About the Festival

Sounds of the Zoo is a multicultural music festival and symposium that seeks to empower and unite artists, industry professionals and music lovers from around the world. We aim to showcase local, regional, national, and international live music performances at a variety of locations throughout the city of Kalamazoo.
We are conscious of the power of knowledge, and seek to accomplish educational goals by offering a series of professional music education courses, presentations/panels, and workshops that will explore a wide variety of music topics designed to empower and inform anyone involved or interested in the music industry.
​We endeavor to create change through music and believe music is not only creative art but a means to connect and uplift humanity. We believe music can inspire humanity by creating connections that bridge class, gender and cultural divides. Uniting the community by supporting diversity, inclusion, as well as creating awareness towards environmental sustainability and mental health are core values we will give platforms to.
Through support from the City of Kalamazoo and Private Sponsorships, Sounds of the Zoo is a free event that will take place during the last week of September each year. We are continuing to grow and learn, with Sounds of the Zoo Presents hosting pop ups around the state of Michigan. Sounds of the Zoo will help in making Kalamazoo a music destination city that will create and sustain economic development and growth for years to come. This is a fresh, innovative, and community driven festival to grow right here in Kalamazoo.
Read more in our FAQ