Arts Council Calling on Musicians for Winterfest 2013

For the sixth year in a row, the smooth and sophisticated sounds of jazz and R&B will take over Long Island Wine Country beginning Feb. 9.

Long Island Winterfest is back, and the East End Arts Council is taking applications from musicians who are interested in performing. Applications must be submitted electronically here on the Winterfest website. Priority will be given to groups that have a website or online presence and a promotional plan in place actively promote their scheduled performances.

The festival takes place at wineries and other venues across the region during the six week period from Feb. 9 through March 17. The deadline to apply is Nov. 1.

During 2012, there were over 60 live jazz performances, featuring multiple Grammy-nominated artists, and each year the festival continues to grow. The event features artists participating in ensembles from large to small playing in a variety of styles, from Latin to straight-ahead jazz. Last year, standouts included a performance from saxophonist Dave Liebman and Winterfest regular David Amram, a composer best know for his association with the Beat Generation movement in the 1950s.

Dozens of cultural attractions and special offers on hotel and B&B getaway packages, restaurants and winery tours will be available. In 2012, Winterfest was awarded Americans for the Arts and Destination Marketing Association International's Arts Destination Marketing Award, an award bestowed annually to leaders from local tourism bureaus and local arts agencies who work together to effectively and innovatively use the arts to market the community as a travel destination.

Winterfest is a project of East End Arts, the Long Island Wine Council, Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Suffolk County Department of Economic Development.

More information about Winterfest 2013 can be found at: http://www.liwinterfest.com. For more information, please contact Pat Snyder at 631-727-0900 or psnyder@eastendarts.org.