Beaches International Jazz Festival this July will feature concerts, workshops and the always popular StreetFest

By COLE HESSION

The 2025 Beaches International Jazz Festival is back next month for its 37th annual celebration of music in the East Toronto community.

This year’s festival opens on Friday, July 4, and continues until the final drumbeat on July 27.

Highlights for this year’s festival will include the always popular StreetFest along Queen Street East in the Beach on the nights of July 24, 25 and 26; concerts by guitarist Johannes Linstead on the nights of July 22 and 23 at Beach United Church; and Salsa on the Beach on the weekend of July 11, 12 and 13.

Here’s a full rundown of what to see and hear at this year’s Beaches International Jazz Festival.

Sounds of Leslieville and Riverside

As in past years, the Sounds of Leslieville and Riverside will kick off this year’s festival on the weekend of July 4, 5 and 6.

The performances will be centred on the main stage at Jimmie Simpson Park on Queen Street East (between Carlaw and Broadview avenues).

The festival opens in the park at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 4, with a performance by The Jazz Mechanics. They will be followed by The Philcos at 7:15 p.m.; and then The Bomb (a tribute to the 1980s) at 9 p.m.

On Saturday, July 5, the festival fun begins at 11 a.m. with free swing dance lessons from Swing Toronto.

The music begins at 11:30 a.m. with Martin Loomer and The Orange Devils. They will be followed by the Swing Shift Big Band at 2 p.m.; Jackson Steinvall at 4:30 p.m.; Cmagic5 at 6 p.m.; U.N. Jefferson at 7:30 p.m.; and Tell It To Sweeney at 9:30 p.m.

On Sunday, July 6, performances start at 11 a.m. with the Angela Pincente Big Band. They will be followed at 1:15 p.m. by The Ross Woolridge Orchestra Presents: Benny Meets Artie. At 3:30 p.m., Moka will perform. Next up will be Zuffalo at 5 p.m.; and Jerry Leger to cap off the weekend’s performances at 6:30 p.m.

Along with the music, there will be food trucks and other vendors at Jimmie Simpson Park during the Sounds of Leslieville and Riverside.

Those attending are invited to take part in the fun at the park and also explore and experience the local businesses in the surrounding neighbourhood.

TD Salsa on the Beach

Salsa on the Beach, celebrating dancing, Latin American cultures and music, takes place on Friday, July 11, Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, at Woodbine Park’s main stage.

Along with music and dancing, there will be vendors, food trucks, and a beer garden. Not only will there be salsa music, but also merengue and cumbia.

The fun on July 11 features at 6 p.m. with DJ El Alex at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; and the Yani9 Borrell & Orchestra playing salsa at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

On Saturday, July 12, DJ Victor Explosivo will be on stage at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. Santiago Moa & Orchestra will play salsa at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The fun continues with merengue music from Banda Dura at 4:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. DJ Joe will be on the stage at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Salsa from SWA Divas & Orchestra wraps up the Saturday slate with a performance at 7:30 p.m.; followed by Ricky Franco & Orchestra at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, July 13, DJ Explosivo will be playing music at 2 p.m., 4 p.m.; and 6:15 p.m. Santana Forever will perform at 3 p.m. There will then be Araguacu Latin Dance class at 4:30 p.m. Performances by 6 Del Barrio at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. will close out the Salsa on the Beach performances.

TD Workshop Series

The TD Workshop Series on July 8, 15 and 22 will feature Big Fam Jam nights in Toronto’s west end.

Taking place at the Drom Taberna, 458 Queen St. W., Big Fam Jam brings musicians and music lovers together to celebrate the power and joy of making music.

Hosted by Jackson Steinwall, this event gives people of all skill levels a chance to learn and experience making music. Big Fam Jam starts at 9:30 p.m. on July 8, 15 and 22.

Johannes Linstead in Concert on July 22 and 23

On Tuesday, July 22, and Wednesday, July 23, the Beaches Jazz Festival will present Johannes Linstead in concert at Beach United Church.

The performances are a fundraiser for East York’s Michael Garron Hospital.

From having more than 500 million streams, to being named Canada’s Guitarist of the Year, to winning eight Best Album awards, to seven Top-10 U.S. Billboard charting albums, and winning the People’s Choice award in the United Kingdom, Linstead has become recognized around the world as one of the best selling guitarists in the Instrumental, Latin Jazz and World Music genres.

Start times for his From Spain to Cuba shows are 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be ordered by going to https://www.beachesjazz.com/johanneslinstead

Beach United Church is located at 140 Wineva Ave.

TD Weekend Series

The TD Weekend Series will take place on the main stage at Woodbine Park on July 18, 19 and 20.

On Friday, July 18, the series is bringing up a list of Ontario’s top DJ’s including Starting From Scratch (GET ON UP), Mista Jiggs (RENAISSANCE), and guest host Master T (MuchMusic-X, Tendamix/Da Mix).

These DJs will be playing music set to the style of the 90’s to give listeners a retro feel.

The Saturday, July 19, musical performance line-up will see Quincey Bullen at 3 p.m.; The Honeyrunners at 4:30 p.m., The Bomb (a tribute to the 1980s) at 6 p.m.; and Beatlemania (featuring the Liverpool 4) at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, July 19, the music begins at 1:30 p.m. with Countermeasure; followed by the Shuffle Demons at 3 p.m.; Golden Feather at 4:30 p.m., and The Human Rights (modern roots reggae) at 6:30 p.m.

Beaches Jazz Festival StreetFest

The always popular Beaches Jazz Festival StreetFest will happen on the nights of Thursday, July 24, Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

Queen Street East will close down at 6 p.m. each night from Beech to Woodbine avenues for music fans to take the street and enjoy dozens of performers playing music.

The StreetFest will finish each night at 11 p.m., and the street will then be re-opened for cars, buses and streetcars at midnight.

A total of 36 bands and musicians will play nightly during the StreetFest, between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. For the complete list of bands playing please visit www.beachesjazz.com/streetfest

Food and treats from the city’s best restaurants will be part of StreetFest, along with local artisans and vibrant market stalls.

Transit routes will be altered by the TTC during the times of StreetFest. To avoid Queen Street East during Street Fest, the TTC’s Main Street 64 bus will take an alternate route during the street closure hours. The 64 bus will go south on Wineva Ave, past Queen Street East, along Alfresco Lawn and then up north on Lee Ave to Kingston Road.

OLG Weekend Series

The Beaches Jazz Festival wraps up for 2025 on the weekend of Friday, July 25, Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, with the OLG Weekend Series in Woodbine Park.

Friday and Saturday will feature Groovin’ in the Park from 6 to 10 p.m. each night.

This will be 10th anniversary for Groovin’ in the Park, which features a gathering of dancers, DJ’s and music lovers to party together to a variety of sounds.

The fun kicks off on July 25 with the Friday Dance Party featuring house, disco, funk and global rhythms.

On July 26, it will be Saturday Night Fever at Woodbine Park celebrating a decade of dance, community and culture.

The festival’s final performances for this year will take place on Sunday, July 27.

The performances will be from TANDM at 1 p.m.; Avery Raquel at 2:30 p.m.; CHLORINE at 4:30 p.m., and finally concluding the festival with a performance from SheBad at 6:30 p.m.

For full details on the 2025 Beaches International Jazz Festival, please visit https://www.beachesjazz.com/