The Jazz Festival welcomes Data Romance to the TD Mainstage on June 22nd. The Vancouver based electro group is opening for Metric along with local favorites We Were Lovers.

BAND BIO

Ajay Bhattacharyya and Amy Kirkpatrick, both 25, first came together two years ago in their hometown of Victoria on Canada’s Vancouver Island. Kirkpatrick had moved to Vancouver proper, where she started using her training to do lights for the city’s biggest clubs. Bhattacharyya, meanwhile, had come to the city to study sound design for film. From the circuit-bending tonalities mirroring Nine Inch Nails to the feminine aspect evoking the mystical eroticism of Lykke Li, Data Romance produces an electro-dance experience like no other.

Nikki Yanofsky’s 7pm show at The Broadway Theatre is close to selling out with less than 20 tickets left. Her 9:30pm show is over half sold and is expected to sell out as well. For those early bird Jazz Fest fans get your Nikki tickets before they’re gone!

Serena Ryder’s line-up is welcoming a new opener, blues duo The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer. This Ontario based blues duo combines the raw swagger of bands like The Black Keys and The White Strips with a deep love for the roots of the genre. They’re most recent album Checkered Past addresses the genres classic themes of heartbreak, addiction, and economic depression in melodies that create a cathartic and emotional experience.

The group will play The Bassment on June 25th and 26th, as well as, open for Serena Ryder on TD Mainstage on June 24th.

The SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is announcing our first sold out show. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band performing on June 22nd at the Broadway Theatre sold out late this afternoon. Fans of the band still have a chance of winning tickets through CBC, who will be doing give-a-ways for various shows at the Broadway Theatre (including Preservation Hall Jazz Band) closer to the Festival.

The Festival suggests purchasing tickets early to avoid any disappointment as numerous other shows are expected to sell out. Visit the Artists or Ticketed Schedule pages for the complete Festival line-up.

We’re excited to release the complete lineup of ticketed and free shows for the 2013 SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival! And its sure to be one of the best festival’s we’ve ever produced.

In addition to previously announced TD Mainstage artists such as City and Colour, Metric, Herbie Hancock, Dr. John & The Nite Trippers, Colin James and Serena Ryder, we’ve added shows by Jimmie Vaughan, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Ziggy Marley.

You can check out the list of artists from A–Z and the ticketed schedule here and learn about other artists and venues below!

THE BROADWAY AND BASSMENT

The Broadway and The Bassment have become a mecca for exceptional jazz artists and puts the Jazz in Jazz Festival. The all-star lineup includes John Scofield Uberjam, David Murray Infinity Quartet with (Festival Favourite) Macy Gray, and upcoming jazz starlet, Nikki Yanofsky with many more found on the Festival website.

GROOVE SERIES

The Groove Series is the late option for those night owls that love the funk, soul, and indie music scene. With Juno nominees Yukon Blonde, soul master Lee Fields, and hip-hop, jazz fusion The Herbaliser you’ll figure out why we call it the Groove Series!

CLUB JAZZ FREE STAGE

Also, be sure to check out our Free Stage Schedule! You will find all kinds of hidden jems and free stage favorites like Five Alarm Funk, Royal Wood, Wil Campa, Red Baraat, and Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet to name a few. Also, take in the sights and sounds of the Festival marketplace or enjoy the tastes of the many food vendors.

BOX OFFICE AND TICKET INFO

Early bird tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at saskjazz.com, by phone at 1.800.638.1211, or from the Festival Box Office in the lobby of Saskatoon’s Delta Bessborough Hotel. We’re open Monday–Friday, 10am–6pm.

Finally, be sure to download our app for your iPhone, iPod Touch or Android device and stay up-to-date on festival news, see what’s playing, and take photos with our new photo booth feature!

Don’t forget the Jazz Festival dates are June 21 – July 1 (with an extra day just for fun!). Now if only summer would get here fast enough!

On April 30th the international community of jazz artists is celebrating International Jazz Day. Started in November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated this day to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. International Jazz Day is chaired and led by Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General, and legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. The Institute is the lead nonprofit organization charged with planning, promoting and producing this annual celebration, which began in 2012.

To celebrate this new and exciting day for jazz musicians and fans The Bassment is presenting a FREE presentation with saxophonist Mark DeYong and his Quartet – Jon McCaslin on drums, Dean McNeil on trumpet, Soren Nissen on bass, and Carsten Rubeling on trombone. We are giving away 200 tickets to this event – get yours here.

PART TIME BOX OFFICE

The Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is seeking part time temporary Box Office staff for the 27th annual SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. This position will report to and work closely with the Box Office Manager. This is an hourly position starting in May and concludes July 2, 2013. The position requires a flexible schedule including weekdays, evenings and weekends and offers a competitive salary. If you enjoy working with the public, have great customer service skills, have a need to be accurate and strong computer skills, we want to talk to you.
Salary: $10.00 per hr

PART TIME CASHIERS

The Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is seeking part time temporary cashiers for the 27th annual SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. This position will report to and work closely with Office Administrator. This is an hourly position starting June 21 and concludes July 2, 2013. The position requires a flexible schedule including weekdays, evenings and weekends and offers a competitive salary. If you enjoy working with the public, have great customer service skills, have a need to be accurate and strong computer skills, we want to talk to you. Must be 19 year of age or older.
Salary: $10.00 per hr

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

- Customer service, requiring excellent communication skills, strong mathematic skills
- Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills
- Strong computer skills
- Reliable and responsible, pleasant phone manner and demeanor
- Completion of cash, credit card, and debit transactions
- Able to work in a fun, fast paced environment, work well with others, love music

Download the job posting here.

The Saskatchewan Jazz Festival appreciates the interest of all applicants; only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Accepted applicants will be required to complete a criminal records check prior to employment.

Please forward resume attention by FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2013. Resumes can be emailed, faxed, mailed, or dropped off at the Festival office.

Saskatchewan Jazz Festival
Attention: Kevin Tobin, Festival Manager
#701-601 Spadina Crescent East
Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7K 3G8
E-mail: kevin@saskjazz.com | Fax: 306.934.5014

Tickets for Metric, Colin James, Nikki Yanofsky, Bettye LaVette, and Preservation Hall are on sale now and may be purchased online, by phone at 306.652.4700 or 1.800.638.1211, and at the Festival Box Office, located on the 7th floor of the Delta Bessborough hotel (707-601 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon). The Festival will announce the complete lineup on May 3, 2013, through the distribution of the main festival program. The 27th SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival runs June 21 – July 1, 2013.

METRIC, who scored five major nominations including Group of the Year, Alternative Album of the Year, and Fan Choice Award at the 2013 Juno Awards, is Emily Haines, Jimmy Shaw, Joshua Winstead and Joules Scott Key. An independent rock and roll band empowered by their innovative approach to the music business, has earned “Album of the Year” and “Band of the Year” at the Canadian Juno Awards, and had their music featured in two major Hollywood films including Scott Pilgrim vs The World and the Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Their latest album, SYNTHETICA released in 2012, and is a true culmination of all the music the band has made in their 10 years together.

Nikki Yanofsky is a musical prodigy who debuted at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival, where she won the hearts of 100,000+ people in the audience. By 14, Nikki had performed and recorded with the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, Will.i.am, Wyclef Jean and Herbie Hancock. Nikki was a featured artist at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games held in Vancouver performing in front of nearly half the world’s population at the opening and closing ceremonies.

With a voice as powerful as Etta James and a story as compelling as Tina Turner, Bettye LaVette is finally embracing the superstar status that has eluded her since the sixties. “Miss LaVette now rivals Aretha Franklin as this generation’s most vital soul singer,” proclaims the New York Times. Her latest album, THANKFUL N’ THOUGHTFUL (released fall 2012) presents LaVette in top form with a brilliantly reflective musical journey that’s rough, tender, and sensuous.

The Preservation Hall band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. The band has traveled worldwide spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate the art form of New Orleans Jazz with a deep reverence and consciousness of its greatest attributes in the modern day as a venue, band, and record label.

Joining the 2013 lineup is METRIC, set to play the TD Mainstage in the Bessborough Gardens on Saturday, June 22. METRIC, who scored three major nominations in the categories of Group of the Year, Alternative Album of the Year, and Fan Choice Award at the 2013 Juno Awards, is Emily Haines, Jimmy Shaw, Joshua Winstead and Joules Scott Key. An independent rock and roll band empowered by their innovative approach to the music business, has earned “Album of the Year” and “Band of the Year” at the Canadian Juno Awards, and had their music featured in two major Hollywood films including Scott Pilgrim vs The World and the Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Their latest album, SYNTHETICA released in 2012, and is a true culmination of all the music the band has made in their 10 years together. The presenting sponsor of this show is Spareparts.

Colin James plays the opening night of the Jazz Festival on the TD Mainstage on Friday, June 21. This six-time Juno Award winner and multi-platinum musician has come full circle with his latest album, titled TWENTY FIVE LIVE. On the verge of 25 years since the release of his debut, it takes this Saskatchewan artist back to his full-blooded rock roots. Other exciting news – Colin was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame as of today!

The Festival is pleased to announce Nikki Yanofsky on Thursday, June 27 playing two shows at 7PM and 9:30PM. Nikki Yanofsky is a musical prodigy who debuted at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival, where she won the hearts of 100,000+ people in the audience. By 14, Nikki had performed and recorded with the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, Will.i.am, Wyclef Jean and Herbie Hancock. Nikki was a featured artist at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games held in Vancouver performing in front of nearly half the world’s population at the opening and closing ceremonies.

Also at the Broadway Theatre, Bettye LaVette takes to the stage on Monday, June 24th. With a voice as powerful as Etta James and a story as compelling as Tina Turner, LaVette is finally embracing the superstar status that has eluded her since the sixties. “Miss LaVette now rivals Aretha Franklin as this generation’s most vital soul singer,” proclaims the New York Times. Her latest album, THANKFUL N’ THOUGHTFUL (released fall 2012) presents LaVette in top form with a brilliantly reflective musical journey that’s rough, tender, and sensuous.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will play the Broadway Theatre on Saturday, June 22. The band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. The band has traveled worldwide spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate the art form of New Orleans Jazz with a deep reverence and consciousness of its greatest attributes in the modern day as a venue, band, and record label.

Tickets for these concerts go on sale Monday, March 25 at 10am and may be purchased online, by phone at 306.652.4700 or 1.800.638.1211, and at the Festival Box Office, located on the 7th floor of the Delta Bessborough hotel (707-601 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon).

The Festival will announce the complete lineup on May 3, 2013, through the distribution of the main festival program. The 27th SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival runs June 21 – July 1, 2013.

The SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is pleased to present An Evening with Holly Cole on Wednesday, April 24th at The Broadway Theatre. The Juno and Gemini Award winning Canadian singer is presenting her latest album – NIGHT.

As a self declared night owl, perfectly at home in the time between dusk and dawn, Holly claims this trait to be central to her personal and artistic life. Her new album features a stylistically diverse and emotionally stirring collection of songs as a love letter to the night and its power.

There are musical secrets to be discovered on this album, as well as, many layers of meaning. “Subtext is my best friend“, she remarks explaining how her personal creative journey continues to unfold.

Tickets for this show go on sale Friday, March 15th at 10AM here, by phone at 306.652.4700 or 1.800.638.1211, and at the Festival Box Office, located on the 7th floor of the Delta Bessborough Hotel (707-601 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon).

As of 10am this morning the first four shows of the 2013 SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival line-up are on sale to the public! To buy your tickets to City and Colour, Serena Ryder, Herbie Hancock, and Dr. John please visit their artist page or the Jazz Festival’s ticket page.

City and Colour will play this year’s Festival on the heels of his new album release. The Juno awarding-winning singer-songwriter, Dallas Green, is a well known artist across Canada thanks to the success of his previous three full length albums. The concert takes place on the TD Mainstage in the Bessborough Gardens on Thursday, June 27, with a special guest opening the show.

Juno award-winning, Serena Ryder, joins the lineup on Monday, June 24th at the TD Mainstage. Influenced by folk, roots, country and adult contemporary, this Toronto native has been producing music since the young age of 17. Serena’s latest album, Harmony, features the hit track “Stompa” that is sure to get you up on your feet!

Herbie Hancock, a true icon of modern music, is playing the festival on Wednesday, June 26 at the TD Mainstage. Being a member of the Miles Davis Quintet, he has been an integral part of every jazz movement since the 1960s.

Grammy award-winning Dr. John, or Mac Rebennack, is universally celebrated as the living embodiment of the rich musical heritage exclusive to New Orleans. With a musical career spanning 5 decades this legendary artist recently produced the 2013 Grammy award-winning, “Locked Down”, produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

The complete Festival is released May 3 with more announcements coming soon!