SPILL NEWS: BEACHES INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 28TH ANNIVERSARY

BEACHES INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 28TH ANNIVERSARY

FESTIVAL INTRODUCES NEW EVENTS AND EXPANDS TO THREE WEEKS

Toronto’s beloved summer mainstay the Beaches International Jazz Festival will be taking place from July 2 – 24, 2016. In celebration of its 28th year, the Festival will feature a dynamic musical roster, multiple stages and venues, a robust lineup of gourmet food trucksand many new programming additions.

An exciting lineup of performances will take place at Woodbine Park from Friday July 15 – Sunday July 17 at the TD Main Stage, and at the OLG Main Stage from Friday July 22 – Sunday July 24. The concerts will showcase the sensational musical talents of both established and emerging artists including JUNO Award-winning artist Melanie Durrant, Memphis-based Ghost Town Blues Band, the eclectic jazz ensemble 7Sould, and one of Toronto’s beloved salsa singers, Yani Borrell.

Beaches Jazz continues to grow its program offerings, with the addition of many lively events this year. On Saturday July 2 and Sunday July 3, the inaugural Beaches Jazz Salsa Festival will take place at Woodbine Park. From Friday July 8 – Sunday July 10, the Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside will host performances at Jimmie Simpson Park and the Beach Village Kew Gardens Series will host artists from Friday July 15 – Sunday July 17.

Returning this year is the Farmers’ Market Jazz Series, where concerts will be held at the Fairmount Park Market (Wednesday July 6 and Wednesday July 13), East Lynn Park Market (Thursday July 7 and Thursday July 14), and Leslieville Market (Sunday July 10 and Sunday July 17). The much-anticipated Beaches Jazz Workshops and Lecture Series will return from Monday July 18 – Wednesday July 20 at the Mennonite New Life Centre (1774 Queen Street East). Additionally, hosted by the Beaches community and the Beach Village BIA, the Beaches Jazz in Motion Multi-Arts & Photography Series will be running from February to July 2016.

The highly anticipated Taste of Jazz will be held at Woodbine Park on Tuesday July 19 and Wednesday July 20. Featuring live music and a lineup of gourmet food trucks offering a full range of culinary delights, Taste of Jazz is sure to excite foodies and music lovers alike.

Crowd favourite StreetFest returns once again this year with an abundance of bands from Thursday July 21 – Saturday July 23 on Queen Street East between Woodbine and Beech Avenues. The melodies of calypso, new age, jazz, fusion, Latin, blues and Cajun will delight a plethora of fans.

The Festival unfolds each summer in the heart of the lakeside community and is a top attraction for local residents and tourists alike. What began as a small, two-day event in 1989 has evolved into a highly anticipated three-week celebration of music, drawing close to one million attendees annually. Presently Canada’s largest free jazz festival, each year Beaches Jazz attracts tourists from across the globe and has been named one of the top ten jazz festivals in the world by MSN.com.

2016 Beaches International Jazz Festival ‘at-a-glance’ Calendar of Events

Beaches Jazz Salsa Festival
Woodbine Park (Northern Dancer Boulevard and Lakeshore Boulevard East)

· Saturday, July 2, 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.
· Sunday, July 3, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Sounds of Leslieville & Riverside
Jimmie Simpson Park (870 Queen Street East)

· Friday, July 8, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
· Saturday, July 9, 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
· Sunday, July 10, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

TD Main Stage
Woodbine Park (Northern Dancer Boulevard and Lakeshore Boulevard East)

· Friday, July 15, 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
· Saturday, July 16, 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.
· Sunday, July 17, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Beach Village Kew Gardens Series
Kew Gardens (2075 Queen Street East)

· Friday, July 15, 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
· Saturday, July 16, 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
· Sunday, July 17, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Beaches Jazz Workshops and Lecture Series
Mennonite New Life Centre (1774 Queen Street East)

· Monday, July 18 to Wednesday, July 20, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Taste of Jazz
Woodbine Park (Northern Dancer Boulevard and Lakeshore Boulevard East)

· Tuesday, July 19 and Wednesday, July 20, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

StreetFest
Queen Street East, between Woodbine and Beech Avenues

· Thursday, July 21 to Saturday, July 23, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.

OLG Main Stage
Woodbine Park (Northern Dancer Boulevard and Lakeshore Boulevard East)

· Friday, July 22, 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
· Saturday, July 23, 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.
· Sunday, July 24, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Beaches International Jazz Festival sponsors include the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, TD, Mill St. Brewery, Two Oceans Wines, Savanna Premium Cider, PortsToronto, Province of Ontario, Ontario Media Development Corporation, Canadian Heritage and CTV.

For further information, please visit www.beachesjazz.com.

*Please note: Additional event details to be confirmed. Updates will be announced accordingly.
**All events are free to the public

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