JazzFest 2017 winding down with brand new events

JazzFest 2017 is into the final weekend and there is a full slate of activities over the next three days, including some brand new events for JazzFest.

Saturday night is the time to be downtown. It is, of course, the annual dance party on the top of the bus terminal parkade. The lower level serves as a backup and we all know from last year that the event works just fine down there if need be.

This year, in addition to local favourites Kool Ray and the Hip Katz, JazzFest is bringing a hometown girl back to entertain. Teresa Riley is a native of Medicine Hat, now residing in Vancouver where she is a musician and actor. She brings her Bourbon Rebels to Medicine Hat and performs today and tomorrow at noon at Tim Hortons downtown and Saturday night as part of the parkade show. Teresa is a swing dance enthusiast and the Bourbon Rebels were formed to do her part in keeping swing dance alive. And with the upswing in attention for swing dancing, it would appear this band was well timed and doing its part.

Then beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, just two blocks away from the parkade in the newly renovated Beveridge Landmark Events, JazzFest is presenting a swing dance with Brad Shigeta’s Swing Time Band. If you don’t know how to swing dance, free lessons are being offered at 2 p.m. in the Beveridge for anyone with a ticket or pass. So dancers can start off at the parkade and continue the night at the Beveridge. Both local breweries will be on hand doing a tasting and food will be available for purchase at both this event and the parkade.

And then, as if the night couldn’t get any more exciting, beginning at 10:30 p.m., Craig Learmont brings his request piano show to the Cellar of the Beveridge Landmark Events. Anyone who has seen Craig in this setting will know the kind of night they’re in for. This is high energy with lots of popular tunes being played by the king of request music.

Craig grew up in Medicine Hat. A graduate of the Conservatory of Music and Dance at Medicine Hat College, Craig freelanced and ran a recording studio out of his basement for many years before moving to Three Hills, Alta., to run a recording studio, and then on to Calgary where he has been the musical director at Aussie Rules for many years as well as IT administrator for Rocky View Schools. Craig is a local boy who has done well and is returning for a feature performance at JazzFest showcasing his passion. Craig is teaching a workshop on looping and using computers to create arrangements for performance. This workshop is open to all and begins at 3 p.m. in the Cellar of the Beveridge.

JazzFest winds up Sunday night with local favourites Enslow on the Terrace of the Esplanade starting at 7:30 p.m. These two have just moved to Calgary, so it’s a treat to have them back in town and to be featured in this beautiful venue as a windup to a week of outstanding music.

Full JazzFest details can be found at www.medicinehatjazzfest.com Follow JazzFest on Twitter and Instagram at @medhatjazz.You can also find the Facebook page under the title, Medicine Hat JazzFest.

Tickets and passes are available at all Esplanade ticket outlets including www.tixx.ca.

Lyle Rebbeck is producer of Medicine Hat JazzFest.