ESCANABA — Bay College will host an evening of jazz with local band Mardi Rouge at 7 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, April 18, at the Besse Theater, with performances by Patrick Booth, Ryan Dart, Lorne Watson and John Beck.

Mardi Rouge is a jazz ensemble that began in the summer of 2020 during the pandemic. The creation of this band was a way to keep music alive in the hearts of the musicians. It was an outdoor jam session on the porch of the Red House in Escanaba, where musicians brought in original compositions to play through and workshop.

As the year passed, the group found themselves with quite a substantial repertoire and began playing gigs. With a rotating cast of members, the group still focuses on original music from all the members and continues to create new music as a band.

Tickets are $10 for the public and $5 for students and employees. Tickets can be purchased online at www.baycollege.tix.com, over the phone at 906-217-4045, or in person at the Box Office in the Besse Center on the Escanaba Campus. Discounted tickets are not available online, and can only be purchased in-person at the Box Office or over the phone.

For more information, contact the Bay College Events Department at events@baycollege.edu or at 906-217-4040.