Our TD PEI Jazz & Blues Festival moves to late June this summer, with a set of concerts from June 21 to 24 featuring the best local and regional jazz, blues, soul, rock and alternative music performers. Festival Chair Jim Power describes the change as a relaunch to support the long term evolution of the festival as it transitions to the Canada Day weekend for 2018 and beyond.
The 2017 program puts the focus on celebrating the incredible music talent in PEI and Atlantic Canada beginning with an intimate jazz show at the historic St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Wednesday June 21st with presentations to honour this year’s Doug Riley Artist. On Thursday June 22nd and Friday June 23rd there will be a number of rock, blues and jazz performances at select bars and clubs in Charlottetown, and festival organizers are excited to announce the return of a Free Concert Series on Victoria Row on Saturday June 24th.
The festival board is very pleased to announce that past chair Doug Millington is this year’s “Doug Riley Artist” for the 2017 TD PEI Jazz and Blues Festival. “Doug Riley Artist” is a designation awarded each year to an Island musician who exemplifies the spirit of dedication to musical excellence and to developing the jazz and blues community as personified by Doug Riley, the late, great keyboard master, composer, producer and arts exponent who chose PEI as his home.
As this year’s Doug Riley Artist, Doug will be showcased with the Island Jazz Messengers on Wednesday June 21st at St. Paul’s Church with a program of original hard bop sextet music, music made famous by Doug Riley and Ella Fitzgerald and featuring three past Doug Riley artists. On Saturday June 24 Doug lead’s PEI’s premier big band, the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble in their performance in the Free Concert Series on Victoria Row, and at 11pm Saturday night Doug will host the Late Night “Doug & Friends Jam” at the Pourhouse for the final event of the festival.
On Thursday and Friday the festival switches to a wide set of jazz, blues and rock performances at select bars and clubs featuring artists including the Ken Fornetran Quintet, Salt Licks, Grahame Rhodes Quintet, the Sidewalks, Whiskey Business, Hello Delaware, Ian Sherwood, Paul Tynan, Slowcoaster, Max Keenlyside and John Campbelljohn.
The Free Concert Series on Victoria Row on Saturday June 24th will be an all ages “street party” beginning with performances from music students from intermediate and high school band programs followed by the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble in the late afternoon. Beginning at 7pm the focus switches to blues and rock with performances by blues due Earle & Coffin from Newfoundland, Andrew Waite & the Firm, blues rock band Hillsburn and rising soul star Reeny Smith fresh from rave reviews at the latest ECMAs in Saint John.
100% East Coast Jazz & Blues!
“Hosting the TD PEI Jazz and Blues Festival is a great tradition for the City of Charlottetown. It’s an event that we’re honoured to be a part of each year,” said Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee. “The diverse programming makes an important cultural impact and provides an opportunity for our citizens and visitors to be exposed to the talent of artists from across the country. We are grateful to the organizers for their continued commitment to putting on a world-class event and we look forward to celebrating local and regional artists at the upcoming festival.”
The 2016 TD PEI Jazz & Blues Festival is proudly supported by the Government of Canada, Province of Prince Edward Island, City of Charlottetown, and the Charlottetown Tourism Accommodation Levy.
For more details and regular updates during the festival, please watch our social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PEIJazzAndBlues.