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
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.