By ROBIN STANTON GERROW
BG Independent News
This Sunday, for the 20th time, vocal harmonies and instrumental jazz will fill the air in Grand Rapids with the Sunset Jazz and Art Festival, Northwest Ohio’s longest-running jazz festival.
Hosted by the Grand Rapids Arts Council (GRAC), the festival kicks off at 2 p.m. and ends at sunset on the towpath in downtown. Admission is free, and beverages will be sold at the event.
Started in 2005 by past GRAC president Julie Pontasch, and jazz enthusiast and performer Tim Tiderman, the event draws an audience from across the region and beyond.
“Last year we had about 1,000 people attend,” said Robin Dudley, of the GRAC. “We’ve had people from as far away as Hawaii and Colorado who might be visiting family and make the time to come to our small town for the event.”
She said in addition to the music and plein air artists, the location of the event on the towpath is a big attraction.
“We love the towpath,” she said. “It’s a beautiful environment right on the river. You’ll have a breeze, and you may see eagles and other interesting birds. One year, we had a musician just stop playing his horn in the middle of his song to watch an eagle fly right down the river—he was so happy about it.”
Dudley, who has been volunteering for the festival since its beginning, said the festival was established for the love of the community.
“Our town is so small and so absolutely adorable,” she said, “And we have such great volunteers. When we ask for help, they are always there.”
GRAC president Diana Votava, said the festival is all about bringing people into Grand Rapids.
“The more cultural and artistic events we have, the more likely people will want to visit,” she said. “We hope to draw more audience members so they can see all Grand Rapids has to offer, including our shops and restaurants.”
Attendees are welcome to bring chairs, but coolers are not permitted. Food from local restaurants can be brought into the festival, and the Boy Scouts will be selling sandwiches on-site.
While some years bring musicians from all over Ohio and Michigan, this year the line-up is all local.
“Tim Tiderman is our music director, and he knows everyone in the industry from rock’n’roll to gospel to jazz,” Dudley said. “So, we always have wonderful musicians.”
This year’s schedule is:
2:30-3:15 p.m.: Brad Billmaier and friends
3:30-4:30 p.m.: Breezin’ AJ Tscherne, Tom Ritter, Scott Kretzer and Pete Ford
4:45-5:45 p.m.: Jason Quick Trio
6 -7 p.m.: Sixth Edition
7:15 p.m.-Sunset: Organic Ingredients
