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South Jordan Journal

Pop and Fizz Festival Fun

Oct 04, 2016 04:29PM ● By Mylinda Le Grande

Each band that performed had a huge crowd attend to enjoy the performance. (Mylinda LeGrande/City Journals)

By Mylinda LeGrande | [email protected]


The ninth annual Fizz Fest, held Aug. 12 and 13, was a two-day affair that featured multiple concerts, games, a bubble machine, local artists, vendors, local business booths and food trucks. Additionally, face painters, henna artists and a caricature artist added fun to the festival. Part of the street was blocked off, making room for pedal go-karts that both kids and adults were able to try out and attendees could get creative with an art project.

Street performers were also a huge hit with the crowd. They mingled with the crowd posing for photo ops and talking to the youngsters. There were jugglers, hula hoop masters and stilt walkers.

“We got involved in this event through VooDoo Productions,” said the duo street performers, Wildfire and Aria (stage names). “We are a performing duo called Luminous. We spin fire; we do stilt walking and acrobatic yoga. We dress up like lions.”.

This was a free public event organized and sponsored by LiveDAYBREAK Community Council and Jazz Arts of the Mountain West and welcomed residence and the community. A diverse group of people attended both days.

“We just moved back here Herriman; I’m originally from Germany,” said Lisette Mccwan. “It is a better fit for our personalities here, and it’s more diverse. People come [out to Daybreak] from all over the state and country. We lived here five years ago when we first came to Utah. We like the food, the company and the music.” 

Aug. 12 was the first day of the festival. The SLC Jazz Orchestra performed at 5 pm. Band vocalist Denny Floor as well as vocal trio “Shimmer” performed jazz music, while Ballroom Utah’s JAM dancers entertained alongside the group. Songs on the set-list were “Birth of the Blues,” “Bopularity,” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” as well as “All About That Bass,” “Libertango” and “America The Beautiful.”

“New Soul Brigade” took the stage at 8 p.m. Band members included Mimi Knowles, Tessa Norman, Micah Willis, Jaxon Garrick, Adam Fuller, Ryan Curletti, Matt Wilson, Evan Wharton, Benton Cutler, Montana Newman, Bennett Jensen, which included three vocalists and a horn section. Their music added a bluesy touch to some modern classic hits.

Channel Z also appeared at this year’s Fizz Fest on Aug. 13. They were not strangers to SoDa Row, as they have performed there previously. This ’80s cover band, dressed up in the time period’s gear and sporting big hair, rocked the stage with classic ’80s music. These songs featured the hits from Madonna, Guns N’ Roses and more. 

The last band to perform on Aug. 13 was local favorite, Crescent Super Band. They performed under the direction of founder Caleb Chapman. They regularly play in cities worldwide and feature guest artists from bands like the Dave Matthews Band, Journey, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Journey.

The young and old party-goers rocked out and danced to the music of each of the performing bands.  Little kids rushed the stage to find space to spin and fist pump their hands in the air. Parents and other adults could be seen swaying and singing to the music as well.  

Magnas, Gemma and Hector (didn’t want to give their last names) have lived here four years and were enjoying the live music playing and eating at one of the restaurants along Soda Row.

“I’m Swedish, and she is Spanish,” Magnas said. “We lived in Spain before we came here [to Utah]. We thought it looked like a nice place to live, so we rented a house in Lake Village and come regularly to the events.”  

An information booth was available to help people with first-aid, info and direction. This booth was manned by members of the Live Daybreak committee and board.

“Fizz Fest is our annual celebration at Daybreak,” said Nicole Rosen of Live Daybreak. “We get everyone together for two days to celebrate with food and activities.” 

Dan Rodgerson, Live Daybreak director, was happy with the large turnout. 

“This is our highlight, part of a 28-show series, also our biggest event of the year,” Rodgerson said. “Throughout the day, we have had probably 3,000 to 5,000 people.”