Get ready to bop, groove and rock out at the 25th annual TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival. This year’s lineup continues the festival’s tradition of bringing together a diverse array of artists for ten days music from June 12 to 22.
Big names include R&B singer and pianist John Legend, New Orleans jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis, and art rocker St. Vincent. Other performers include indie folk band Timber Timbre, MC Mike Miller, and eccentric rapper and producer Le1f.
The festival’s theatre series features former University of Manitoba jazz professor Jimmy Greene, playing with local drummer Curtis Nowosad. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales go towards the Ana Grace Foundation, set up in honour of Greene’s daughter who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012.
All festival venues will be within a three-block radius of Old Market Square. The six club venues, called the Jazz District, include Union Sound Hall, the King’s Head Pub, the Winnipeg Free Press News Café, the Rachel Browne Theatre, Cinematheque and Cube Lounge.
The festival opens with four days of free music at the Cube stage in Old Market Square. Thursday night features jazz and funk, Friday features Latin Jazz, Saturday is local indie-rock night, and Sunday has soul and rock outfit Noble Thiefs and dance funk veterans Moses Mayes.
For a full lineup, check out the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival website.
