The TD Toronto Jazz Festival is moving on up…to Yorkville! The festival, which kicks off its 31st festival from June 23-July 2, 2017, will feature more than 100 free concerts on stages throughout Yorkville. Shows will start daily at noon and finish at 10 p.m. Previously announced jazz festival headliners for 2017 include Aretha Franklin at the Sony Centre, Mavis Staples at Koerner Hall and Joss Stone at the Danforth Music Hall.
Free Concert by Aaron Neville
Grammy Award-winner Aaron Neville will be headlining the Yorkville Avenue Street Stage at Yorkville Avenue and Bellair Street with a free performance on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 8 p.m.
The Concert Hall
The Festival will reopen the historic Concert Hall (in the former Masonic Temple), with a performance by Randy Bachman on Friday, June 23, 2017. Tickets will be nostalgically priced at $19.17 to mark The Concert Hall’s 100th anniversary this year. The Concert Hall is known for having hosted big band orchestras in the 30s and 40s Led Zeppelin’s first Toronto concert in 1969 and the Rolling Stones have used it as a rehearsal space. Bachman will be joined by special guests including Walter Trout.
As to the reason why the jazz festival is moving uptown: “Yorkville housed one of the most vibrant scenes in North America during the 1960s and 1970s and the Jazz Festival is excited to bring the music back to the area,” states Chief Executive Officer Howard Kerbel. Artists including Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn, James Taylor and Simon & Garfunkel performed in Yorkville’s famous coffee houses in the 60s.
Tickets for The Concert Hall series go on sale Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at TicketPro or by calling 1.888.655.9090.
Performances at The Concert Hall
Friday, June 23 | Randy Bachman and Band with Special Guest Walter Trout
Randy Bachman co-founder of The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive will be joined by special guests, including Walter Trout. This performance is presented by Q107.
Saturday, June 24 | ACS: Allen, Carrington, Spalding
Sunday, June 25 | TBA
Tuesday, June 27 | Robert Glasper Experiment | Kandace Springs opens
Wednesday, June 28 | Shabaka & The Ancestors | Donny McCaslin Group
Thursday, June 29 | John LaBarbera Big Band “Celebrating Buddy Rich”
Friday, June 30 | Bokanté | Larnell Lewis Band opens
Sunday, July 2 | 4 By Monk By 4
Yorkville seems like a great neighbourhood for the TD Toronto Jazz Festival and, with its cafes and shops, will give the jazz festival a more homey feel, similar to the vibe on Saint Catherine Street during the Montreal Jazz Festival. Hope to see you there!
Can’t wait to see Robert Glasper
I look forward to the Jazz Festival every year. Especially when it comes to the Beaches!
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