Free food available to musicians throughout December at Denver's Dazzle
DENVER — Every Sunday in December, musicians in need of some help will be able to stop by Dazzle in Denver to pick up donated food items.
“As gig workers, unemployment is not able to cover a whole lot for them, so anything we can do to alleviate some of the stress of money and bills and keep them fed, hopefully that will help them out,” said Matt Ruff, general manager of Dazzle, the popular Denver music venue known for live jazz.
The food pantry program is called Bread and Jam. In addition to the donated food items, Dazzle will also host live streamed concerts in order to give artists a paid gig. The next concert, all of which are free to the public, is Saturday, December 12 and features Stafford Hunter celebrating the music of American trumpeter Clark Terry, who would’ve turned 100 on Monday the 14th.
“The musicians are taking such a hard hit, so this is amazing for the musicians that are not getting any work and really don’t have much else to fall [back] to right now,” said Janine Santana, a musician who was at the food drive.
“They’re our angels right now,” Santana said about people donating food to musicians. “This will pull us through, and when we come back, you’re going to get some good shows.”
Every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the month of December, musicians can pick up free food items at Dazzle, located at 1512 Curtis Street.
Ruff said the program can continue as long as they can keep bringing in food and donations. If you would like to send a monetary donation online, click here.
Dazzle has also struggled during the pandemic. Ruff said they closed in mid-March and went from 55 employees to just six.
He said he misses the “magic” of live music. “I’m anxious for those days to come back,” he explained, “and hopeful that they will.”
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