Grammy-Winning Broadway Star Badia Farha to Perform at Fat Tuesday Fundraiser!

Springfield, Mass. – After one Grammy-winning artist, why not bring another? That’s exactly what 52 Sumner is doing to support an important local arts and social and environmental change organization. 52 Sumner, part of Springfield Performing Arts Ventures, Inc. (SPAV), has quickly become a premier venue in Greater Springfield. This fundraiser will continue to support Blues to Green’s mission.
 
EVENT DETAILS:
 
WHAT: Fat Tuesday Jazz Night - a Blues to Green fundraiser! Featuring dinner and performances by Broadway vocalist Badia Farha and New Orleans-inspired jazz, funk & more  with Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils
 
WHEN: Saturday, February 22, 2025
 
WHERE: 52 Sumner Avenue, Springfield (formerly Faith United Church, located across from the previous Friendly’s restaurant)
 
WHY: A fundraiser to support Blues to Green, the organization that brings the community the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival
 
The evening begins with Grammy and Emmy Award winner, Badia Farha, presenting her stunning performance From Ella to Amy with her band. “Being an Artist is that spiritual, unexplained connection that unites people of all races and ethnic backgrounds,” shares Farha. “It is the tie that binds.” We are thrilled to welcome Grammy winner Badia Farha to 52 Sumner, following her recent win for Best Musical Theater Album with her Hell’s Kitchen Broadway colleagues. The evening continues with the dynamic Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils, bringing their soulful blend of New Orleans-inspired jazz and soul.
 
Tickets for the event include these two amazing artists performing, plus delicious Creole/Cajun cuisine by Chef Wayne. For more information and ticketing please visit the 52 Sumner Fat Tuesday event page.
 
This night of joy, connection, and celebration supports music, culture, and community as a benefit for Blues to Green, the nonprofit organization that produces the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival. This free, annual music and arts festival will take place in downtown Springfield, MA, on July 11 and 12, 2025. Blues to Green, a small but mighty community-based nonprofit, not only brings us this incredible annual tradition but also harnesses music and the arts year-round to celebrate community and culture, build shared purpose, and catalyze social and environmental change.
 
Kristin Neville, Blues to Green founder and Executive Director, is the wife of the late Charles Neville. Part of jazz royalty, Charles’ legacy lives on through the organization’s work for the betterment of our community. “Charles always said the common languages are music and love, and that music is a true expression of love,” shared Kristin. “I’m proud to carry on his legacy.”
 
52 Sumner’s mission is to spark the artistic spirit within the urban community, providing a haven for creative expression, cultural enrichment, and personal growth through the arts. The venue opened in late 2023 after a year of renovation work, including installing a new sound and lighting system, and now a 125-year-old Springfield landmark has a new lease on life.
 
For more information about 52 Sumner, visit their website, or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. 
 
If you're interested or have questions regarding any event, please contact Meghan Rothschild at (413) 218-4994 or meghan@chikmedia.us. 
 
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About 52 Sumner and SPAV: Springfield Performing Arts Ventures (SPAV) is a nonprofit organization that operates 52 Sumner, a historic venue in Springfield that has been revitalized to support artistic expression and community growth.

About Blues to Green: Inspired by the life and music of the legendary Charles Neville, the mission of Blues to Green is to utilize music and other arts to center the cultures of the African diaspora within American culture, nurture personal freedom, strengthen multicultural community, and catalyze action for racial and climate justice.