JACKSON, MI – Jackson College invites the community to celebrate Juneteenth with a free Tribute to Motown concert, featuring the Detroit-area band Hot Ice, with opening acts Code Blu Steel and Brandon Marceal, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. June 20 at the Riverwalk Amphitheater, Jackson.
Hot Ice is a seven-piece band that appeals to a broad age range that has been performing its own unique style of music for years. They present a variety of hits from Motown to Top 40, standards, salsa, disco and more. They are top musicians who will have you dancing in the aisles!
Opening act Code Blu Steel is a funk band from Jackson that performs a mixture of R&B and rock. They say their music doesn’t really fit into one genre; they try to create music that is loved by all. Influences on the band’s musicians include Queen, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Prince, Earth, Wind and Fire, AC/DC, and many more.
Brandon Marceal is a Jackson-Lansing area flutist who brings a refreshing and soothing voice to jazz, hip hop gospel and funk. Having dedicated decades to pursuing a passion for his instrument, Marceal makes the flute a voice for his personality! Whether playing a cover tune or an original composition, each song is infused with a spirit and passion all its own.
The Juneteenth Celebration is a free community event hosted by the Jackson College Office of Multicultural Affairs. All are welcome to attend.
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of freedom for African-Americans. Originally celebrated on June 19, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas and originated in Galveston in 1865. The observance of Juneteenth as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today, Juneteenth commemorates African-American freedom and emphasizes achievement.