Photo Gallery: 11th Annual Gem and Jam Festival

3/6/2017

Photos by Michael Kopke
Words by Christian Cortes

The 11th annual Gem and Jam festival is a music and arts gathering hosted during the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. Check out our photo gallery capturing the art, community, and live sets from The Motet, Opiuo, Lotus, and more

As music festivals continue to become one of the modern generation’s favorite pastimes, many of us have grown accustomed to seeing events evolve from one year to the next. Bigger lineups, dazzling stages and superior venues have become the golden standard, and yet, it is only so often that a festival truly delivers upon its promise to be more epic.

Every once in a while, though, a festival raises the standard for what an event of its nature can be, and Gem and Jam 2017 proved to be exactly that.

Seizing the unique elements of its previous incarnations within Tucson and infusing them with the hallmarks of a more intimate gathering, this year’s festival upped itself across the board. With a beautiful event venue, quality camping arrangements, refined sound quality and ample activities, the North American festival season’s kickoff event has proved itself to be a force to be reckoned with in the Southwest. We’re already stoked to see what’s to come in 2018.