The Tofino Jazz Festival swings into town on June 20 to 23.
This year, Tofino’s charming little music festival will feature two indoor concerts and two free outdoor concerts.
“I really want to get people out and about. The Festival’s main mission is to provide an opportunity to build community through music: music for the whole community; for all ages; and in venues including free outdoor events. The revenue from the indoor concerts help with the production of the free outdoor concerts,” said Tofino Jazz Festival founder Sophie L’Homme.
Montreal based SHPIK will open the festival with a concert on Thursday, June 20 at the Clayoquot Community Theatre. Tickets are $20 in advance at Caravan Beach Shop or octopusevents.ca. Any remaining tickets will be sold for $25 at the door.
Comprised of pianist and composer Arnaud Spick-Saucier, contrabassist Étienne Dextraze and drummer Philippe Lussier-Baillargeon, SHPIK was the winner of the TD Jazz Grand Prize at the 2018 Montreal International Jazz Festival.
On Friday, June 21, Amelia Thomas and her band ABACAXI will get everyone moving with a steamy night of Brazilian music at Tofino Resort + Marina’s upper Hatch. Tickets are $20 in advance at Caravan Beach Shop or $25 at the door.
Jazz fans can spend Saturday night at the Tofino Village Green for a free soirée of live jazz music featuring swing dance lessons at 5:30 p.m. followed by performances from the Ucluelet Secondary School Jazz Band, Dwayne Martin’s singing group from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, and Tim Sars and his quartet, Tiny Islands, from Vancouver.
“The Festival also has the mission to introduce youth to jazz music and to give them opportunities for their first professional experience performing as musicians. The Festival is also a multi-cultural celebration mixing different genres and cultures while providing growth in the arts on the West Coast,” said L’Homme, who is Tofino and Ucluelet’s choir director.
READ: Tofino-Ucluelet Choir ‘s magic connects Coast
Sunday is another jam-packed day of jazz starting with the Chloé Gravel Trio at 2 p.m. at the Tofino Botanical Gardens and then onwards to the end of Tofino’s Campbell Street for ‘The End of the Road Concert’ starting at 6:30 p.m. with Ms.PAN!K, Haida Loop Poet & Wholesome.
‘The End of the Road Concert’ is free and accessible to all. Performances are scheduled to run until about 10 p.m. and local food vendors will be open for the occasion.
“It will be an amazing little street party,” L’Homme said.
Anyone interested in learning more about the event can visit the Tofino Jazz Festival Facebook page.
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