Grand Junction, despite being a town with a population under 65,000, is rich in local music and performing arts. There are several events every week, often packed with talented local performers and musicians. The popular venues to attend these shows are the Avalon Theatre, Mesa Theater, Las Colonias Park and Warehouse 25 sixty-five.
Music in the Grand Valley is also vast, where shows can vary from blues to punk to country to metal and everything in between. The best way to get a taste of the local talent and to know what bands to follow is to attend Local Jam. Local Jam began five years ago as a very underground event, with attendance under 300, according to Grand Valley Live Publisher Jeff Steele, organizer for Local Jam. “Our whole goal is to expose as many people as possible to the phenomenal music scene and the talent that we have right here in the valley,” Steele said.
Enthusiasm for the festival spread and recent attendance has breached a thousand. Now in its 5th year, takes on Las Colonias Park. While typically this event happens earlier in August, this year Local Jam will take place just after school begins, giving students opportunity to get a feel for the local music scene.
The festival looks to welcome forty local bands including popular favorites Wave 11, El Camino Burnout, Jack + Jill, Suckafish, and more. Several bands playing, such as Awaiting Eternity, represent Colorado Mesa University’s talented alumni and students. The celebration of music, local pride, and philanthropy begins with a kickoff party at Baron’s Grill on Colorado Avenue Aug. 23 at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover for the kickoff party. The festival begins at noon both Saturday Aug. 24 and Sunday Aug. 25. Tickets are $15 each day or $25 for both, and can be purchased at the Avalon Box Office on Seventh and Main to avoid ticket fees.
Local Jam is a completely nonprofit festival. All of the proceeds of the event go to local charities supporting members of the community. “No one is gets paid,” Steele said. “Out of the forty bands playing, no one is getting paid. No band gets paid, no volunteer gets paid, us organizers, we don’t get paid, this is an entirely volunteer event,” Steele said. This year, with several sponsors such as The Happy Camper and Zolopht, Local Jam hopes to make a considerable donation to Hope of the Grand Valley, an organization that seeks to give hard-working low-income individuals a helping hand. Local Jam is a perfect opportunity to not only experience some of Grand Junction’s rich local talent but to also help people in need within the community.
