Image Courtesy The Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival
The Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival is back in full swing for its highly anticipated 8th year, ready to captivate audiences with an exceptional lineup of world-class musicians. Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Southfield Municipal Campus, this free award-winning festival on August 9 and 10 promises not just jazz but an abundance of food, fun, and community spirit. A celebrated collaboration between founder Kimmie Horne and the City of Southfield, the festival has grown into the premier summer social event for Southfield residents, drawing larger crowds each year.
In its humble beginnings in Lathrop Village in 2016, the festival started as an intimate “one-day boutique (jazz) festival.” Over the years, it has flourished into a “two-day community extravaganza,” according to Horne, attracting over 20,000 enthusiastic attendees throughout the weekend.
“This idea was uniquely behind all of my dreams and passions, meaning that I had a fitness day where we had an opportunity to invite people to come out and participate and be fit, but also come out and listen to live music from some of my amazing and some of Detroit’s incredibly talented musicians all sharing the stage and that’s how it was born, in 2016,” Horne said.
Kimmie Horne, an unparalleled jazz artist, will be a main attraction at the festival, closing out the festival with a Saturday night performance. Known for her wide vocal range and compelling stage performance, Horne has a captivating presence that has captivated audiences for many years. She comes from a legendary and prestigious musical family: She is the grandniece of the iconic singer Lena Horne and the niece of Cleveland Horne, a member of the esteemed Motown group the Fantastic Four.
Embracing the legacy of her family’s musical talent, Horne has created a unique imprint with the phrase ‘sounding the Horne.’ This expression pays tribute to her late uncle Cleveland and great-aunt Lena Horne, serving as a constant wellspring of inspiration for her music.
“We do a segment in the show every time I’m performing, and we sound the horn in that segment, meaning that we do tributes.”
“I’ll pay tribute to Lena Horne. My oldest brother, Tony Horn, will join me on stage, and we will make sure that we continue to expand the legacy through the generations,” Horne said.
One of the festival’s standout features is the presentation of the annual Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious honor given to a celebrated local artist. This year, the esteemed award’s well-deserved recipient is the iconic Motown legend Freda Payne.
Image Courtesy The Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival
The Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival features incredible live performances from artists such as Lin Rountree, Sean Blackman, and the In-transit Band. A wide range of activities will entertain attendees of all ages.
From mouthwatering local food vendors to carefully selected artist vendors showcasing their unique works, attendees will have the opportunity to experience diverse offerings. In addition, interactive activities such as hula hooping and cruise bike rides will be throughout the event to engage and entertain festival-goers.
The two-day outdoor event, which is free to attend, will not only showcase live music, food trucks, and vendors, but proceeds raised by parking ($10) proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Southfield Public Arts. This year’s foundation proceeds from sponsors will be donated to the John Evan Cash Foundation.
“We will donate part of the proceeds from our sponsorships to that organization as a foundation that believes in supporting mental health,” Horne said.
In 2021, the Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival achieved a remarkable milestone by clinching the prestigious Cultural Entertainment Showcase title at the National Civic League’s 72nd annual All-America City Awards (AAC). As a distinguished national finalist in the AAC, the City of Southfield proudly put forward the Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival to vie in the Showcase, where communities showcased an impressive array of local and national talent, featuring acclaimed Grammy-award winners and chart-topping artists.
“This festival has become a treasured tradition in our community.”
“It allows us to showcase the beauty of jazz and the immense talent that Detroit is known for worldwide. We invite everyone to join us for a weekend of exceptional music, cultural enrichment, and heartfelt connections,” Horne added.
For more information about the 2024 Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival, including the full lineup and schedule of events, visit Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival | City of Southfield [cityofsouthfield.com]
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