UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival

07/01/2025

Region of Waterloo Festival season is almost upon us kicking off with Neruda Arts Kultrun World Music Festival on from 11-13 July! Sun Life UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival is next from 18-20 July, followed by Kitchener Blues Festival running from 7-10 August and concluding with Belmont Village Bestival on 12 & 13 September. Add in Galt Jazz Cambridge with music on the last Sunday of each month, and you have a steady diet of great, world class live music - all right here!

We are so fortuntate to have such a variety of FREE festivals every summer so let's get started Explore Waterloo Region!
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07/01/2025

Monkey House is coming back to the Sun Life UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival and we could not be more excited!! Catch them Fri, 18 July at 9:30 pm. With a fresh new album earning rave reviews, you don't want to miss this performance - it will be epic!!!
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BACK ONSTAGE JULY 18!

06/19/2025

Less than a month to go!! We're busy getting ready for our 32nd Annual Sun Life UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival and we could not be more excited. The Festival runs from Fri, 18th to Sun 20th July and all shows are FREE. The Headliners this year are Monkey House, Travis Knights and Christine Jensen Quartet with many other world-class performers from our area and abroad!
Check our website for more info and the full lineup:
https://www.waterloojazzfest.com/
What could be better than a soft summer afternoon or evening, listening to live music with friends and family and enjoying great food with your favourite beverage? Sublime!! We hope you can join us!
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06/16/2025

While this season may be winding down, The Jazz Room is already preparing for another year of top-notch music! Get your passes for next year and don't miss out on this great opportunity! We are so very lucky to have this great institution in our Community!

Season 15 Jazz Passes are now available!

The Grand River Jazz Society is excited to let our subscribers know that our Season 15 Jazz Passes are now available for sale at $450 each. We have an exciting lineup for the fall that is already creating a stir.

What is a Jazz Pass ?

The Season 15 Jazz Pass entitles the pass holder to attend all regular events in the Jazz Room from June 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. This is approximately 100 high quality musical performances that take place on Friday and Saturday evenings, along with the occasional Thursday evening and Sunday matinee. The number of Jazz Passes made available each year is limited.

Passes are available through our Jazz Room website >> https://www.kwjazzroom.com/season-15-passes/

Seating at the Jazz Room is first come first served. Jazz Pass holders are encouraged to arrive early to get a favourite seat, or to guarantee a seat at a busy show. On the rare occasion, late arriving pass holders may not be able to get a seat if the Jazz Room is filled to capacity.

Please note that Jazz Passes are non-transferable and are to be used exclusively by the person named on the pass. It is possible to purchase an additional Guest Pass to admit an individual of the passholder's choice for any regular event. Jazz Passes are non-refundable.

For Season 15, we will continue with a two set format. Doors open at 6:30pm, and shows will start at 8:00pm with the second set to start around 9:30pm. For matinees, the doors will open at 3:00pm with the first set commencing at 4:00pm.

Whether you're a Jazz Pass holder, or someone who purchases tickets for individual shows, we thank you for your support for live music in our community and look forward to seeing you at the Jazz Room!

05/15/2025

Our good friends at The Jazz Room present Norbert Botos tomorrow night! Great music in a great venue! We’re so lucky to have such a “hip” spot in our City

Friday night at The Jazz Room we're excited to welcome Norbert Botos!

Born in Budapest, Norbert Botos was born into a musical family.
His father Frank Botos, a well-known drummer and musician, influenced Norbert’s musical journey at a young age. After Norbert’s father noticed his love and talent for the drums, he started sitting Norbert in at his gigs where he learned a great deal on the bandstand.

Norbert has spent time studying at Humber College and Berklee College of Music studying with Barry Romberg and Terry Lyne Carrington. He has also won numerous awards including The Archie Alleyne Scholarship, The Lou Williamson Scholarship for Outstanding Drum Set Player Award and The Rising Young Star Award.

Norbert lives in Toronto and performs regularly with his own projects. He has had the chance to perform with musicians such as: Mike Murley, Neil Swainson, Mark Eisenman, Oliver Jones, John Lamb, Dave Young, Kelly Jefferson, Alex Goodman, Stephen Hall, Lucian Gray, Alison Au, Pat LaBarbara and many more.

05/05/2025

The Jazz Festival will run in July from Friday, 18 July to Sunday, 20 July. We are so excited to announce our Lineup for 2025:
Friday, 18 July
3:30 pm - Freddie's Freeloaders
5:00 pm - Stealing Dan
6:30 pm - Caleb Khuu
8:00 pm – Slidin’ Around
9:30 pm - Monkey House

Saturday, 19 July
12:30 - Youth Jazz Ensemble
2:00 pm - Ken Foster Quintet
3:30 pm - Jim Edwards Group
5:00 pm - Endahl/Warren/Wagler
6:30 pm - Amanda Kind
8:00 pm - Norbert Botos Quintet
9:30 pm - Travis Knights

Sunday, 20 July
12:00 pm - Youth Jazz Ensemble
1:30 pm - Christine Jensen Quartet
3:00 pm - Bus
* subject to change

As always, admission to the Festival is FREE! Thanks to our sponsors, especially Sun Life. We also thank our team of volunteers. We can't do it without your generous support! We look forward to seeing everyone there.

04/30/2025

Happy International Jazz Day to all and to all a groovelicious night!! Enjoy some great music and support your favourite artist by purchasing their music or even getting a ticket to their next concert. It's the best way we can support musicians so they keep making the music we love.

P.S. Watch this space closely over the next few days for the 2025 Festival Lineup Announcement. The fun runs from 18-20 July in Uptown Waterloo! And as everyone knows, admission is always FREE!! We can't wait to see you there!

04/26/2025

Just one more day until the inaugural Cambridge Jazz Festival and we can't wait!! Who are you coming to see and hear? Thanks to the organizers and all the volunteers - we appreciate all of your efforts! See you there!!

Spring is in the air and much work is happening as we get closer to the April 27th - Cambridge Jazz Festival event. If you have your tickets, Thank You! If you are waiting, don't wait. Get your tickets now. Spread the word. Bring friends, family, Neighbours. This is sure to be a fun event. Details at www.cambridgejazzfestival.ca

04/14/2025

The Cambridge Jazz Festival is less than 2 weeks away!! Have you got your tickets? This is a stellar lineup and promises to be a Sunday to remember! We‘ll see you there!!

Tickets are going fast! Do you have your ticket? Don't delay and you won't be disappointed. www.cambridgejazzfestival.ca

04/06/2025

From our friends at Galt Jazz Cambridge, their inaugural Jazz Festival is just a few weeks away and it looks like it will be a fantastic event!! We will see you there!

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW! 60% SOLD AND SELLING QUICKLY!
Hey Jazz Lovers!

Today we're thrilled to spotlight Heather Bambrick, one of Canada's top jazz vocalists and the charismatic MC for our incredible afternoon of jazz at the Cambridge Jazz Festival!

Heather isn’t just a vocalist—she’s an entertainer known for effortlessly blending exceptional vocals, humor, and warmth. Imagine "Ella Fitzgerald meets Carol Burnett at a Newfoundland kitchen party."

Critics call her voice a “paragon of clarity,” and she’s celebrated for collaborations with Canadian jazz legends.

Expect an unforgettable day filled with great music, storytelling, and laughter—Heather Bambrick is jazz at its joyful best!

🎶✨ Join us for an afternoon guaranteed to lift your spirits!

03/27/2025

Our good friends at Galt Jazz Cambridge are hosting their first Cambridge Jazz Festival on 27 April at Tapestry Hall. This looks to be a great day of music and tremendous value! Tickets are only $45!! So what are you waiting for?!?

Spring is in the air and much work is happening as we get closer to the April 27th - Cambridge Jazz Festival event. If you have your tickets, Thank You! If you are waiting, don't wait. Get your tickets now. Spread the word. Bring friends, family, Neighbours. This is sure to be a fun event. Details at www.cambridgejazzfestival.ca

03/20/2025

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at tonight's Matt Dusk concert at Tapestry Hall. He will be presenting his new show "Matt Dusk Sings Tony Bennett". If you haven't got your tickets yet, there are still some available here:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/uptown-waterloo-jazz-festival-presents-matt-dusk-sings-tony-bennett-tickets-1111921008669

After 4pm, you can get them at the door. Thanks for supporting your favourite Jazz Festival! Tonight's performance will be memorable!!

Get ready for a night of smooth jazz vibes with Matt Dusk at the UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival - it's gonna be lit!