HUNTSVILLE – It is news Earth, Wind and Fire can take to heart. The event name, lineup and ticket information won’t be released until next month, but the City of Huntsville has made it official — a major music festival project is a go for September.
The iconic R&B group played their 1978 hit song “September” when playing at the final Big Spring Jam in Downtown Huntsville (1993-2011). No word whether or not the still-active band will bring their funk to the new jamboree.
The festival, a two-day event at John Hunt Park, was announced a year ago with the possibility of launching this year in September or in 2025. It’ll be sooner than later with industry leader C3 Presents managing the event.
Details will be announced in April. The news comes on the heels of the Huntsville Music Office’s quarterly Meeting Matchup held Tuesday night at Mars Music Hall.
“This a win-win for Huntsville as well as the region,” Mayor Tommy Battle said in a news release. “This is a great opportunity to work with a world-class festival producer to bring a world-class event to a world-class park. We can’t wait to see the lineup.”
According to the release, the new music festival will enhance Huntsville residents’ quality of life and provide a new revenue stream for retail businesses and the hospitality industry in Huntsville and beyond.
“Huntsville continues to reinvest in the community by attracting events like this to the Rocket City,” said Shane Davis, Huntsville’s director of Urban and Economic Development. “We look forward to welcoming the city’s music fans and visitors alike to Huntsville in September.”
Huntsville Music Officer Matt Mandrella is particularly thrilled by the prospect of seeing well-known artists from a variety of genres, a hallmark of a C3 Presents-produced festival. He said the musical diversity will enhance Huntsville’s goal of becoming a premier music city.
“C3’s success in establishing festivals like Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival speaks for itself,” Mandrella said. “This event is going to take our music city aspirations to the next level and continue establishing Huntsville as a destination for live music fans.”
One of the world’s largest music festival producers, C3 Presents will oversee all festival production, from booking the talent to logistics, vendors and volunteers. Festival Director Ted Heinig anticipates a fruitful musical partnership with the Rocket City.
“Never before have we been recruited by a city to establish a festival,” he said. “We are excited about coming to Huntsville and bringing the music with us.”
Learn more about C3 Presents here.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
