JazzFest on for the week
For Hatters warm weather means a lot of things are coming, one of which is jazz.
Running for the 22nd year, JazzFest got underway Sunday with an afternoon show at the Esplanade, kicking off a week of excitement and entertainment for Medicine Hatters.
“There’s so many great acts this year,” said producer Lyle Rebbeck. “As always, we have our ears to the ground looking for the new and upcoming bands out there, as well as the established acts people know and love.
“If you look at this (Sunday) afternoon’s show, we’re starting with a band called Frisson. They’re a really young band, but we believe they have the potential to be a very big band — they’re also making their Canadian debut with today’s show at the Esplanade.”
The festival runs until Sunday, with a number of free and paid shows each day at various spots around the city. Rebbeck says organizers try to get acts and events for everyone.
“We try and remind people that this is a festival, so there’s always going to be something to do,” he said. “There’s shows where you can dance, intimate shows at coffee shops and things like the show at Hangar 7, which a lot of people look forward to every year.
“There’s things for families, things for kids to do and plenty to do if you’ve got an afternoon or an evening free during the week.”
While JazzFest attracts bigname acts from around North America, a big part of the festival is showcasing talent, says Rebbeck.
“It’s always a goal for us,” he said. “If you look over the years, there’s a number of acts locally that started here that now are in the music industry.
“Giving local acts a bigger stage to play on, even if it’s just one show, is always important for us.”
For more information on the festival and a list of acts, go to www.medicinehatjazzfest.com/