Beaches International Jazz Festival returns

It’s time for what some of us wait all year for – the 29th annual Beaches International Jazz Festival – and there are plenty of events planned leading up to the celebrated StreetFest at the end of July.

Festivities start east this year, with the month-long music fest – the largest free jazz festival in the world – kicking off with Sounds of Leslieville and Riverside at Jimmie Simpson Park from July 7 to 9. Music runs from 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The following weekend, Woodbine Park comes alive with the Beaches Jazz Latin Carnival, July 14 to 16. Melodies of salsa, merengue, and cumbia will be showcased from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The Kew Gardens Series hosts artists July 15 and 16, the first of two weekends of jazz festival programming.

For more on the artists and this year’s festivities, visit www.beachesjazz.com.

Zed Head’s Neil Chapman, left, and the Fogman rock it out in front of Gabby’s. The 24th Annual Beaches International Jazz Festival was once again a great success, showcasing great jazz, blues, and rock artists. The streetfest, which took place July 26-28, attracted a great number of visitors as up to 50 bands lined up the sidewalks on Queen Street from Woodbine to Beach.