DETROIT, MI — The Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest (and best) free jazz festival announced today that all three of its downtown stages will be consolidated within Hart Plaza for future festivals. The updated footprint enhances the audience experience, improves mobility, and strengthens the Festival’s long-term ability to remain free and accessible to the public.
While the downtown JPMorgan Chase Main Stage is being relocated to Hart Plaza, the total number of stages and performances will remain unchanged. Audiences can continue to expect the same world-class lineup, artistic excellence, and vibrant energy that have defined the Detroit Jazz Festival for more than four decades.
The fourth stage at the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center on the campus of Wayne State University, will also continue to be an integral part of the Festival’s programming, ensuring that Detroit’s rich jazz legacy remains front and center.
“Bringing all of our downtown stages together at Hart Plaza allows us to create a more connected, immersive, and accessible Festival experience,” said Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation President & Artistic Director Chris Collins. “This new footprint is a refinement. The music, the artists, and the scale of the Festival remain the same, while the experience becomes even stronger for our audiences.”
The consolidated footprint offers several key benefits, including improved audience flow, easier access between stages, and greater operational efficiency. Most importantly, the move supports the Festival’s mission to remain free for the community.
“Although we have enjoyed having the JPMorgan Chase Main Stage in the Campus Martius area for many years, we fully support the consolidation of the Detroit Jazz Festival into Hart Plaza,” says Jason Tinsley, Vice Chairman of J.P Morgan Private Bank. “The security and accessibility advantages are critically important. We look forward to welcoming the festival’s thousands of attendees to our new location in Hart Plaza.”
“The Detroit Jazz Festival has always been about accessibility, excellence, and celebrating Detroit’s musical heritage without barriers,” added Collins.
More information, including updated site maps and programming details, will be released closer to the Festival dates.
Keep It Free
Since 1980, the Detroit Jazz Festival has remained the world’s largest free jazz festival. With your support, it stays that way. Donate here.
About the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation
Under the leadership of President and Artistic Director Chris Collins, the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that presents jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. The Foundation produces the Detroit Jazz Festival, which is the signature event for the Foundation and the largest free jazz festival in the world. The Festival is also a major tourist attraction for the City of Detroit, with 26 percent of its audience coming from out of state. For more information, visit detroitjazzfest.org.
The Detroit Jazz Festival is supported by the Gretchen C. Valade Endowment for the Arts, a private foundation generously created by the late Angel of Jazz, Gretchen C. Valade. The Foundation also receives grant funding from the DTE Foundation, Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, Kresge Foundation, the Knight Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest and the Carolyn and Mel Wanzo Music Legacy Endowment. Hundreds of individuals also contribute to the Festival through membership and donations.
Major corporate partners include Rocket Companies, Carhartt, JPMorgan Chase, AARP, Absopure, and Kia.
Media partners include Fox 2 Detroit, 760 WJR, WEMU-FM, DownBeat, WDET-FM 101.9, WRCJ 90.9 FM, Channel 22, City of Detroit’s new arts and entertainment channel, and Detroit PBS.
For more information, visit:
Website – www.detroitjazzfest.org
Facebook — @DetroitJazzFestival
Twitter — @DetroitJazzFest
Instagram — @DetroitJazzFest
