Ottawa Jazz Festival kicks off Thursday with Wyclef Jean
The nine-day festival opens June 18 at Confederation Park with a lineup spanning hip-hop, jazz fusion, and experimental sounds.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
The Ottawa Jazz Festival opens Thursday, June 18, with two stages of performances across nine days at Confederation Park, just steps from City Hall.
The opening night headliner is Wyclef Jean, the former Fugee who established himself as a solo artist in 1997 and has continued building credits across music, production, film, and television. His latest release, "2020 – Mr. October," dropped last month and showcases his mastery as a rapper.
Local outfit BLAKDENIM will kick off the main stage at 6:30 p.m., bringing their eclectic blend of hip-hop, rap, jazz, and rock. The crew has performed at Bluesfest and CityFolk and will set the tone for Wyclef's 8:30 p.m. set.
On the Elgin Street stage, Oshawa's 646yf4t (Babyfat) takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. His debut album resists easy categorization, shifting from soulful to shoegaze-tinged to spacey across tracks. Toronto artist TOBi performs at 10:30 p.m.—he's been nominated for the Polaris Prize for his "Elements" and "For Good Measure" releases.
Friday, June 19, features Ottawa's Angelique Francis opening the main stage at 6:30 p.m., known for her blues and folk work but equally comfortable with horn sections. The night headlines with BADBADNOTGOOD at 8:30 p.m., a jazz-centred collective.
The festival runs over two weeks and spotlights artists who embody jazz experimentation, fusing genres to create innovative sounds. All performances are at Confederation Park.