Toronto’s annual summer jazz binge revealed its list of heavyweight acts today, and it includes a couple of wild and crazy guys.
In the aftermath of the snowstorm that hit Toronto last week, with drifts piled six feet high and streetcars halted across the city thanks to poorly-parked cars, life in Toronto has been transformed into a bit of a frozen nightmare.
But this snowed-in city got some hopeful news today: good weather will one day return to our fair streets, and with it will come the TD Toronto Jazz Festival.
The 27th annual event goes down at venues across the city from June 20-29, and the headlining acts were announced today at a press conference at Toronto’s newest jazz club, Jazz Bistro, which is set to open later this month. The bill’s most famous names include country music icon and global marijuana activist Willie Nelson, actor/comedian/banjo-god Steve Martin, funk/soul powerhouse Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, gospel legend Mavis Staples, and many more.
These headlining shows will take place at the fest’s Nathan Phillips Square hub, except for Nelson’s festival-opening gig, which is slated for Massey Hall on June 20.
Ticket info for the lineup of mainstage headliners is on the fest’s official website now, and the full lineup will be announced in the months to come.
