Looking back in gratitude, and forward with excitement

Looking back at this year’s festival, we first have to offer gratitude. We couldn’t have done it without YOU. 

The Festival is truly a community effort and it wouldn’t be possible without our many sponsors, funders, volunteers, performers, artists, crew and the 15,000 people who showed up to take it all in. We would also like to give a special acknowledgement to our title sponsor, Odlum Brown Limited for their ongoing support of the Festival for the past four years. 

Our 2022 festival not only brought incredible jazz performers, youth and emerging artists and showcased the talent of artists of all kinds, it also brought the community together through new installations. These included the "paint-by-number" art mural created by Kwantlen First Nation youth artists and siblings, and the Kwantlen Art & Cultural Exhibition that featured exhibits by Kwantlen First Nation elders and community members, PowWow drummers and dancers and performances by Indigenous-led bands. 

Our hope in hosting this year’s festival was to create something truly unique – and what we experienced was just that with the community coming together in celebration of live music, art and culture. 

As we approach the end of 2022, we reflect on our successes and learnings this year (it was our biggest festival ever) and look ahead to next year to our 6th edition of the Festival. 

Continuously improving our festival 

Festivals are not without their challenges and we know we were not alone with the ones we faced in 2022. From a lack of available music equipment to rising labour and rental costs to environmental issues like mosquitos…we persevered. We learned lessons. 

“Continuous improvement” is our motto. We care deeply about the festival goer’s experience. We value our sponsors and funders. We listen closely to the needs of our community. We adapt. 

Since the festival began in 2018, we’ve had a different model every year in response to those needs and the changing festival landscape. But throughout the years, what hasn’t changed is our commitment to being a festival that offers world-class jazz and visual art experiences that are accessible to our community. 

Exciting announcements for the 2023 Festival 

We’re excited to announce some exciting changes for 2023. We heard from our community that the outdoor festival stages were a little too spread-out last year and that for some, it was not possible to take in all that we had to offer. The 2023 festival will continue to feature free outdoor stages but they will be in closer proximity to one another with the same calibre of free jazz and art programming that you’ve come to expect. 

On the opening night of the Festival, Thursday, July 20, we will be showcasing a fantastic jazz headliner act at the brand-new art and cultural centre that will be opening in Fort Langley, salishan Place by the River. We’re thrilled to be one of the first events to take place at the new centre. 

We’re also moving our headliner acts to a new festival model and venue. On Friday and Saturday nights, July 21 and 22 from 5-10pm, the Fort Community Park will transform to feature our headliner acts on two outdoor stages with a beverage garden, food trucks and more. All the magic will be contained in one area and music lovers will be able to buy a weekend pass or daily passes. 

Of course, it all comes back to the music. Our programming will continue to be diverse and eclectic and we’re thrilled to be bringing in some big names for 2023. This is all just the beginning. 

Stay tuned for big announcements in 2023 

Coming up soon, we will be opening our Rising Jazz Star award applications and registration for our 2023 Jazz Education Workshop. Stay tuned for these announcements in the new year! 

Mark your calendars! Early bird tickets go on sale April 30, 2023. 

Again, thank you to everyone for your support. 

We wish you all a wonderful joyful holiday and swingin' new year! 

Our best, 

Karen Zukas & Dave Quinn 

Co-Founders|Executive & Artistic Directors