Submitted
The Kaslo Jazz Etc. Music Festival along with Torchlight Brewing have initiated a program to give back to the arts.
Last week, as an L.V Rogers jazz trio played in the background, a cheque for $1,200 was presented to Tim Bullen, the high school’s music and band teacher.
The money was raised from the sale of the craft beer ‘The Big Squeezy’ and will be an annual donation to music programs around the Kootenays.
“As a not-for-profit festival that receives amazing support from our local community it made sense for us to team up with a great local brewery to see if we could find a fun way to work together for something we all want,” said Chad Hansen, a Kaslo Jazz Etc Society board member. “And we want kids to have access to the arts.”
Festival director Paul Hinrichs was there for the presentation and said the amount donated will increase every year.
Hinrichs makes a point of putting local musicians on stage at the festival, which runs from August 3 to 5 in Kaslo.
This year the festival features incredible international talent including Buffy Sainte-Marie, Shakey Graves, Greensky Blue Grass, Mavis Staples, Shovels and Rope as well as local performers such as the LVR Jazz Trio.
Kaslo Jazz is beginning to attract the attention of players and music promoters all over North America for its incredible setting and stellar talent.
“But we don’t want to forget where we came from,” said Hinrichs. “A small, locally run festival about music and community.”