Exit 0 International Jazz Festival makes its debut in Cape May

Not even Mother Nature could stop this music festival in Cape May. The first-ever Exit 0 International Jazz Festival had a good turn out this weekend and the weather was great. However, for the festival’s producer Michael Kline there were some tense moments in the past few weeks.

Hurricane Sandy brought destruction to many of New Jersey’s coastal towns. Cape May was relatively unscathed. Kline and his crew were hoping for the best and it looks like they got it. 

Seven years ago Kline relocated to Cape May, N.J. from New Orleans. Following Hurricane Katrina and the damage it brought to his hometown, Michael moved to the Northeast. It’s clear that had Hurricane Sandy taken a different path, Kline would have relived that terrible experience all over again. Fortunately for those in Cape May the town was spared and this weekend’s festival went on without a glitch. Several concertgoers reported how happy they were to see the festival going on following the hurricane.

With Kline at the helm the first Exit 0 International Jazz Festival had a real New Orleans feel to it. More than 20 artists performed to standing room only crowds in eight different venues all within walking distance. All around town the smiling faces and people eating and dancing painted a picture of fun.  There is no doubt in my mind that this festival will expand and continue to grow.