Giving Hunger The Blues adds Jazz On The Bay stage

A local music festival dedicated to feeding the hungry is shaking things up by bringing jazz into the mix.

Giving Hunger The Blues has raised money and awareness in order to “feed, protect and nurture children and families in our community” for the last 21 years. This year’s event, which will be held from noon to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, will feature the addition of the brand new Jazz On The Bay stage. The national jazz stage will sit right alongside Sarasota Bay and is being done in partnernship with the Jazz Club of Sarasota. It will feature eight local and regional artists and will be headlined by American saxophonist and composer Marion Meadows, who has 13 published albums to his name.

Peter Andrews, event chair for Giving Hunger The Blues, says that his attendance of New Orleans music festivals helped to inspire the new addition.

“The main thing is just a dramatically expanded event. We will be adding a completely new performance area on the grounds of the Van Wezel,” Andrews said. “I love the concept of a multi-stage event so that people can hear a variety of music.”

But Andrews says that returning guests can still expect the blues, rock and funk that have served as the foundation of the event since its inception. The Rhythm and Blues stage, which has long been a staple of the concert, will feature such nationally recognized headliners as John Nemeth and Albert Castiglia. While the full lineup hasn’t officially been announced, Andrews says that patrons can expect the biggest local names in the genre.

According to Andrews, Giving Hunger The Blues is the largest single-day charity event in Sarasota County. This fact isn’t lost on him. “I couldn’t consider myself more fortunate to be able to combine two of the things that are most important to me: music and giving back to the community,” he said.

For him, this makes the stress of producing an event of this magnitude worthwhile.

Peg Pluto, president of the Jazz Club of Sarasota, is excited to be involved with the festival.

“The festival has a long and successful tradition of raising funds to feed, nurture and protect the children of Sarasota County,” Pluto said in a written statement. “The Jazz Club Board, the club’s members and area jazz musicians look forward to enhancing the festival’s success at achieving this mission and helping to bring the best in local jazz entertainment to the festival’s Jazz Stage.”

In addition to the main festival, the Friday before at the Van Wezel will see the organizations second annual Halloween party, aptly named Giving Hunger The Booze. According to Andrews, the event will be produced in collaboration with the band Reverend Barry & Funktastic Soul featuring the Hellacious Horns.

Details: Noon-9 p.m. Oct. 28, grounds of Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. Rain or shine. VIP Packages are also available. givinghungertheblues.org.

This story was originally published August 3, 2017 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Giving Hunger The Blues adds Jazz On The Bay stage."