The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce Smokin' Jazz Barbecue Blues Festival was created approximately three years ago, and after its conception quickly became Brighton's hippest event.  Not only does this event bring you authentic jazz, blues and zykeco, but it also offers some of the tastiest barbecue this side of the Mason/Dixon line.  Smokin' hot, tasty and tangy sauce will coat some of the most tender pork you can imagine.  Musicians and food vendors from across this great country will converge in Brighton the first weekend in September, creating an Olympic scale event that puts your senses at center stage.

Speaking of stages, because of the success of this festival, we have expanded our space and relocated the main stage and beer/wine tent to a larger venue.  This year the main stage, now known as the Mill Pond Stage, will be located in the Municipal Parking Lot (thank you City of Brighton!) and will also be filled with rhythm and blues both Friday night and all day Saturday.  Food vendors enter the Main Street scene on Saturday morning, as will a second stage located in front of the Yum Yum Tree, appropriately named the West Street Stage.  The Festival's entertainment area has been enlarged.  We have experienced how multitudes of Livingston County residents love to hang out with their neighbors listening to jazz and blues while sipping on their favorite beverages as the moon rises.  We also know that this event is an attraction to jazz, blues, zydeco and barbecue enthusiasts all across Southeast Michigan, and for safety purposes we needed to ensure that we had the space to accommodate their presence.

Schedule of Events

Friday, September 5,2008

Mill Pond Stage Entertainment & Beverage Garden:

Cost:  $5.00 for wristband to enter

5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Acoustic Blues - Ian Thomas - Isle of Man

6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Trinidad Jazz - Eric Tessmer - Austin, TX

8:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Blues - Marcy Levy - Los Angeles, CA 

9:30 - 11:00 p.m. - Zydeco - Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse - New Orleans, LA

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Brighton's Farmer's Market

8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Begin your day at the Farmer's Market, with a special location in the Hyne Street parking lot - and along Hyne Street!  Puchase fresh fruits, plants, jewelry and crafts from local vendors - and listen to the Sax Man as you browse.

Brighton Kidney Walk

9:30 Registration/Walk begins at 11:00 a.m.

The Brighton Kidney Walk is the place to see and be seen.  Help raise the needed $100,000 to support the Peer Mentor Program of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan for the coming fiscal year.  Contact Erica Perry at (734) 915-4915.

Mill Pond Stage Entertainment & Beverage Garden:

Cost:  $5.00 for wristband to enter

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Jazz - The Fffellaz

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. - Acoustic Blues - Eric Noden, Chicago, IL

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Trinidad Jazz - Pathe' Jazzi'z World Experience from Trinidad

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Flamenco Jazz - Domingo

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Blues - Billie Holiday Review featuring Sky Covington

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Zydeco - Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse' - New Orleans, LA

8:30 - 9:30 p.m. - Electric Blues - Shannon Curfman - Fargo, ND

10:00 - 11:00 p.m. - Blues - Marcy Levy - Los Angeles, CA

Saturday, September 6, 2008

West Street Stage Entertainment

Cost:  No Charge

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Acoustic Blues - Ian Thomas

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. - Jazz - The Fffellaz

3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Boogie Piano - Eric Noden, Chicago, IL 

4:30 - 5:40 p.m. - Blues Rock - Joey Spina

6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Blues - Rev. Marc Falconberry

7:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Jazz - Sky Covington

9:00 - 10:00 p.m. - Electric Blues - Eric Tessmer, Austin, TX 

Featured Food Vendors:

Big Buck Smoke House - Big Moe's BBQ - 3 Little Bigz BBQ - Brets' BBQ - Checkered Flag BBQ - Downtown Main Martini Bar & Grill - Smokin' Bones Bar-B-Q - Tastees - Jack's Custard - Ritter's Frozen Custard - Cool Carts to Go - The Well

Stroll along Main Street and savor the sights and aromas of the many smoked and barbecued food vendors who will prove to you why they are the best of the best.  Featuring their favorite cuisines, each will offer their own delicious entrees and mouth watering side dishes.  TICKETS MUST BE USED TO PURCHASE FOOD AND BEVERAGES