2025 TD WINNIPEG INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL UNVEILS FREE PROGRAM LINEUP AT OLD MARKET SQUARE
Jazz Winnipeg announces free programming at the TD Mainstage at Old Market Square, taking place June 17-22, 2025 at the Fort Garry Hotel.
(May 8, 2025 - Winnipeg, MB) Jazz Winnipeg is proud to unveil an exciting roster of Canadian and international talent set to perform on the TD Mainstage at Old Market Square during the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival. The festival will feature five nights of free programming, consisting of varied and dynamic lineups from across the jazz spectrum, supported by Little Brown Jug and Manitoba Liquor Marts.
Kicking off the celebrations in Old Market Square on Tuesday, June 17 are R&B vocalist and songwriter Jana Jacobs, Filipino-Canadian indie crooner Rein, a special collaborative project between Winnipeg neo-soul devotees Cec X No Fuss, Polaris-nominated multi-disciplinary hip-hop artist Kimmortal, and Toronto’s premier contemporary disco band, The Free Label.
Things heat up on Wednesday, June 18 with performances by pop-funk vocalist Mari Padeanu, alternative-pop singer-songwriter Flora Luna, Montreal-based composer/singer/violinist Thanya Iyer, Toronto-based jazz fusion band Shuffle Demons, and a second festival exclusive collaboration between local heavyweights Trio Bembe X Ego Spank.
Thursday’s lineup demonstrates the best in contemporary jazz from start to finish, beginning with jazz fusion outfit Adam Ciric’s Invisible Forces and contemporary instrumental trio Compost. The evening is headlined by American jazz phenomenons New Jazz Underground, Grammy-nominated jazz chamber ensemble Kneebody, and Winnipeg’s own Apollo Suns.
A celebrated tradition returns with Latin Night on Friday, June 20, featuring the best of Manitoba’s Latin music community. The evening includes performances from Argentinian singer-songwriter Onna Lou, Brazilian guitarist Emmanuel Bach’s Samba Jazz Project, Cuban Timba big band Meta-Clave, Afro-Latin salsa band Curubandé All Star, South American rockers El Leon and the Strangers, and traditional/original salsa band Son D’Arranke.
Things wrap up on Saturday with an emphasis on large bands, horns, and groove. The afternoon starts off swinging with the 11-piece hot jazz ensemble The River City Syncopators, the five saxophone-led ensemble Saxophone Nouveau, and a special festival performance by Brooklyn’s premier all women brass ensemble, Brass Queens. Lovers of funk and groove should be sure to not miss the second half of the evening, featuring the nine-piece jazz funk collective NYOH (Not Your Ordinary Hooligans), Quebec’s premier electric-jazz-bass fronted Carl Mayotte Quintet, and contemporary pop-soul band Vox Populi.
“The program we put on at Old Market Square is our love letter to Winnipeg’s music-goers, and this year’s lineup has something for everyone. There’s a wide array of the jazz diaspora on display from an incredible diversity of musicians,” says Jazz Winnipeg’s Director of Programming, Zachary Rushing.
“We’re extremely proud that the program stands not only as a testament to the creative nature of jazz music, but as a representation of the best our country has to offer as well; this year, 88% of the lineup is composed of Canadian ensembles from as far away as Vancouver and Montreal to right here in Manitoba.”
Known as the unofficial kick off to the summer festival season, the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival continues to be a celebration of musical diversity and unity, bringing together artists from across the globe and offering festival-goers an unforgettable experience. This year’s event promises to be one of the most exciting yet, with performances from world-class artists who are sure to deliver unforgettable performances, each bringing their own unique sound and style to the stage.
TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival tickets for Will Bonness, Brent Parkin, Zachary Rushing, MUSICMUSICMUSIC, Henk Kraaijeveld, the Anthony D’Alessandro Quartet feat. Benny Banack III, and the Lorraine Desmarais Trio are on sale now on Showpass. Ticket prices are $32.70 (plus service fees). Other announced headliners include Madeleine Peyroux, Jimmie Herrod and George Colligan, Richard Bona, and the new all-star trio consisting of Béla Fleck, harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez.
TD Mainstage at Old Market Square Schedule At-A-Glance
Tuesday, June 17
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Jana Jacobs (Manitoba)
6:30 - 7:30 PM - Rein (Manitoba)
8:00 - 9:00 PM - CEC x No Fuss (Manitoba)
9:30 - 10:30 PM - Kimmortal (British Columbia)
11:00 PM - 12 AM - The Free Label (Ontario)
Wednesday, June 18
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Mari Padeanu (Manitoba)
6:30 - 7:30 PM - Flora Luna (Manitoba)
8:00 - 9:00 PM - Thanya Iyer (Quebec)
9:30 - 10:30 PM - Shuffle Demons (Ontario)
11:00 PM - 12 AM - Trio Bembe X Ego Spank (Manitoba)
Thursday, June 19
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Adam Ciric's Invisible Forces (Manitoba)
6:30 - 7:30 PM - Compost (Manitoba)
8:00 - 9:00 PM - New Jazz Underground (USA)
9:30 - 10:30 PM - Kneebody (USA)
11:00 PM - 12 AM - Apollo Suns (Manitoba)
Friday, June 20
4:30 - 5:30 pm - Onna Lou (Manitoba)
6:00 - 7:00 pm - Samba Jazz Project (Manitoba)
7:30 - 8:30 pm - Meta-Clave (Manitoba)
9:00 - 10:00 - Curubandé All Star (Manitoba)
10:30 - 11:30 pm - El Leon & the Strangers (Manitoba)
12:00 - 1:00 am - Son D' Arranke (Manitoba)
Saturday, June 21
4:30 - 5:30 pm - The River City Syncopators (Manitoba)
6:00 - 7:00 pm - Saxophone Nouveau (Manitoba)
7:30 - 8:30 pm - Brass Queens (USA)
9:00 - 10:00 - NYOH (Manitoba)
10:30 - 11:30 pm - Carl Mayotte Quintet (Quebec)
12:00 - 1:00 am - Vox Populi (Manitoba)
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About Jazz Winnipeg
Jazz Winnipeg is a charitable, non-profit organization promoting the art of jazz through concert presentations and community engagement including the annual Winnipeg International Jazz Festival. Donations are tax deductible and gratefully accepted through our website at Jazz Winnipeg or at CanadaHelps.
