For Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert, the fifth year feels special.

It marks the start of longevity and the first major milestone for Sounds of the Zoo, the free-admission music festival she’s hosted since 2022 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

“It feels pretty amazing to still be here,” said Hudson-Prenkert, founder, curator, and director of Sounds of the Zoo.

“Recently, Sounds of the Zoo was recognized by Local Spins as the No. 2 September music festival in Michigan—right behind Wheatland. That’s an incredible honor and something I’m really proud of. I’m trying to take a moment to sit back, take it in, and recognize that we made it to year five. But honestly, I also feel like I’m just getting started.”

Running September 21-27, the festival features more than 40 acts at several locations across the city. Some of the acts include Myron Elkins, The Mark Lavengood Band, Desmond Jones, The Go Rounds, MexiCuba, The Rupple Brothers, Grace Theisen, Kylee Phillips, Chris Canas, and others.

In addition to celebrating Michigan music, Sounds of the Zoo has become part of the city’s cultural movement and has built partnerships with local venues, Western Michigan University, and other organizations.

“Sounds of the Zoo is so much more than a festival,” Hudson-Prenkert said. “It’s rooted in community, but it also reaches beyond the community. I think that’s part of what makes it different. Festivals can sometimes have a certain stereotype or formula, and I’ve always wanted Sounds of the Zoo to feel different.”

I recently spoke with Hudson-Prenkert about preparing for the festival and celebrating its first milestone.

Q: How are things coming along for the festival?

A: Things are coming along very well. I actually feel more ahead of the game this year than I have in the past, which feels really good. Each year, you learn, you grow, and you work a little harder to make the next one better.

To be completely honest, I’ve had some personal health circumstances arise this year, so balancing everything has been more challenging. But I feel like we’re staying ahead of things and moving in the right direction.

At this point, it really comes down to the details: organizing, communicating, and ensuring everyone has what they need, and continuing to bring the festival to the next level. With a festival this complex, those final details are important. It’s a lot of moving pieces, but I’m feeling really good about where we are.

Q: How did the Sounds of the Zoo Presents: Live. Local. Vibes. events from earlier this year help build momentum for the festival?

A: They have allowed me to take the Sounds of the Zoo brand and mission even deeper into the community.

The idea was always to create something that could become a monthly experience: to keep the branding alive, but more importantly, to continue building trust, relationships, and consistency within our music community.

What I’ve learned is that this work is about so much more than putting musicians on a stage. It’s about connecting the pieces of the ecosystem—artists, venues, audiences, promoters, organizations, and communities—and creating opportunities for those relationships to grow.

One of my long-term goals is to help develop a healthier touring system throughout Michigan and eventually beyond our state. If we can connect venues and artists more intentionally, we can create more opportunities for musicians to tour, build audiences, and gain recognition without always having to leave Michigan to find those opportunities.

That takes time. It takes commitment and consistency, and I think you have to be willing to look at it as a long-term, even a lifelong, project. You have to keep your eye on the bigger picture.

I also want Sounds of the Zoo to be a connector, rather than something that tries to control everything. My goal isn’t to have my hand in every music project happening. I want to help create a stable foundation where people can bring their own ideas forward, collaborate, and build something together.

Q: What plans do you have for this year’s festival?

A: The biggest celebration is really the festival itself.

We’re once again partnering with One Well Brewing for their block party, which has become a kickoff celebration for Sounds of the Zoo. This will be our third year being part of that event, and it’s a great way to begin the week and celebrate what we’ve built.

I’m also excited to continue expanding our relationship with Western Michigan University and reaching younger generations. I believe that’s a huge part of the sustainability and future legacy of Sounds of the Zoo.

If we want this festival to still be here for decades, we have to give young people opportunities to participate, contribute, learn, and influence what it becomes.

We’re also expanding Blue Skies Busking on Saturday in partnership with the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. I’m really proud of that relationship and of what we’re creating together in Kalamazoo.

And there are other moments throughout the week that will make this fifth year special, including our second line parade kickoff with Great Lakes Brass at the Radisson Plaza Hotel’s Lobby Bar. The parade will then head to Bronson Park for our weekend music celebration.

In addition, there’s a lot of excitement in the air surrounding the festival. But ultimately, I think the greatest celebration is simply being able to bring everyone together again.

Q: How will this year’s Sounds of the Zoo help set the tone for future festivals?

A: I’m especially excited because this is the first year we’ve started creating formal collaborations between Sounds of the Zoo and other music festivals in Michigan.

Mark Lavengood, the founder of Smiling Acres Music Festival, and I have started a collaboration between our two festivals. We’re supporting each other through advertising and sponsorship, but it goes beyond that. The Mark Lavengood Band will actually be coming to Sounds of the Zoo to perform this year, creating a direct connection between our festivals and our audiences.

We’re doing something similar with the Handmade Music Festival. The Rupple Brothers, who run the Handmade Music Festival, are also performing at Sounds of the Zoo. We’ve been working together on the same cross-promotion and support.

This is the first time we’ve done something like this, and we’re very, very excited about it. I think it’s a positive step toward creating stronger relationships between festivals throughout Michigan. Instead of operating separately, we can support one another, introduce our audiences to each other, promote each other’s events, and engage more people with the incredible music that’s happening across our state.

That’s the kind of ecosystem I want to help build: one where we collaborate instead of compete and where the success of one festival can help create opportunities for another.

Q: You have a team of people who assist with Sounds of the Zoo. How do they help with overall event logistics?

A: I have a wonderful team, although it’s a relatively small one. I’m still driving the bus, but I couldn’t do this without the people who help make it happen.

My husband, Joe, has been a founder and a co-producer from the very beginning. He helps me work through the booking and planning process and is an important part of making the big picture come together. We both have businesses and a lot going on, so I’m especially grateful for the ways he continues to support the festival.

Amy Willis has been crucial this year in operational management. She has stepped in to help with logistics and organization, and she keeps things moving.

Steve Enge, our IT support, has been incredibly important in developing our interactive festival guide, expanding the website, supporting our sponsors, and helping Sounds of the Zoo grow as an organization. He has donated countless hours to this project, and for that, I’m extremely grateful.

Zane Forintos has been with me from the beginning on sound and production. We keep finding ways to make the experience smoother for artists and venues, while also creating opportunities for younger people from Western Michigan University to learn production skills that go into producing live music.

Q: What excites you most about this year’s festival lineup?

A: I curate Sounds of the Zoo very intentionally. I look at the entire week almost like an album. You don’t just put songs together randomly; you think about the first song, the next song, the transitions, the energy, and ultimately, how the entire album feels. I approach the festival in much the same way.

I look at the festival through the lens of an artist because I am an artist. That perspective is one of the most important parts of how I build Sounds of the Zoo.

This is my masterpiece—my take on art and my life experiences coming together in one place. I get to be creative and share how I see the world through Sounds of the Zoo.

I’m extremely proud of the pace we’ve grown. It’s been a slow, intentional process because building real relationships takes time, and the relationships I’ve built with sponsors and partners over the past five years are truly immeasurable; you can’t create that overnight.

Taking the time to be sincere, authentic, and intentional in those relationships is an important part of creating meaningful change, holding ourselves accountable, and building something that can last.

I’m particularly excited about our expanding partnership with Heritage Guitars. There’s a rich history there, especially with the company’s roots connected to the Gibson legacy and Orville Gibson.

Orville Gibson’s story is a powerful part of Kalamazoo’s musical heritage. He helped lay the foundation for a guitar-making legacy that continues through companies such as Heritage Guitars, which carries on Kalamazoo’s tradition of handcrafted instruments. There is an opportunity to build a deeper relationship between Heritage and our broader music community.

We’re also thrilled to have Myron Elkins as our Saturday headliner. He is an incredible artist and is being proudly supported by Heritage Guitars.

I’m excited about bringing back our second line parade for the second year, with Kalamazoo City Commissioner Jeanne Hess serving as grand marshal and leading the parade from the Radisson into Bronson Park. I want Sounds of the Zoo to be celebrated within the city of Kalamazoo.

Ultimately, I hope people take away a sense of discovery from the performances. I want people to hear something they’ve never heard before, meet someone they might not otherwise have met, and leave feeling more connected to their community.

I want people to have fun. I want them to experience joy. And I want them to see how much incredible music and creativity exists right here in Michigan.

Q: What else would you like to share about this year’s festival?

A: I think the biggest thing I would want people to understand is that Sounds of the Zoo is not simply about putting on a festival once a year. It’s about building something that has a lasting impact.

I want to continue creating connections between artists, venues, festivals, students, businesses, sponsors, and audiences. I want to help develop opportunities for artists to perform, tour, learn, and build sustainable careers.

I also want to continue creating opportunities for young people to become part of the process, not just as audience members, but as musicians, producers, photographers, videographers, sound engineers, event professionals, and future leaders.

And I want to preserve the original spirit of Sounds of the Zoo as it grows. It has a very boutique, curated, and intimate feel, and I never want growth to come at the expense of the roots that made it special in the first place.

My long-term vision is for Sounds of the Zoo to become part of a much larger, sustainable music ecosystem that connects Kalamazoo with communities throughout Michigan and eventually beyond.

If I can build something with strong roots and something that other people can grow from, then I’ve done what I set out to do. I hope Sounds of the Zoo continues to grow like a tree: the roots are getting deeper, the branches are reaching farther, and it’s sprouting more trees.

That, to me, is legacy.

Sounds of the Zoo runs September 21-27 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at several locations, including The Clover Room, Bell’s Back Room, Old Dog Tavern, Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, Cityscape Event Center, Bronson Park, Wellspring Theatre, and more. For the festival’s schedule, lineup, and locations, visit soundsofthezoo.com.