Competing Bands Announced for the Downtown Albany Jazz Fest Competition

ALBANY, NY (08/25/2011)(readMedia)-- The City of Albany and the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) announce the contestants for the 1st Annual Downtown Albany Jazz Fest Competition to coincide with the 10th Annual Riverfront Jazz Festival. The selected bands that will be competing on Friday, September 9, 2011 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM are:

• Out of the Box

• Michelle Caminos Quintet

• Kelly Birtch

• Arch Stanton Quartet

• Tim Olsen / Eric Walentowicz Duo

• Folding Sky

• The Hot Pants

• The Chronicles Band

• Joey Thomas Big Band

• The Ryan Sgroi Quartet

The competition will be held in numerous downtown Albany establishments with a full schedule being released next week. The public is encouraged to come out and participate by voting for their favorite act. The people's choice winner will take the stage as the opening act at the Riverfront Jazz Festival the following day.For the latest information and developments regarding the Jazz Fest Competition please visit www.downtownalbany.org.

Put on by the Special Event division of the City of Albany, the Riverfront Jazz Festival is a free event that has hosted artists such as Joshua Redman, Ravi Coltrane, and John Scofield. Attendance of over 10,000 is expected for the festivities at the Albany Riverfront Park Amphitheatre at the Corning Preserve on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM. For more information on the Riverfront Jazz Festival visit www.albanyevents.org or call 518-434-2032.

The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) is an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the character, vitality, and possibility of downtown Albany. Through its many programs and events, the Downtown Albany BID works to enhance the image of Albany and further its reputation as a prosperous and exciting city to live, work, and visit. For more information on the BID please visit www.downtownalbany.org.