Although we dwell in a city of full of skyscrapers and traffic jams, there are unique neighborhood nooks scattered across the landscape which provide escape and solace. The Beaches is just one locale that can make you feel as though you're in a different place and when you pair this feat with a celebration of jazz music, it's no surprise that Torontonians come out in the thousands to enjoy the performances and ambience.
The Beaches International Jazz Festival kicks off this weekend for its 20th anniversary. The festival showcases jazz, blues, big band, vocalists, African, Caribbean, reggae, hip-hop, South American, Latin, rhythm and blues and more.
This year's festival spans three different venues in the Beaches area - Woodbine Park, Queen St. East for the StreetFest and Kew Gardens.
Woodbine Park kicks off the festivities on opening weekend from July 18 - 20, 2008. With a youth stage, a new generation stage and a main stage, the park features a real mix of artists including Dr. Draw, Cimarron, Richard Underhill and the Toronto All-Star Big Band.
StreetFest on Queen St. East runs from Thursday, July 24 to Saturday, July 26. Like most other events and performances at the festival, the StreetFest is free to all. Fifty or so bands will entertain the crowds along a closed 2 km stretch of Queen Street East. And if jazz music just isn't your thing, there's still plenty of opportunity for great people-watching.
The Beaches International Jazz Festival kicks off this weekend for its 20th anniversary. The festival showcases jazz, blues, big band, vocalists, African, Caribbean, reggae, hip-hop, South American, Latin, rhythm and blues and more.
This year's festival spans three different venues in the Beaches area - Woodbine Park, Queen St. East for the StreetFest and Kew Gardens.
Woodbine Park kicks off the festivities on opening weekend from July 18 - 20, 2008. With a youth stage, a new generation stage and a main stage, the park features a real mix of artists including Dr. Draw, Cimarron, Richard Underhill and the Toronto All-Star Big Band.
StreetFest on Queen St. East runs from Thursday, July 24 to Saturday, July 26. Like most other events and performances at the festival, the StreetFest is free to all. Fifty or so bands will entertain the crowds along a closed 2 km stretch of Queen Street East. And if jazz music just isn't your thing, there's still plenty of opportunity for great people-watching.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
