Nashville, Tenn., (June 9, 2020) – The Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership (J.U.M.P.) announced today it is converting this summer’s Jefferson Street Jazz & Blues Festival to a virtual event. To celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary, a virtual concert featuring live music performances honoring the impact of diverse music in Music City (during Black Music Month) will be held on June 20 at 8:00pm via Facebook Live.
“In unprecedented times, our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of our team, our performers and our guests, so we have postponed this year’s in-person music festival,” said Sharon W. Hurt, president and CEO of J.U.M.P. “On this, our 20th anniversary, we are dedicated to continuing to celebrate Nashville’s diverse music history, including the soul-filled sounds found in the night clubs along Jefferson Street and the growing awareness of the musical diversity of our great city.”
On June 20 listeners can join the festival’s virtual 20th anniversary celebration, ‘JJBF Platinum: Black Music Month Edition’ hosted by Councilwoman Sharon W. Hurt. The event will offer music performances streamed free on Facebook Live, featuring interviews with the Nashville Convention & Visitor Center’s Butch Spyridon, Lovenoise’s Eric Holt, famed performer Jimmy Church, jazz singer Paula Chavis, and Nashville Jazz Workshop’s Lori Meacham. Donations collected during the virtual event will support J.U.M.P., whose office was condemned after the March 3 tornado, as well as other businesses on Jefferson Street affected by the devastating weather earlier this year.
“Many businesses along the Jefferson Street corridor are still trying to determine next steps and how to recover from the tornado,” said Hurt. “Economic disparities, coupled with COVID-19, has impacted so many, with several businesses trying to decide whether to re-open or not. Mary’s Barbecue and Sliver Sands Café sustained roof damage, Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church had extensive damage and of course Music City Cleaners, The Lab, J.U.M.P., and StreetWorks no longer have access to what are now our former offices.”
Event organizers are currently reviewing local, state, and federal guidelines related to COVID-19 and evaluating future in-person festival dates. In 2019, 7,000 festival goers attended the two-day event at Bicentennial Mall and State Park, featuring legendary performers Chubb Rock, Mike Phillips and Valerie Simpson, along with Jazz, Blues, and R&B performances.
Jefferson Street Jazz & Blues Festival
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Jefferson Street Jazz & Blues Festival showcases the rich music history of Nashville’s Jefferson Street. The two-day event brings community members together to experience blues, jazz, R&B and hip-hop performances, genres with deep roots in the history of Music City. For more information visit www.nashvillejazzandbluesfest.com, or visit JJBF on Facebook @JeffersonStreetJazzandBluesFestival
Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership
The Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership (JUMP) is a non-profit organization with the mission to develop, foster and promote cooperative economic development through revitalization, acquisition, education and public safety programs in North Nashville. More than 200 individuals and organizations make up JUMP’s active membership under the common goal of keeping Jefferson Street alive and thriving. For more information visit www.jumptojefferson.com visit J.U.M.P. on Facebook @JUMPNashville.