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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 6, 2008 - 29 Oakville Jazz Festival this weekend in downtown core More than 30 acts playing five stages By Hiba Kesebi SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Yard sale The Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area (BIA) hopes to keep feet tapping at the 16th annual Oakville Jazz Festival. The festival, which will run from Aug. 8-10, will feature star names and music that will keep everyone smiling, according to Peter Tulloch, Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival chair. "It doesn't matter what Jazz music you're into, you'll find something you like," he said. This year's three-day festival will bring free concerts by 23 jazz musicians on five outdoor stages -- Centennial Stage at Church and Navy Street, Acoustic Stages One at Thomas Street and Lakeshore Road, Acoustic Stage Two at Dunn Street and Lakeshore Road, Towne Square Stage on Lakeshore Road between Thomas and Dunn Streets, and Jazz East Stage near Lakeshore and Reynolds Streets. The lineup on Friday features flamenco jazz with The Café Ole at Centennial Square from 7:30-9 p.m. Stick around and enjoy performances by Kollage, who were nominees at the National Jazz Awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007 for Acoustic Group of the Year. More jazzy fun will happen at Towne Square with music by double Juno Award recipient Christopher Plock, who will perform with Glenn Anderson from 8-9:30 p.m. Also Friday, enjoy music by Toronto based Margot Roi and Lily Frost, who is known for making statements on taboo issues. More performances will take place Friday, by Dixieland band The Red Peppers, at Acoustic stage A, and New Excelsior Jazz Band, at Acoustic stage B, at 6:30 and 10:15 p.m. Friday's performances will close with music by Lao Tizer and Karen Briggs. The music will once again come to life Saturday, with a lineup that is filled to the brim with jazz artists. Kicking off the day's performances will be the River Pilots at 2 p.m. at Centennial Square. Also hear future music stars, who will be featured as part of the Bell Youth in the Spotlight event on the Towne Square stage starting at 2:30 p.m. More jazz music will be delivered by the Ladies of The Canyon band, whose members are known for having four of the strongest musical voices in Montreal City, at Centennial stage, 4:30-6 p.m. Those who enjoy listening to traditional music, will be pleased to hear yet another performance by Dixieland band The Red Peppers at Acoustic stage B at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday's performances will also include a welcome return to musician and performer Carlos Del Junco, Juno award nominee and multiple winner of the Toronto Blues Society's Maple Leaf Blues Award. He will be performing at the Centennial Square stage from 7:30-9 p.m. The free festival wraps up Sunday. The day starts with shows at Centennial Square, featuring Son Roberts at 1 p.m. and Sue Foley at 3:30 p.m. The stage at Towne Square will start the day's jazz festivities with Big Rude Jake at 1 p.m. Those wishing to stick around will also hear internationally acclaimed singer and pianist, Carol Welsman, perform live on stage at 3:30 p.m. A performance by Sue Foley from 3:30-5 p.m. will bring the three-day jazz festival to an end. Free Shuttle bus service from the Oakville GO Station will also be available every 15 minutes Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., so those who don't wish to drive downtown will have an easy alternative of coming down by taking Oakville Transit. "Usually the weather is terrific," said Tulloch. "It's a great setting, it's all in downtown Oakville," he added. Tulloch said they've been preparing for the festival since August last year. He noted that approximately 200-250 submissions were reviewed, and after listening to demos, reading biographies and working out schedules, this years 23 artists were finally chosen. "We're trying to create a great cross section of music," he explained. According to Tulloch, tourists come into the Oakville Jazz festival from all over. He said people have come from Montreal and Texas, and he's received many emails all of which bore positive feedback of the event. Aside from the tourism standpoint, the event will also be a positive one for Oakville residents who will be able to get together with friends to enjoy a free event with great music, and hopefully great weather. CHRIS KORNACKI / OAKVILLE BEAVER CALLING ALL ARTISTS: Artists Lyn Estall, left, and Joyce Kellock pose with artwork that will be auctioned off at a silent auction in anticipation of the Oakville Artists Yard Sale.The public is encouraged to view the artwork at Oakville Place from Aug. 14 to 17 and make their bids, with successful bids awarded on Aug. 18.The yard sale goes Sept. 6 at four locations. Artists are welcome to showcase and sell their art, for a fee. Proceeds will be donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. For information, go online to www.millionormoreSLF.ca. Summer Soirée coming soon The fifth annual Summer Swing Soirée will be held Thursday, Aug. 21 at Sunrise Senior Living of Oakville. Featuring the Toronto All-Star big band, the event will take place from 5-7 p.m. at Sunrise, which is located at 456 Trafalgar Rd. Admission costs $10 and will include an afternoon of music, dancing, singing, barbecue and refreshments. The event is in support of the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Rehab Step Up program. For more details and to purchase tickets, call Sara, Laura or Tanya at 905-337-1145. www.oakvillebeaver.com