The Bad Plus will play JF this year, one of my favorite modern jazz groups
I can here the f’ing whiners already, “Who is Elvin Bishop?” Well guess what, it does not matter, he rocks and he is good, and nobody is charging you to see him. So if you don’t like it, pack up your Walmart lawnchair, your ugly fat wife and rug rats and go home, so the rest of us music fans can enjoy it in Peace.
A tough economy meant a $65,000 decline in sponsorships that keep the festival free, said Robert Joyce, executive director of the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society. That put a dent in what was about a $265,000 budget last summer.
Less money meant trimming costs in part by spending less on entertainers, Joyce said, but the festival still has about the same number of bands and quality of performers.
Sorry if I am a little harsh, but I wanted to nip this in the butt early. Every year I hear people bitch about Jazzfest. Only in Sioux Falls would our cheap asses bitch about FREE entertainment.
I love Jazzfest and have been very impressed with the acts the past few years. Jonny Lang was the highlight for me as I’ve been a big fan of his for years, but I’m appalled that when I walk in and they ask for donations only one out of 20 people actually gives anything.
Last year I went there and gave the woman $5 as I was walking in… she acted like I just saved her first born from death. That tells me right there that very few people give over a buck or two if at all.
I can’t wait to see The Bad Plus again. When they played a few years ago, I remember being completely slackjawed at David King’s drumming. It was jazz personified.
The people watching alone is worth $5.
One of my friends has nicknamed the festival “Teenage Skin Fest”