Langley – The Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival (July 26 – 28) is entering its second year and has tripled in size: 57 acts at 16 venues with more than 200 world-renowned and local musicians. 100 volunteers are making this happen and all of the music is FREE on two stages on Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28 from 10am – 6:30pm in front of the Fort Langley Community Hall (9167 Glover Road).
The festival includes an All-Star Blues Show inside the walls of the National Historic Fort, hosted by Jim Byrnes on Friday, July 26 (7pm), a Frank Sinatra Big Band Swing Dance (with swing dancers) at the 1931 Historic Community Hall (with its horse hair-sprung dance floor) on Saturday, July 27 (8pm), and a gospel show with the Sojourners and the 50-voice Marcus Mosely chorale on Sunday, July 28 (7pm) at Chief Sepass Theatre.
The village is pretty much being taken over by jazz and blues music for three nights & two days — a Mardis Gras Stroll down the main drag will get things hopping on Saturday morning at 9:30am., followed by the official opening at 10:00am in front of the community hall with remarks by Kwantlen Nations and federal and municipal elected officials.
And there’s more!
· Pop-up performance stages will be located around the village featuring youth and emerging talent
· Kidz Zone area will feature free family-friendly music and art activities and entertainment
· Sunday opening features a Lions Club pancake breakfast and performance by the popular Langley Ukulele Ensemble
· History of Jazz presentations at Centennial Museum
· Jazz Education workshop for youth-led by a stellar lineup of jazz musicians
· Art exhibit and artwalk
The schedule of show times, band line-up and festival activities will be posted in early May at www.fortlangleyjazzfest.com
Grammy nominated, the Jodi Proznick Quartet, the dynamic 11-piece R&B All Stars, the Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra, Afro-Latin funk band, Coco Jafro and the Harpdog Brown & the Uptown Band are among the headliners who will perform July 27 – 28 on two outdoor stages in front of the Fort Langley Community Hall.
Also appearing at the festival will be Brazilian jazz guitarist Celso Machado, contemporary New Orleans jazz band, the Hummingbird Brigade, the Mike Van Eyes Big Band, VSO Jazz Faculty Band, emerging jazz vocalist, Maya Rae Band, high energy gypsy jazz group, Hot Club of Mars, the swinging Jen Hodge All Stars, Mardi Gras-inspired RazzMaJazz Ensemble and the festival’s first Rising Young Star Award winner, the Julian Borkowski Trio.
