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SOUTHFIELD — Last year saw the return of the Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival after its cancellation in 2020 due to the pandemic. Officials say its return last year was stronger than ever, and they’re looking for another strong showing this year.
The sixth annual Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival will take place 6-10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, and 3-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, with other events in the morning. The venue is the front lawn of the Southfield Municipal Campus, located at 26000 Evergreen Road. The event is open to the public, and admission is free.
“We’re extremely excited to bring (the festival) back to Southfield,” said jazz artist Kimmie Horne, the event’s namesake, via email. “There is truly something for everyone — this year’s festival promises to be the best yet. You won’t want to miss this exciting weekend of peace, love and music!”
The lineup for Aug. 12 includes Demetrius Nabors at 6 p.m., The Satin Dolls at 7:20 p.m., and Randy Scott at 9 p.m. The lineup for Aug. 13 includes Michael Brock at 3 p.m., Scott Gwinnell at 4:30 p.m., Leslie DeShazor at 6 p.m., Daryl Beebe at 7:30 p.m. and Kimmie Horne at 9 p.m.
There will also be a lifetime achievement award presented at 7:15 p.m.
On Aug. 13, the festival will also have family-friendly fitness programming in the morning, with the 5K Jazzy Walk commencing at 8 a.m., the Jazzy Roll Bike Cruise at 8:30 a.m., the High-Stepping Majorettes at 9 a.m., and the Jazzy Diva Hula Hoop Workout at 10 a.m.
It’s recommended that guests bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. While the event is free, VIP parking will be available on the campus for $10 in both the north and south parking lots. Proceeds from parking will benefit the Friends of the Southfield Public Arts. There will also be a variety of food and drinks available for purchase from several food trucks, as well as boutique vendors.
The festival originally began in Lathrup Village in 2016 — conceived by Horne, collaborator Michael Cash and their production team — and has continued to grow ever since. It first moved to Southfield in 2018, where it was well-received by the public. Officials say that guests appreciate the convenient location and amenities, and the beautiful backdrop of the Southfield skyline.
The event has also garnered national acclaim, winning the Cultural Entertainment Showcase in the National Civic League’s 72nd annual All-America City Awards in 2021. Nominated by the city of Southfield, the festival competed in the showcase as a national finalist alongside community events featuring Grammy Award winners and bestselling artists. The festival won with the most online votes out of the 60 total entries nationwide.
Sponsors for this year’s festival include the city of Southfield, Varsity Lincoln, Lume Cannabis, Ascension Providence, Henry Ford Health, MGM Grand Casino, General RVs, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Farbman Group, DTE, Holly Construction, Orchard Children’s Services, and the Southfield Chamber of Commerce.
“The Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival is one of the city of Southfield’s signature summer events,” said Michael Manion, the city’s community relations director, in an email. “It’s always great to see so much talent on one stage, with thousands of residents and guests attending from all over the metro area. The festival produces yet another great opportunity to visit Southfield.”
