2022 Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Fest was a coming together of the community
Fort Langley, BC – Organizers of the Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival are expressing thanks to the estimated 15,000 people who attended the July 21-24 event – but more importantly, represented a coming together of the community.
The return of the in-person festival after two-years of online and hybrid festivals proved to be a great deal of work, but the result was rewarding, says Festival co-founder and Artistic Director Dave Quinn. “Our hope in planning 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.”
From the opening day festivities right through to the final performances, the 2022 Festival was the biggest ever with more than 60 bands and 300 musicians performing across eight indoor and outdoor stages – and the most extensive free stage lineup in the history of the event. The festival was as inclusive and diverse as possible, featuring headline blues artists like Sue Foley, renowned jazz acts such as Molly Johnson, Itamar Eraz Quartet and Afro-Dominican jazz group, Junior Santos, youth and emerging artists, big band groups including the all-female Leading Ladies Little Big Band and Indigenous-led groups such as Curtis Clear Sky & the Constallationz.
The festival included several unique art and cultural activities including at Art Zone, which featured a collaborative art mural project that the public participated in completing based on the artwork of Kwantlen First Nation artists. Festival goers had the opportunity to stroll through a free exhibited area featuring demonstrations and activities led by Kwantlen First Nation elders and community members and included a series of free performances by the Wild River Pow Wow drumming group, the Michell Family Pow Wow Dancers.
Family-friendly performances during this year’s event included four-time Juno nominee for best children’s album, Norm Foote, local children’s entertainer Penny Pom Pom, along with The Superfun Stiltwalking Family and Peter G-G, who provided a fun, interactive musical show for the young and the young at heart.
Karen Zukas, Festival Co-Founder and Executive Director says what made this year special was delivering something for everyone. “We saw thousands of people come out over the weekend to enjoy a wide range of activities and experiences. It was truly a mosaic of music, art, and culture.”
Quinn and Zukas are extending a special thank you to volunteers from the community who helped deliver this year’s event – and to the performers, artists, sponsors, partners, and the audiences who made the festival a success.
Funders: Government of Canada, FACTOR, Province of BC, BC Arts Council, CreativeBC, BC Touring Council, Metro Vancouver, and the Township of Langley
Title Sponsor: Odlum Brown Limited
Presenting Sponsors: Conwest/Vicini Homes, Fort Langley Community Improvement Society,
Kwantlen Polytechnic University, MacCallum Law Group LLP, Fraser Port Authority proudly
representing the Port of Vancouver
Supporting Sponsors: Ayreborn Audio-Video, Bedford Dental Centre, Quadra Homes, Chartwell Retirement Residences, Langley Community Music School, SpaTru, Telus Rising Jazz Star Sponsor: Coast Capital Savings
The 2023 Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival is scheduled for July 20 – 23, 2023.
ABOUT THE FORT LANGLEY JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL:
The Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival is a not-for-profit cultural organization that makes accessible the highest caliber of jazz music and arts programming to a wide variety of audiences through the presentation of year-round concerts and events and an annual music and arts festival.
FOLLOW THE FORT LANGLEY JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laura Ballance
604.771.5176