Winnipeg International Jazz Festival unveils free lineup at Old Market Square

Performers at the 2023 Winnipeg International Jazz Festival entertain crowds at Old Market Square.

The Winnipeg International Jazz Festival unveiled its free lineup set to take over Old Market Square at next month’s event.

The annual festival returns this year June 17 to 22.

A free slate of artists is set to perform each night in the Exchange District’s Old Market Square.

The lineup includes Jana Jacobs, Rein, Mari Padeanu, Flora Luna, Compost, New Jazz Underground, Apollo Suns, Samba Jazz Project, and Brass Queens.

The festival is also bringing back a tradition on June 20 with Latin Night, featuring the best of Manitoba’s Latin music community, organizers say.

The festival’s director of programming Zachary Rushing said the Old Market Square program is a love letter to Winnipeg’s music goers, with a bit of something for everyone.

“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,” he said in a news release, noting 88 per cent of the lineup is Canadian ensembles.

Details on festival programming, tickets and more can be found on the festival’s website.