Saskatoon JazzFest returns

(Hallee Mandryk/CTV News)

The Saskatoon Jazz Festival has returned. Sunday marked the first day of programming for the annual music festival, which has become a staple in Saskatoon.

“We’re putting the final touches on the park of our main festival site here in Vic Park. We are so, so very excited. We opened the doors at 12:30, to kick off for 1:30 yoga class and then music at three, five, seven and nine. We’ve got food trucks, beer gardens, family fun zone, a whole day and a whole week of fun,” Shannon Josdal, the executive director of the JazzFest said.

Josdal said it takes a lot of work to transform Victoria Park into the festival grounds.

“We essentially build a small city in the middle of Victoria Park, and we have about 400 volunteers. Our setup volunteer crew has been working tirelessly. All of our staff are here...we’ve got these guys out here working. So yes, it’s definitely a small army building a small city for a week in the park,” Josdal said.

This year marks something new for the annual tradition. It was previously announced that TD would be the event’s title sponsor, after SaskTel opted to move into a different role following its time as the title sponsor.

“It’s a new era for the for the festival. We are officially the TD Jazz Fest. SaskTel is in a new role with us this year. They’re our free program sponsors. So that’s a really, really great transition. And we’ve just come off a huge rebrand project. So you’re going to see a ton of new imagery,” Josdal said.

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Some of that imagery is featured on a big new addition to the festival’s decor, which visitors can see at the main entrance.

“We’ve got a new marquee that you can walk under. You can take selfies with, and it features our new festival motto, which is ‘Prairie loud, no wrong notes’,” Josdal said.

Josdal emphasized that 75 per cent of the programming is free. July 5, 8, 9 and 11th in Victoria Park are free to attend, with the July 6, 7 and 10 programs requiring tickets.

Additionally, there are a handful of corresponding events throughout different venues in Saskatoon that are part of Jazz Fest.

“Jazz Fest is all about energy and it’s all about discovery...That’s why we really lean into the phrase ‘Prairie loud, no wrong notes’ and it leans into what jazz is, which is a genre of improvisation, of experimentation, of discovery,” Josdal said.

This year’s headliners include Modest Mouse, Noah Cyrus, and Bruce Cockburn. Anyone seeking tickets can purchase them through the JazzFest website. Josdal emphasized that the event is open to anyone, even those who are less familiar with the genre.

“There’s no wrong way to be as an artist, as a patron you can really come on out, learn something new, find a new favourite band, or just eat mini donuts and enjoy whatever floats your boat. It is really about energy discovery and enjoying great music,” Josdal said.