East Coast Music Festival Promises Funk Legends, Grammy Winners and Zombies

DURHAM, N.C. - Nov. 22, 2013 - PRLog -- You would never expect something as trendy as zombies at a Jazz Music festival, but Art of Cool, a Durham, NC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is anything but traditional. Tickets are now on sale at introductory prices for the first-ever Art of Cool Music Festival presented by American Tobacco Historic District and if you think you know jazz, Art of Cool is hoping to shift your paradigm with this one.

The Festival’s official lineup was announced on Friday, November 15th, 2013 by Dr. Cicely Mitchell, president of Art of Cool, during a standing-room only performance by jazz trumpeter Al Strong and his band.

“We knew we had to bring something special to Durham in the first year,” said Dr. Mitchell. “Whether you love jazz, funk, neo soul, rock or hip hop, this Festival is going to deliver great music and a great experience.”

While more confirmed bookings are being added each week, the diverse array of announced Art of Cool Festival performers already includes:

·      Maceo Parker
·      Robert Glasper Experiment
·      Miguel Atwood Ferguson
·      Cody ChesnuTT
·      Amel Larrieux
·      The Foreign Exchange
·      The Clayton Brothers
·      Nnena Freelon
·      and The Revive Big Band

Festival Highlights Include:

Free Festival Kick Off Party on Friday complete with live music and a food truck rodeo at Durham Central Park

Multiple Indoor Venues for the Club Pass Series on Friday and Saturday Nights.
These venues are: Motorco Music Hall, Pinhook, Hayti Heritage Center, Beyu Caffe and Durham Arts Council.

Two Night Headliner Series @ The Carolina Theatre
--featuring legendary jazz icon Maceo Parker (Friday)
--and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble (Saturday)

A Carolina Soul Tribute Concert
--scheduled for Saturday, April 26 of the festival, featuring the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble and an all-star line-up.
--Saluting jazz legends who are from our state of North Carolina: Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk and Roberta Flack.

Art of Cool Signature Programming: Zombie Jazz Apocalypse

VIP Venues: There will be multiple VIP lounges and experiences, including access to “secret” areas on the festival footprint.

Panel Discussions: Centered around the word “jazz” and its link to hip hop culture. Performing artists and other local jazz leaders will be on the panel.

Master Classes: Several performing artists will hold master classes on neighboring university campuses.


About Art of Cool
Art of Cool is a creative philanthropic project spearheaded by Mitchell and Strong. For more information on Art of Cool please visit aocfestival.org. Dr. Mitchell and Professor Strong are currently taking opportunities to be interviewed about Art of Cool, the Festival and the plans the nonprofit has to expand the audience for jazz in the community.

About American Tobacco Historic District
American Tobacco offers one million square feet of premium office space in a historic factory setting bustling with restaurants and businesses. Featured in US News & World Report as the national model for urban revitalization, the campus serves as a bridge from Durham’s past as one of the tobacco capitals of the world to its present and future as a knowledge, science and medical capital. ATC’s owner Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV , WRAL Digital , WRAZ-TV, WRAZ Digital, WRAL-FM , WRAL-HD2 , WCMC-FM , WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace , CBC New Media Group and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield Sports) in Raleigh, N.C.; WJZY-TV and WMYT-TV in Charlotte, N.C.; WILM-TV and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, N.C.; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, N.C.; and real estate interests. For more information, visit www.cbc-raleigh.com

For questions about Art of Cool or the festival, please call: 919-948-3084.