Halifax Jazz Festival has ‘something for everyone’, says artistic director

CITYnews halifax / By Chris Halef

The Halifax Jazz Festival kicks off this week with a loaded lineup for local music lovers.

Dozens of artists will be descending on the municipality starting on Tuesday, July 15.

And while it’s called a jazz festival, the musical offerings go well beyond the genre.

“At the core, we have so much amazing jazz, but it’s really expansive,” said festival Artistic Director Andrew Jackson. “It’s my job to put together a festival that offers something for everyone, so we’ve got hip-hop, we’ve got rock n’ roll.”

Some of the artists featured this year include Big Boi of Outkast, St. Vincent, Iron & Wine and The Decemberists.

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Jackson says the festival will take place across the city at multiple stages, including a new addition, the Lighthouse Centre, as well as a stage at Hydrostone Park and workshops at Halifax Central Library.

And music lovers will be able to take in many moving melodies without breaking out the wallet, as Jackson says 70 per cent of the festival is accessible free of charge.

The festival will run from Tuesday, July 15 to Sunday, July 20.