Yesterday, the TD Halifax Jazz Festival announced that singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith will be opening for Blue Rodeo at the Main Stage on Friday, July 14th. Sexsmith is an incredible addition to an already jam-packed line up, including Anderson .Paak, Jo Mersa Marley, Jesse Royal, Andy Shauf, and more. In addition to various concerts throughout the city, the festival includes local workshops and free concerts from July 12-16th.
Sexsmith has been lauded as one of the greatest songwriters of his time since releasing his debut album in 1995. Since then, Sexsmith has released many albums and worked with world-renowned produces like Daniel Lanois, Mitchell Froom, Tchad Blake, Ray Kennedy, Martin Terefe, Bob Rock, and Jim Scott. This culmination of experience and expertise has allowed Sexsmith to produce his own album, ‘The Last Rider’.
The festival also announced that they will celebrating the milestones of the Mellotones twentieth anniversary and Gypsophilia’s victory lap as they close out their career, with a free show at the Halifax waterfront Main Stage.
Performances on the on the Halifax waterfront Main Stage (Son Latino, Ally Fiola The Next Quest, Riot Squad, Halifax Trombone Summit, Kore, Krisanne Crowell, Solarocity, Shirley Jackson and her band, Good Rockin’ Daddies, Donald MacLennan, Jeff Goodspeed, Augusto Enriquez, Los Primos, Big Valley Swing Orchestra, Chronos Band, New Bridge, Chebucto Big Band, The Tuesday Night Band, Vesuvius) during the day will be free.
Performances at the Hydrostone Park (Blue Spirits, Lazeez, Blue Lane, Arrythmia, John Chiasson, Sam Wilson Quartet, Karen Myatt, Josh Lake), will be free.
Performances at Hydrostone Park (Morgan Davis, Zoe Leger, The Tritones, Mike Cowie) will be free.
Performances at Halifax’s three Public Libraries will be free. The Creative Music Workshops student finale performance will be free.
Halifax’s floating legend, Theodore Tugboat will be hosting free and interactive Jazz Labs (Ross Burns, Bianca Palmer, Dr. Henry Bishop). These music workshops are for the entire family – all while sailing around the Halifax Harbour.
Stingray Music will be partnering with the TD Halifax Jazz Festival, to present their Stingray Rising Stars Program (Quinn Bachand’s Brichen, Only a Visitor, Allison Au, Melissa Lauren, Parker Abbott Trio). The program offers cash awards and showcase opportunities to emerging Canadian artists from across Canada, with the artists performing throughout each day of the festival. The Stingray Rising Stars winner will be announced later that evening from the Main Stage. The Stingray Rising Stars series is free and open to all ages.
All shows on Sunday, July 16 will be free. In short, there is no shortage of free concerts.
With a massive variety of artists and musical styles, the TD Halifax Jazz festival is poised to attract attendees of all ages and interests. Ron Sexsmith is sure to bring long-time listeners and future fans to the waterfront for Friday night’s show.
Tickets, which run at $55, are on sale now at the Halifax Jazz Festival’s website. For a list of the performers have a listen here.