Performers excited to be back at Saskatchewan Jazz Festival
After two years without a full-scale event, the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is officially underway and artists are looking forward to performing live again.
“I’m quite excited actually,” Dave Nelson, a member of the Dave Nelson Quartet told CTV News.
“It’s been two years since we have been able to show our skills and communicate to an audience.”
Nelson will be taking the stage at Victoria Park on Saturday with his band then sticking around to play with the Oral Fuentes Reggae Band. His band didn’t play in the past two Jazz Festivals, which were impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he said he played at every other one since 1988.
“It means a lot to be back,” he said. “I think it very definitely brings the city together.”
Saskatchewan Jazz Festival executive director Shannon Josdal shared Nelson’s enthusiasm.
“Everything old is new again, and we’re really excited about a new and fresh lineup,” Josdal said.
In total, there are over 60 concerts at various locations in the city, featuring more than 100 individual artists. Josdal said they are expecting roughly 75,000 people to attend the event between all the venues.
Some of the Festival's lineup includes Arkells with Mighty & Shawnee Kish, Patti Labelle, Bahamas with Ruby Waters and the Strumbellas.
“This is day three and we’re already having a fantastic time. Crowds have been great,” Josdal said.
Artists are playing at several location throughout the city including Bessborough Gardens, Victoria Park, Second Avenue Stage, the Broadway Theatre, KW Nasser Plaza and The Bassment and Amigos Cantina.
“We’re always excited to be part of the Jazz Festival, it’s a great festival and to be included is quite an honour,” Amigos Cantina manager Jim Clarke said.
The tavern is hosting a five shows throughout the eight-day event. For Clarke it provides his business with publicity, and he says also creates a buzz around town.
“Things are lightning up and people are getting out and it’s really quite exciting.”
This year marks the Festival’s 35th anniversary.
It runs from June 20 until July 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Budget 2024 'likely to be the worst' in decades, former BoC governor says
Without having seen it, former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge believes that Tuesday's 2024 federal budget from Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is 'likely to be the worst budget' in decades.
What's at stake for Canada after Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel
Following the Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel over the weekend, Canada should take the threat of Iran and potential escalation of the conflict seriously, one global affairs analyst says.
Former B.C. school trustee's 'strip-tease artist' remark was defamatory, judge rules
A controversial former school trustee from B.C.'s Fraser Valley who described a political rival as a "strip-tease artist" during an election campaign has been ordered to pay her $45,000 for defamation.
'A sense of urgency': Sask. man accused of abducting daughter calls himself to the stand during trial
Michael Gordon Jackson, the man on trial after being charged with contravention of a custody order for allegedly abducting his daughter in late 2021 to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, called himself to the stand Monday.
Kingston, Ont.'s Aaliyah Edwards drafted into WNBA
After four years at the University of Connecticut, Edwards was selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics in the WNBA draft Monday night.
NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station
NASA confirmed Monday that a mystery object that crashed through the roof of a Florida home last month was a chunk of space junk from equipment discarded at the International Space Station.
A knife attack in Australia against a bishop and a priest is being treated as terrorism, police say
Horrified worshippers watched online and in person as a bishop was stabbed at the altar during a church service in Sydney on Sunday evening.
Body of 14-year-old boy pulled from Lake Ontario, police say he drowned while swimming
The body of a 14-year-old boy has been pulled from Lake Ontario after police say he drowned while swimming near Ashbridges Bay Park on Sunday night.
'Rust' armourer gets 18 months in prison for fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin on set
A movie weapons supervisor was sentenced to 18 months in prison in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of 'Rust.'