IN THE CLEAR: Clearwater Jazz & Art Festival Back for Third Year
enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the festival on Aug. 26
What happens when like-minded jazz lovers put their heads (and instruments) together? An incredible day of great food, great vibes, and most importantly, non-stop jazz for 10 hours! This year marks the third annual Clearwater Jazz and Art Festival – held on Aug. 26 from 12-10pm – and event coordinators Leighton Hahn and Joe Lustek are confident it will be the best one yet.
After a few serendipitous run-ins in 2021, Joe and Leighton joined forces to curate an event dedicated to bringing some much-loved jazz to the Chippewa Valley in a big way.
“We started to see a heightened desire for live music in the community and wanted to find a way to fill it,” Hahn says. “We thought it would be a one-time event and are thrilled to be gearing up for the third year alongside musician coordinator Cathy Reitz and artist coordinator Christy Skuban and our phenomenal planning committee!”
Looking to bring all things local to this live music event, Leighton and Joe held the event at the Brewing Projekt (1807 N Oxford Ave., Eau Claire) for the first time last year which turned out to be a wild success, prompting them to use the same venue location this year.
“We have 20 fine artists, a few food trucks, and tons of musicians - all primarily currently living in or from the Chippewa Valley” Lustek says. “Knowing we can make this event as locally focused as possible is a real privilege.”
The event includes quite a few familiar local favorites, including Josh Gallagher, Sweater People, Cathy Reitz, FLOWt, and many more. While there will be a set list in place, there will be an open jam session from 8-10pm.
“Musicians and artists of all kinds should get the recognition and exposure they deserve,” says Hahn. “We’re just excited to get to be part of that.”
The Clearwater Jazz and Art Festival will take place Saturday, August 26th at The Brewing Projekt from noon-10pm. This event itself is free to the public; however, there will be opportunities to support the artists and musicians. All food and drinks offered will need to be purchased separately.
Learn more about the Clearwater Jazz and Art Festival and see the full lineup at leauclairejazzsociety.com.
