CITY STAGES

In 1989 a small group of civic-minded volunteers joined together with the goal of producing a new music festival in downtown Birmingham, as a part of The Alabama Reunion. The festival they started has now become nothing less than a world-class music festival, attracting patrons from around the nation and the world.Along the way, City Stages provided thousands with what would become memorable and significant moments in their lives, including any number of engagements and weddings.Years ago, The Chicago Sun-Times told its readers that City Stages is "the best music festival you've never heard of."The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said it is "the best such event this side of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival."And JazzFest tip-sheet author John Driver (better known as JazzFest Johnny), said it offers "the best line-up of any festival in the the South. Period."City Stages is a non-profit organization that also gives back to the community it serves. It sponsors annual music scholarships for high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in music. And, for three years, we sponsored the AmeriCorps INTUNE program that uses music as a hook to engage young students in the enterprise communities of Smithfield and West End.City Stages, Birmingham's World-Class Music Festival is held the third weekend in June in downtown Birmingham.