Gem & Jam Festival is ready to kick off its 14th annual edition, taking place from February 4 - 6 in Tucson, Arizona at the Pima County Fairgrounds.
The festival recently added trunk-rattling bass-makers Lab Group (Supertask and Potions) as headliners, as well as master guitarist Marcuz Rezak, and electric jazz-fusion band Space Whales to the stacked, sonically-diverse lineup.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Goopsteppa will no longer be joining the festival and is being replaced by Canadian counterpart and bass-music phenom ATYYA. Electro blues-grass trio Dirtwire will also replace Goldfish. Check out the full set times here and site map here.
In addition to headlining sets from acts like STS9, Liquid Stranger, Shpongle (Simon Posford Live Set), Claude VonStroke and Lotus, the music and arts festival will feature a plethora of visual and performance art, healing and wellness sanctuaries, workshops, a kids zone, 40+ market vendors, and of course, gem and mineral offerings.
Listed below are Gem & Jam programming highlights. Both weekend and single-day passes are on sale at https://gemandjamfestival.com/.
WIN ARTIST REWARDS VIA FAN-LOYALTY APP UNITEA
Gem & Jam partnered with music loyalty brand Unitea to host the festival app, where fans can browse the lineup, connect with fellow attendees in Crew Chats, and listen to festival performers' music to earn Karma points that can be cashed in for exclusive festival rewards. Download the Unitea app and start streaming music to win prizes like side-stage viewing and signed merch bundles
HEALING/WELLNESS
The Topaz Healing Sanctuary will host a variety of spiritual healing workshops, such Crystal and Tea Energy Healing, where attendees can experience the pairing of crystal energy with tea energy and healing modalities. There’s also Ayurveda; The Science of Life!, which will guide you in the principles of Ayurveda, an adaptable science that works by observing the laws of nature and applying those same principles to the human body. Guests can also check out Crystal Singing Bowl Sound Bath, where they can immerse themselves in the healing frequencies of crystalline sound.
The Amethyst Stage will host workshops that help nurture creative self-expression and reflection, with programs specialising in activities like poetry (Share Write Unite! Power to the Poets!), hip-hop dance classes (Hip Hop: A Movement Workshop Through A Lens Of The Sacred), and grief-healing exercises (Growing & Healing Grief Project).
Drumming Sounds will host a sacred fire place for deep community development, friendship, transformation, and fun. It will offer drum circles, drum classes, skills training, Mayan astrology, Reiki, sound healing, arts and crafts, and more. The Drumming Sounds area is a drug and alcohol-free zone for those that want to party with a clear intention.
STARSEED RAINBOW FAMILY CIRCUS
This stage features The Riley Rainbow Family Circus, a spellbinding show that entertains audiences across the country with an old-style circus arts performance blended with a new paradigm of family life. Guests could also learn all things permaculture at their Earth Guardians booth, or relax in the toddler zone.
PERFORMANCE ART
Performers include clowns, stilters, stilt acrobats, fire dancers, aerial artists, puppets, hip hop dancers, hand balancers and LED hula hoopers and flow artists! The Cirque Roots crew, the Tucson-based, female-operated crew and 7-year Gem & Jam vets, are returning once again to the festival with their mix of fire and acrobatics. The festival is also welcoming back the Phoenix-based Sacred Gs, a street arts collective dedicated to fusing hip-hop dance, spirit-inspired movement, and spoken word. Returning acts also include the Tucson-based acrobats from Flight School Acro and Big Toe Acrobatics; the awesome Jolly Trixsters, who offer a variety of circus shenanigans, from clowning to fire arts; and, of course, The Mantis, a large scale praying mantis puppet that was created and inspired by Gem & Jam years ago and has become a festival favorite.
VISUAL ART
The Gem & Jam festival would be incomplete without its colorful assortment of live art pieces, and this year’s event will feature over 30 visual artists showcasing their magnificent creations. The live art program will include the healing-focused, multi-material artworks of Chris Dyer; the street paintings and jewellery of Austin-based Tourmaline Todd; and the mystical paintings of Stacks Malone, Blake Foster, Benedigital, and local artist Ashley Macias.
SPONSOR ACTIVATIONS
Gem & Jam is excited to host fun activations from our amazing sponsors:
Razor Scooter will provide scooters for fans to move around the venue and campground, sign up for the app now to ensure a seamless experience on-site (razor.com/share)
Odell Brewing Co will present a special Gem & Jam Lager exclusively available at the festival, in addition to hosting a Hazer Tag IPA photo opportunity installation.
Allkind Hard Kombucha will host a paint by numbers activation that allows fans to create an awesome art display throughout the weekend.
