June 2017

May we suggest a Zen approach?

Downtown Rochester is about to become the hottest destination once again for music fans from throughout the region, the state, and the country thanks to the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. Our world-class jazz fest, arguably the crown jewel of our local festival season, just keeps getting bigger and better. That means a more exciting festival for everyone, but also the likelihood of tougher parking, longer lines, and bigger crowds. This year, it would be wise to know what you want to see, arrive early, and always have a backup plan. There’s plenty of great music and food to go around, but Plan A might not always be worth fighting for. Take it easy, take your time, and enjoy the unbelievable abundance of jaw-dropping entertainment.

Get yourself a Guide.

It’s likely you’ve picked up or been sent a variety of literature to guide you through your Jazz Fest experience. The preponderance of paper can be overwhelming. Your best bet (when going the paper route) is to keep handy the 2-sided piece which features a map on one side and a grid of showtimes and venues on the other. This will help you plot your path through each evening at a glance and provide an easy way to get back on track when you get waylaid.

Better even than the paper guide, however, is the official Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival smartphone app. This interactive, searchable guide gives you on-demand access to the full schedule, list of artists, venues, maps, concert descriptions, and artist bios. You can even make your own agenda and purchase tickets within the application. If you plan to spend a significant amount of time at the XRIJF, the app is an indispensable download.

Download the app for iPhone or Android here >

Feeling the FOMO?

Not familiar with “FOMO”? It’s the Fear of Missing Out. It’s only natural to miss a few shows — and maybe even regret it — when the lineup features more than 300 performances packed into just over a week. The best way to keep up with what you’ve been missing is to read City Newspaper’s Daily Jazz Blogs. You’ll get thoughtful reviews and photos to help you decide who to follow on Spotify.