Harborpark Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Festival

******ATTENTION THIS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO UW-PARKSIDE DUE TO WEATHER********

This is a one-day regional music festival, held at UW-Parkside

The festival takes place on Saturday, August 17th. Gates open at 12:00 PM. The festival kicks off at 12:45 PM with the popular “Cooking Studio”, an interactive cooking demonstration with local and regional chefs. The Cooking Studio provides the gourmet foodie and aspiring cooks a gorgeous lakefront atmosphere to learn the tricks of the trade in a mock Kitchen environment.

The music starts at 2:00 PM.

The HarborPark Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Festival provides a wonderfully diverse mixture of music on Kenosha’s scenic lakefront. Drawing visitors from all over the Midwest, including Michigan, Milwaukee, Chicagoland area and beyond, the event showcases the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan and highlights Kenosha’s dedication to the arts and cultural activities. The event has welcomed various national and regional jazz artists and attracted thousands of music fans to this scenic park. Previous artists include Paul Taylor, Ramsey Lewis, Alex Bugnon, Nick Colionne, Len Rainey and the Midnight Players, Spyro Gyra, Nelson Rangell, Euge Groove, Eric Marienthal, David Benoit, Richard Elliott, and Norman Brown just to name a few.

Silent Auction, Wine Pull and Raffle:

Besides listening to quality music throughout the day, patrons will be able to purchase tickets for the 50/50 raffle and participate in the very popular Silent auction and “Wine Pull”, giving supporters the opportunity of winning top quality bottles of wines and fun prize packages including weekend getaways in Chicago, a Milwaukee Bourbon Tasting experience, Jazz Experiences, exquisite dining options at Capital Grille and Bartolotta’s restaurants along with Packers, Brewers, Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks ticket options just to name a few.

Tickets:

Tickets can be purchased now online or at Tenuta’s Deli (3203 52nd Street). General admission lawn seats are $35 in advance and $45 at the gate. VIP tickets are $95 (includes concert ticket, food, complimentary beer, and wine). Alcoholic carry-ins are strictly prohibited.

All proceeds benefit the Mahone Fund, a component of the Kenosha Community Foundation. The mission is to provide educational opportunities for economically and academically deserving youth and to support healthy lifestyle initiatives in communities of color.

2024 Music Lineup:

2:00 PM: Ben Woods & Friends

Ben Woods is an aspiring artist from the Kenosha Area. A former 2019 Mahone CEO Scholarship recipient, who currently holds a BFA in Theatre from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. He released his first single in 2017 called “For You”. After receiving over 21,000 Spotify streams, he continued to release more music. In 2020, Ben released a holiday project titled “Winter My Love”. Then he released another song, “New Day” in 2021. Ben was the winner of the “Youth Artist Award” by Regina Taylor back in 2021. While in Texas, Ben worked as a contracted musician and worship leader for The Potter’s House church in Dallas. Throughout his time there he worked with countless artists, even performing all over the DFW area. The Harbor Park Jazz Rhythm & Blues Festival will be Ben’s debut live-performance in his hometown. His music genre/style comprises a plethora of sounds such as R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop, Gospel, and Funk. Currently, Ben is planning to release an EP titled “Changed” in the coming year.

3:15 PM: Demetria Taylor Blues Band

Demetria Taylor has been performing at BLUE CHICAGO since 2010. She is the seventh child of eight from the family of the late blues legend Eddie Taylor Sr. and is helping keep the legacy of her father alive. Eddie is best known as the rhythm guitarist in the band of Jimmy Reed but he also had his own solo career and recorded some wonderful sides for the VJ label including the classic “Bad Boy”. Her mother Vera Taylor was also a blues singer. Demetria has fond memories of blues greats and friends of the family coming by the house– including Floyd Jones, Carey Bell, Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Littlejohn, Sam Lay, Willie Kent, Tail Dragger, Eddie Shaw, Johnny B. Moore and Magic Slim. Born in Chicago, Demetria grew up surrounded by Blues music – listening on records to her biggest influences including Etta James, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton and most importantly, “The Queen of The Blues” Koko Taylor (no relation to the Eddie Taylor family). Demetria started playing drums at age 14, coached by her older brothers Larry and Tim, both professional blues drummers. She played in family shows across Chicago which also featured brother Eddie Taylor Jr. on guitar. She also sang in the gospel choir at Trinity All Nations Church on Chicago’s south side. “I put God first and everything else will work out”, says Demetria. “I feel that singing is something I was born to do. Sometimes on the stage my eyes tear up as I feel the music I’m singing. I love to listen to all types of music, but the blues caught my ear. I’ll never give up my dream.” Demetria has toured nationally and internationally and performs in many clubs and festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival. Her first album, Bad Girl, is on Delmark Records. Demetria was nominated in 2012 Blues Music Awards for “Best New Debut Artist”.

5:00 PM: Christopher’s Project featuring all new Steppers/Line dancing set

Event organizers have joined forces with the Milwaukee Steppers and Ballroomers United (MSBU) and Racine’s DSD Steppers to highlight the popular dance segment entitled “Stepping for Academic Excellence”. Milwaukee’s Christopher’s Project will provide a mixture of old school, soul, jazz, and r&b music for the audience to showcase their dance routines and learn the art of Chicago Style Stepping and Line Dancing; both an improvisational form of partner dancing with its roots in such dance styles as the Chicago Bop, the Lindy Hop and Western Swing. The crowd will be invited to learn some of the most popular line dances, including Flashing by Dial Tone the Producer, Feel So Right by Janet Jackson, and for those who like something a bit slower and easier, Cupid Flex by Cupid and GLU by Usher. Christopher’s Project has been entertaining fans for over 20 Years. The band is led by Christopher Pipkins; a 3-time winner of Showtime At the Apollo, recipient of The Black Excellence Award in Music, and current member of the Milwaukee Bucks Entertainment Team.

7:30 PM: Jonathan Butler

Born in South Africa under the shadow of apartheid and raised in poverty, Jonathan Butler was the first non-white artist to be played on South African radio and appear on national television. Though his musical abilities would take him away from the world he grew up in, Jonathan would neither forget the plight of his fellow South Africans, nor the man that led them to freedom. It is for this reason Nelson Mandela credits Jonathan Butler’s music as having inspired him during his imprisonment. In more ways than one, Jonathan Butler is representative of South Africa.