSchultz Creative Services, Hy-Vee, KELOLAND TV, Sanford Health, Midcontinent Communications, Townsquare Media, Vern Eide Motorcars, Metabank, Koch Hazard Architects, Wells Fargo, Nyberg’s Ace, Avera Health, Eide Bailly, Beth Ormseth, Face It TOGETHER, L.G. Everist, Inc., and SFJB Board of Directors.

Read more about Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues HERE

Save the Date!

Be sure to mark your calendars for JazzFest 2016 – July 14-16! In 2016, it’ll be our 25th year celebration of JazzFest! You wont want to miss it!

Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues 6th Annual JazzFest 5K!

Join Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues for the 6th Annual 5K Run/Walk and the 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk out at JazzFest on Saturday, July 18!

Gather some friends or family and join us at Yankton Trail Park for a great way to start off Saturday morning. All proceeds from the race benefit Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues educational programming.

WHAT: JazzFest 5K Run/Walk – 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk
WHEN:  Saturday, July 18 – 8:00am – Packet pickup begins at 7:00am
WHERE:  Yankton Trail Park, Sioux Falls, SD

Following the race and awards, there will be JazzFest Yoga in the Park! The FREE yoga session will begin following the award announcements, approximately 9:15am. This is open to the public for racers and non-racers.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS JULY 1ST! All entrants registered by July 1st are guaranteed a t-shirt. There will be refreshments and awards immediately following the race with an announcement of winners from each age group. Winners in each category will also be announced from the main stage at the festival and their name will appear on the big screen! Music at JazzFest begins at Noon!

Register HERE.

Sponsored by First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, AARP, and Avera Health