Summer Solstice Jazz Festival Celebrates 30 Years of Tradition & Timeless Music

Summer is here and with it comes festival season. The 30th annual Summer Solstice Jazz Festival returns to downtown East Lansing on Friday and Saturday, bringing free live music and activities.

In 1996, former East Lansing Arts Commission co-chair Al Cafagna had an idea to host a solstice celebration, similar to those popular in Europe. The heart of the event is to celebrate the spirit of jazz music in downtown East Lansing. The event has grown from 800 attendees to about 10,000 over its 30 years.

Colleen Armitage is the community events specialist and coordinator for the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival. She’s been in this role for three years, and is proud to work behind the scenes to put on such an important community event.

“It’s the 30th anniversary and we are very excited about it,” Armitage said. “We have commemorative stickers and pens to hand out this year, and we have a few wonderful MSU students playing on our MSU Education Stage, led by legendary local jazz artists.”

The festival will take place on Friday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 2:30 to 10 p.m. Before the festival, there’s a special kickoff event at Beggar’s Banquet on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring the Max Gage Group. Tickets are available online. 

Musicians of varying genres including jazz, bebop, blues and Latin perform live. The event is free to attend, unlike many large jazz music festivals that carry costly ticket prices.

“Free anything is always a plus, but free jazz is a major win for our community,” Armitage said. “We have a great kids section to entertain your littles while here, with a craft table, free face painting, an instrument petting zoo, cornhole — it’s a really fun laid back time.”

This year’s festival footprint remains the same, with the Al and Beth Cafagna Founders’ Stage in front of Harper’s off of Albert Avenue, and the MSU Outreach and Engagement Education Stage near the Ann Street Plaza and M.A.C. Avenue. 

“I love seeing the people enjoy jazz, it is so much fun watching kids experience the genre for the first time and ask about the instruments being played,” Armitage said. “There is really something special about an event that can bring people together.”

The full Friday lineup is as follows: Erena Terakubo Quartet from 6 to 7 p.m., Mike Dease from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Melissa Morgan Quintet from 9 to 10 p.m. on the Al and Beth Cafagna Founders’ Stage. At the MSU Outreach and Engagement Education Stage, is Keith Hall Brazilian Jazz Trio from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Legendary Mentor: Jeff Pedraz & students from 7 to 8 p.m., and Legendary Mentor: Jef Haas & students from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the lineup includes: Vanessa Rubin Quartet from 3 to 4 p.m., The Gathering Orchestra from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Rodney Whitaker Quintet from 6 to 7 p.m., The Vibe Summit from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Orquesta Ritmo from 9 to 10 p.m. on the Founders’ Stage. At the MSU Outreach and Engagement Education Stage, there is JAMM Scholarship Group from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Detroit Tenors from 4 to 5 p.m., 496 West from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Randy “Uncle G” Gelispie from 7 to 8 p.m., and Legendary Mentors: Curtis Taylor & students from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

In addition to free live music, the event’s location also makes it ideal to support locally owned businesses, including restaurants or bars before and after the festival. 

“This free music festival is held on the street on Albert Avenue, so there are a ton of restaurants and local businesses to go in and have a great meal while experiencing the festival, like the Fieldhouse, Hopcat and Jolly Pumpkin,” Armitage said. 

Volunteer shifts are available for online sign-up, including slots for set-up, info/merch tent, artist check-in/green room monitor, bucket brigade, clean-up, and more.