An annual summer tradition in Manitowoc is marking its 47th year.
Metro Jam gets underway this Friday (June 19th) at Washington Park, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Founder and Musician Bob Mittnacht tells Seehafernews.com that the event started because establishments were turning to DJs instead of local bands to play music.
Mittnacht says he and two partners wanted to keep live music local and in focus.
“We thought, well, we’ll just get some local bands together on a Sunday afternoon and make some live music for people,” he recalled. “And that was back in 1978.”
While Metro Jam started at Washington Park and is still there today, Mittnacht says the venue has changed over time.
Washington Park was home to the two-day music event when it started, but that changed in 1984, when it moved to Silver Creek Park for a few years, in part because of Manitowoc Mayor Anthony Dufek.
“He thought there was too much traffic to have Metro Jam in downtown Manitowoc,” he recalled. “But we were fine with it. We got a nice location out at Silver Creek Park and we did it out there for a number of years until 1993. Then we moved back downtown at the request of a new mayor.”
The headliner for Metro Jam’s return to Washington Park was Edgar Winter, writer of the song Free Ride.
Mittnacht also highlighted having Booker T from Booker T and M.G’s, Rick Derringer, and Joe Bonamassa.
Unlike in years past, this year’s Metro Jam will not start with a music act. Jim Medley and Rick Sawyer will host the Jim and Rick Show Live from Metro Jam to kick off the event.
In another story tomorrow, we will talk about this year’s headliner, Sonny Landreth, and the importance of local music artists.
