The Jackson Unity Festival will debut this summer as a sister festival to Detroit’s 26th Annual Concert of Colors. For 26 years, the Concert of Colors has featured artists from around the world in performances throughout Metro Detroit and now is welcoming Jackson as its first ever sister city.
Spotlighting vulnerable communities, this year’s new diversity-themed music festival produced by the Jackson Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the Michigan Theatre of Jackson, and the Jackson Symphony Orchestra (JSO) with its partner Jackson County NAACP takes place Wednesday July 11 through Sunday, July 15, 2018, at venues throughout downtown Jackson including the Michigan Theatre and the Weatherwax Hall.
Detroit musical son Don Was is already hard at work on his 11th Detroit All-Star Revue, curating classic and contemporary artists befitting the theme Detroit Rocks! for his 8 p.m. Sunday, July 15, first ever performance at the Michigan Theatre. The full concert lineup will be released later this spring.
Inspired by the Concert of Colors, the Jackson DDA, Michigan Theatre, and JSO have collaborated to bring a stellar lineup of musical talent from across the world to downtown Jackson. Learn more at www.jacksonunityfestival.org.
“The Jackson Unity Festival was borne out of a desire to bring world-class music, arts and thinking from around the world to downtown Jackson,” says Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies. “As a sister festival of the Concert of Colors in Detroit, Jackson Unity Festival becomes a conduit for our city to take an active role in understanding every individual’s importance. We are proud to be a part of this event.”
The Jackson Unity Festival has the whole world in its bands. Produced by the Jackson Downtown Development Authority, Michigan Theatre of Jackson, and the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Unity Festival will be a highly anticipated and beloved free summer event.
“Working with the Detroit contingency has been an inspiration for us as a group. Ismael Ahmed and Kathryn Grabowski of the Arab American National Museum, as well as all of the partners for Concert of Colors, have been very gracious with their knowledge and experience to ensure Jackson Unity Festival is a success,” Nathan Mack, DDA Executive Director, said.
Jackson Unity Festival is happy to announce that Jackson’s leading institutions have generously contributed support for the 2018 festival, which includes: Consumers Energy, Tripp’s Auto Shop, Experience Jackson, the Anchor Initiative, CP Federal Credit Union, Louis Glick Foundation, JTV and American Title Company.
The complete 2018 Jackson Unity Festival lineup and performance will be published this spring at www.jacksonunityfestival.org.
All performances and the Forum on Community, Culture, & Race are free and open to the public.