Beaches International Jazz Festival 2013

Another music packed weekend has come upon us here in Toronto.  As everyone is looking to solidify their last few weeks of vacation before we hit fall time (I know, still to early to talk about fall), myself and the other 50,000 fans will be descending upon Toronto's Beaches neighbourhood.  For the 25th year in a row, the Beaches and surrounding partners will be hosting their International Jazz Festival.

The 2km of Queen street will be packed with dozens upon dozens of live bands playing anything from standard jazz, to jazz fusion, R&B, funk, blues, and much more!  Personally, this will be my 5th time attending the festival and for some reason I feel it truly marks a point in summer.  With over 1,000 hour of live music at your ear's disposal there is something to be said about grabbing a drink with some friends/family and chilling out on a patio with some great tunes right on the sidewalk!

Friends that have visited the BIJF in the past have been reluctant to attend stating they tend to see the same bands year after year.  But then again, don't all music lovers see the same performances of the artists they enjoy?  When your one of your favourite bands comes to town, do you not go because you've seen them before?  Just face it, you're either bitter or old.  Even the seniors at the Jazzfest will tell you that as they sway back and forth to the tunes.

So who's playing this weekend?

Like I said, there is a lot of music to take in so if you are planning to hit up the festival, be sure to give yourself a fair amount of time to sift through the sea of people (it's really not that bad though once you're there) and the quantity of bands up and down the the strip.  I personally find myself heading out for some dinner in the nearby area, stop by the beach to walk along the waterfront and eventually make my way back and forth throughout the festival, which also occupies Kew Gardens, Woodbine Beach and the Beaches Boardwalk.


(Philips Westin Orchestra)

Toronto residents near the festival know time and time again that this means road closures.  But let's give the heads up for newcomers and out of town folks.

During Beaches Jazz Festival StreetFest, on the nights of Thursday July 25th, Friday July 26th, and Saturday July 27th, 2013, Queen Street E. will be closed from Woodbine Ave. to Beech Ave. from 6:00 pm to 11:30 pm nightly. The north / south streets of Waverley Ave., Wineva Ave., and Lee Ave. will remain open throughout the evening.

Hope to see you all there!