Boston's Festival Betances, July 20-21, Celebrates New England's Latinx Community

Festival Betances, an annual event celebrating New England’s Latinx community, takes place on July 20-21, 2019 at Plaza Betances, 100 W. Dedham Street, in Boston's South End.  The event is free and open to the public. 

A special festure this year is Latinas en foco — Latinas in focus —with a female led artist lineup.

The event kicks off with a parade, followed by a weekend of Latin musici, traditional cuisine, arts and crafts, a greased pole competition, children’s activities such as face painting and inflatables, and other features that highlight the diversity of Latinx culture.  

Here is a schedule of activities. 

Festival Betances is hosted by Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción is a non-profit organization and community development corporation located in Boston’s South End.  IBA offers affordable housing and supportive programming to improve the knowledge, life skills and health of participants of all ages.

For year round information on visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com. 

Berklee Middle Eastern Festival Features Bosnian Vocalist Amira Medunjanin on February 28

The 11th Berklee Middle Eastern Festival takes place at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay.  The Festival brings artists from the Middle East, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean together with students from all over the world to learn and experience the musical traditions of those regions. 

This year's featured artist is renowned Bosnian vocalist Amira Medunjanin and her band, presenting Sevdah: The Alchemy of Soul.  The band features Bojan Zulfikarpasic (piano), Ante Gelo (guitar), and Medunjanin (vocals).

Find out more about Berklee College of Music here. 

For information on jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Havana Cuba All-Stars Perform at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on January 31

Music Worcester presents the Havana Cuba All-Stars in concert at Mechanics Hall in Worcester at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, 2019. Tickets range from $7.50 to $49 and can be purchased online.

Comprised of Cuba’s greatest musicians, the Havana Cuba All-Stars employ rhythms and melodies from the cha cha to the rumba, and from “Son Cubano” style to the salsa. The group is inspired by and dedicated to promoting the entire tapestry of Cuban music through a fresh, contemporary lens. 

In addition, three of Cuba's finest dance couples will take the stage to showcase the exciting rhythm of Cuban dance. 

Here is a calendar of upcoming events at Mechanics Hall in Worcester

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com. 

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Berklee High School Jazz Festival Takes Place in Boston on January 26, 2019

The annual Berklee High School Jazz Festival, the largest of its kind in the United States, takes place at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston's Back Bay on Saturday, January 26, 2019.  Admission is free and the event is open to the general public.

Here is a schedule of events.

The festival features top-ranked ensembles from around the country and the world competing for partial scholarships to Berklee's Five Week Summer Performance Program, as well as individual musicians, who can audition for tuition scholarships toward the full-time program or the summer performance program.

Here are details on the awards.

According to a 2017 study by the Barr Foundation, non-profit arts industry, which is part of the creative economy in Massachusetts supports 73,000 jobs and generates $1.4 billion in household income and $2.2 billion in economic activity.

Berklee College of Music is considered the preeminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts.  Berklee's commitment to arts education is reflected in the work of its students, faculty and alumni - hundreds of whom have been recognized with Grammy, Tony, Oscar and Emmy awards.

Find more about jazz in Massachusetts at massjazz.com.

For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz & Blues Brunch at Darryl's Bar & Kitchen on Martin Luther King Day

Vocalist and storyteller Valerie Stephens performs at the King Jazz & Blues Brunch at Darryl's Corner Bar + Kitchen in Boston's South End from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, January 21 2019.

Make reservations here.

Here is a schedule of upcoming activities at Darryl's, located at 604 Columbus Avenue.

Find more about jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com or follow on twitter @massjazz.