Organizers of the TD Victoria International Jazz Festival announced Thursday they will expand into new territory this summer, with portions of the annual event being held in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria and Bullen Park in Esquimalt for the first time.
The 39th edition of the festival runs June 24 to July 3 and includes performances — both free and ticketed — by international acts at a variety of venues, including the Royal Theatre, McPherson Playhouse and Hermann’s Jazz Club, among others.
Buddy Guy, Gregory Porter, Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Lisa Fischer are among the headliners.
The new round of daytime programming at Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park (June 25-26) and the main stage at Bullen Park (July 1-3) is being presented free of charge. It is designed to attract family audiences, with an upbeat emphasis on fun.
“It’s all geared toward being high-energy and dancable,” said Darryl Mar, executive/artistic director of the Victoria Jazz Society, which runs the event commonly known as JazzFest.
This will be the first time the 10-day festival has branched out into Beacon Hill Park, which is not often used for such events. Mar said he programmed a concert at the Cameron Bandshell in 1982, but it wasn’t under the JazzFest umbrella. Up to this point, outdoor events at JazzFest were often held at Centennial Square.
Bullen Park, home to the popular Esquimalt Ribfest, was presented as an option by Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins, “who asked what it would it take to get JazzFest into Esquimalt,” Mar said.
JazzFest was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, but the Victoria Jazz Society staged one-off events in Bullen Park in September, which opened the door to future opportunities, Mar said. “I’ve always been looking for a grassy field to do our outdoor programming on, and this was perfect timing.”
Three nights of ticketed programming at Bullen Park featuring a cutting-edge roster of funk, hip-hop and soul acts will add further electricity to both the township and the festival.
Ghost-Note and the Louis Cole Big Band (June 26), Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio and Cha Wa (July 2), and Ludic and The Suffers (July 3) will appear as part of the Funk & Soul in the Township program — one of many new looks the longtime festival is offering this year.
“We’re not leaving the city [for Esquimalt], we’re just expanding our footprint,” Mar said.
The complete TD Victoria International JazzFest lineup and schedule will be announced April 4 through .
