Blaine Harbor Music Festival is making its jazzy return to downtown Blaine, giving the community a chance to listen to and learn from award-winning artists, both local and from all over the world. The festival will run from Sunday, July 6 through Saturday, July 12.
“The unique thing about this is the kids get to work with professional musicians,” said DeeDee Marshall, board president of Blaine Harbor Music Festival. “Then, the musicians watch the kids perform and perform with them. It’s really unique, so it’s exciting for the kids and the community.”
Musicians and composers will teach youth ages 12-20 of various skill levels in a camp throughout the week of the festival. The classes include music theory, jazz and improvisation building skills and ensemble practice.
This year’s returning camp faculty includes artistic director Nick Biello, Berklee College of Music professor Greg Hopkins and Grammy winner Charlie Porter. Mark Ivester and three-time Latin Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Jovino Santos Neto will also be teaching.
“It feels like a family reunion,” Marshall said. “They get here and everybody hugs. It’s an exciting catchup time. They’ve been coming here for so long that it feels like their second home for the summer.”
The festival will put on free concerts at noon Monday through Friday at G Street Plaza in downtown Blaine as well as at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the plaza.The noon performances will bring the Mark Kelly Group on Monday, David Marriott Jr. Ensemble on Tuesday, David Joyner Ensemble on Wednesday, Nick Biello Quintet on Thursday and sus4 opening for Bob Storms Trad Jazz on Friday.
The evening free concerts at G Street Plaza will feature Greta Matassa and the Jazz Vocal Stars on Monday, Jon Mutchler Ensemble Jazz Faculty All-Stars on Tuesday and Electric Fusion on Wednesday.
The campers and instructors will show off their new skills at the Student Showcase Spectacular at 7 p.m. Friday at the Blaine Performing Arts Center, 975 H Street.
The festival will wrap up Saturday with student performances and a street fair at 11 a.m. at G and H Street plazas in downtown Blaine.
The only ticketed event at the festival this year is the Big Band Swing Dance at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnstar Events in Ferndale. The event, which costs $75, will have live music under the direction of Greg Hopkins, swing dancing lessons, dinner and more.
“I love that we get to bring this high level, high-class festival and the experience for kids and our community,” Marshall said. “They have been working so hard and there’s so much creative energy going into it.”
For more information, visit blaineharbormusicfestival.org.
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