The TD Halifax Jazz Festival, formerly known as the Atlantic Jazz Festival, is the oldest jazz festival and largest summer festival in Atlantic Canada, being held annually since 1987. Designated a Hallmark Event by the Halifax Regional Municipality, the event spans two weekends (9 nights, 8 days), attracts up to 55,000 visitors, involves 450 volunteers and employs over 350 local musicians.[1]

Halifax Jazz Festival
GenreJazz festival
Location(s)Atlantic Canada
Years active1987–present
Attendance55,000
Websitewww.halifaxjazzfestival.ca

Core programming includes jazz music, complemented with presentations of world, roots, blues, Latin, R&B, and other music styles.[2] Since 2023, locations of performances included the TD Main Stage[3], St. Matthew's United Church, and The Carleton[4][5]. While paid passes and tickets to individual shows are available, the festival always includes a host of free programming during the day[5].

The festival includes the Halifax Jazz Festivals Music Education Program[6]. These programs include Jazz Labs, which are free events for the public[6], and the Creative Music Workshop, an eight-day intensive program which provides students with instruction on skills like performing improvisational jazz[7].

Lineups

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2020

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2020 event was scheduled to be held from July 7 to 12, 2020.[8] In April 2020, it was announced that the festival was cancelled by its organizers following the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The event was later held online from July 31 to August 2, 2020.[10]

2021

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In 2021, online event was held from July 14 to August 15, marking the event's 35th anniversary.[11][12][13]

2022

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The 2022 event was held from July 12–17 in downtown Halifax.[14][15][16]

2023

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The 2023 event was held from July 11–16.[17] Performers include Feist,[5] Fleet Foxes,[17] Sudan Archives, Digable Planets, Shaggy, BadBadNotGood, and Jenn Grant.[18] A standard pass cost $215.56 CAD, while a Fusion Pass cost $322.04 CAD[19].

2024

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The 2024 event was held from July 9-14th[4]. Matt Andersen was the headline performer[3]. Other performers included Killer Mike, Fitz and the Tantrums, Emmylou Harris, and The War and Treaty[4].

The 2024 Jazz Labs lineup took place from July 10-13, and included events such as African Drumming with Henry Bishop, Exploring Jazz standards Workshop, Inside the Music: Maryna Krut, and Razzmatazz for Kids (with the latter two being held at the Central Library, located on Spring Garden Road)[6]. The 2024 Creative Music Workshop was held from July 6-14, and took place at the Nova Scotia Community College campus located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia[7].

References

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  1. ^ "About the TD Halifax Jazz Festival". Halifax Jazz Festival. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Halifax Jazz Festival". Halifax Jazz Festival. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b Hull, Jeremy (July 12, 2024). "Matt Andersen brings Juno-nominated album home to headline Halifax Jazz Fest". Retrieved July 18, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c "TD Halifax Jazz Festival". TD Halifax Jazz Festival. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  5. ^ a b c Mullin, Morgan (April 5, 2023). "Everything you need to know about the 2023 Halifax Jazz Festival". The Coast. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "JAZZ LABS". TD Halifax Jazz Festival. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  7. ^ a b "Creative Music Workshop". TD Halifax Jazz Festival. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  8. ^ Cook, Alex (8 February 2020). "Halifax Jazz Festival Announce First Round of Artists for 2020". The East. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Halifax Jazz Festival cancels 2020 event". CTV News. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  10. ^ McSheffrey, Elizabeth (July 17, 2020). "The New Reality: Performers take art online to keep festivals alive during COVID-19 - Halifax". Global News. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  11. ^ LaPierre, Megan (29 June 2021). "TD Halifax Jazz Festival Unveils Initial 2021 Lineup with P'tit Belliveau, Ben Caplan, Blackwood". Exclaim!. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Halifax Jazz Festival - Private Event". The Carleton. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  13. ^ Lightstone, Michael (3 June 2021). "Halifax Jazz Festival to be an online event this year". CJNI-FM. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  14. ^ "TD Halifax Jazz Festival". Jazz Festivals Canada. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  15. ^ "2022 TD Halifax Jazz Festival Announces Initial Lineup". To Do Canada. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  16. ^ Cooke, Stephen (20 April 2022). "Halifax Jazz Festival returns to downtown with vibrant lineup of grooves, soul and rock, July 13 to 17 | SaltWire". SaltWire Network. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  17. ^ a b Gregory, Allie (February 7, 2023). "Fleet Foxes to Headline 2023 Halifax Jazz Festival". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Mullin, Morgan (April 12, 2023). "Halifax Jazz Festival announces more 2023 headliners". The Coast. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  19. ^ Mullin, Morgan. "Everything you need to know about the 2023 Halifax Jazz Festival". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2024-07-18.