Jazz Fest Reveals 2018 Local Artist Lineup

Summer is just around the corner and the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival has plenty of live music in store. 

Winnipeg’s largest downtown music festival, which kicks off June 14, will host 50 artists from Manitoba during the 11-day festival alongside over 40 touring artists already announced. Drawing thousands of concert goers, the live music event spans just about every genre, from jazz standards to R&B, roots and blues to indie rock and electronic pop, latin jazz, hip hop, and just about everything in between.

Jazz Fest kicks things off with at Old Market Square with an extended version of their free opening weekend from previous years. The Cube will feature free music every night from the June 14 to the 23, and many of the artists hitting the stage are homegrown favourites. Each night has a theme this year, so fans have a great chance of finding music they want to hear.

Opening weekend includes dance, horns, pop, and hip hop themed nights, while the rest of the week ventures from swing to blues, to latin and contemporary jazz. Audiences can catch sets from Super Duty Tough Work, Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Impressions Jazz Group, Faouzia, Rayannah, ATLAAS, Marisolle Negash, Zachary Rushing, The Lytics, 3PEAT, viisi, Alpha Toshineza, Kelly Bado, and many more.

Jazz Fest will also partner with the sākihiwē festival (formerly Aboriginal Music Week) for performances from local up-and-comer Sebastian Gaskin and Manitoba-born, Hamilton-based Iskwé.

Local jazz staples Erin Propp & Larry Roy will be serving some tunes to kick off the dinner and a show series at Kitchen Sync, with some help from Chef Ben Kramer.

Sc Mira will take on the role of The Roadhouse Band for a tribute to Angelo Badalamenti at The Good Will, performing music from the special guest bands at the end of each episode of cult TV hit Twin Peaks' third season.

Other locals hitting the venues during the festivities include Amber Epp, Casati, Casimiro Nhussi + Nafro Dance, Chuck Copenace, Connor Derraugh: Band: Ability, Duotang, The Grey Jays, Keith Price, Lanikai, Leaf Rapids, Marco Castillo + Brazilian Beats, Mariachi Ghost, Micah Erenberg, Papa Mambo, and The Perpetrators.

This year's international headliners include indie darling Tune-Yards, Polaris winner Lido Pimienta, GRAMMY winner Chris Botti, R&B singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar, alt-rock legends The Flaming Lips, and more. See the complete list of this year's performers at jazzwinnipeg.com

For those looking to connect with festival artists to boost their music skills, Jazz Fest also offers free workshops. Taking place at Manitoba Music's Resource Centre, the TD Jazz Labs will feature free evening sessions and talks by festival performers including The Heavyweights Brass Band, Moon Hooch, Hilario Duran, and Gorilla Mask, as well as a new music career-focused talk with Manitoba Music. 

Night owls can keep the music going late at The VG Lounge at the Fairmont for Late Night Jam hosted by Derrick Gardner.

Tickets and passes are on sale online and will be available at the Jazz Winnipeg office at 100 Arthur Street, at jazzwinnipeg.com, or by calling 204.989.4656. 

Find all your Jazz Fest info in our MB Live app and online listings and start planning your festival