UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival

08/31/2026

🎵 Relive the Jazz Fest with us! 🎵

Here's a snippet of Four80East's "Cinco Cinco Seis." We were dancing all night!

Thank you so much for coming out and supporting jazz in Waterloo-- stay tuned for information on next year's fest!
What was your favourite part of the festival?

08/18/2026

As a thank you to the many volunteers who made our 2026 Festival so special, we held a draw for a generous prize pack donated by longtime sponsor Carlsberg/ Waterloo Brewing. We’re pleased to announce that veteran volunteer Jeff McKinnon is the winner! Here is Jeff receiving his prize which includes a backpack cooler, hat, T-shirt and other swag. Thanks once again to all our volunteers who give so generously of their time to help make our Festival such a great community event! Thanks also to Carlsberg/Waterloo Brewing for all their support over the years!

08/06/2026

Are you ready to get your dose of BLUES?!? The Kitchener Blues Festival starts tonight and runs all weekend!! If you can, please consider supporting this FREE festival by getting your ticket to tonight’s fundraising concert. It’s the only performance they charge for and it represents such great value: local blues legend Bill Durst; Sass Jordan; and FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS all on the same bill!! We hope to see you there!

💙💙TONIGHT!💙💙

💙For more than 25 years, the Kitchener Blues Festival has brought outstanding live music to our community — most of it completely free to attend. You can help keep it that way.

This year’s Fundraising Concert features an incredible lineup: The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Sass Jordan, and Bill Durst.

When you buy a GA ticket, you’re not just getting a great night of music — you’re helping us keep free blues performances accessible to thousands of music lovers throughout the festival.

Join us tonight for an unforgettable evening and help keep the blues free for everyone.

Get your tickets NOW at https://ticketscene.ca/events/60680/

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07/30/2026

One of the best blues festivals in North America is right here in Kitchener!! Please help our friends at Kitchener Blues Festival keep the show going and growing by supporting their fundraiser concert! It’s going to be a blast!!

3 bands... one show... Kicking off one of the best music festivals in Canada. Join us Thursday, Aug. 6 for our only paid show. FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, Sass Jordan and Bill Durst are going to jumpstart KBF 2026 for an incredible weekend of music.
Join us for only $40 and support our FREE weekend.
Get your tickets NOW as we expect to sell-out (like we usually do).
https://ticketscene.ca/events/60680/

07/25/2026

The feeling is mutual Four80East! We loved the vibe, we loved having you here and, most of all, we loved the music!! Thanks for leaving it all out there! Let’s do it again really soon!!

About Last Friday…

The Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival was a highlight of the year for us. We were feeling a certain amount of pressure as this was our first show at home in Canada in many years, so we wanted it to be special. And special it was! Not only did we get to stack the band with amazing musicians with whom we rarely get a chance to play, but the audience was stacked with so many people who aren’t normally able to see us live!

It was touch-and-go for a while with the smoke in the air, but thankfully conditions were such that performances were allowed to go ahead. It turned out to be a beautiful night, and the vibes were soooo good! Lots of family, friends and fans made it feel like a big reunion of sorts. People came from as far away as Nebraska, North Carolina and Newfoundland! The festival staff and production team were excellent, and honestly I’ve been riding a high all week. Thank you to everyone who came out!

07/24/2026

Such a great way to spend a nice summer afternoon! Thanks to our friends at Galt Jazz Cambridge for bringing such great music to the streets!!!

We are proud to present Juno nominated, radio personality, Canada's sweetheart of swing, ALEX PANGMAN, live and in person on Our Main St., Promenade 2 to 5 PM! Come and check out the swing dancers! Patios are open and Encore Kids Zone is free! … Bring a chair, relax, enjoy!!!

07/23/2026

Here are our Silent Auction Winners! Thank you so much for your support-- we hope that you enjoy the awesome prizes that you won! Thank you as well to all of the companies that donated to & worked with us to make this happen.

07/19/2026

🎺 The 50/50 DRAW WINNER has been drawn! 🎺

Winner: Sarah Francom
Grand Prize
One winner will receive 50% of the total jackpot!
Ticket #: C-4180

CONGRATS! 🥳🎉

07/17/2026

Thank you so much, Sorta Kinda Blue for making this wonderful video for us! We're incredibly excited to have you playing nearby! 🎺🥳

They'll be performing at Waterloo Town Square alongside Pocket Change & Combo No. 5! Check out our feed for more information.
(Clever groups' names, might we add!)

"Typically, the Youth Jazz Ensemble is a group for young musicians (ages 14-22) who have auditioned to participate in a series of workshops relating to jazz music including the basics of jazz theory, improvisation, harmony and soloing.
facilitated by Jason White, BMus, MMus, RMT
This year, we were so impressed by the quality of the students at Eastwood Collegiate eager to explore jazz that we decided to feature them. As winners of several first place awards at the recent Nationals, you will see them at Waterloo Square as well as on our stage."

07/17/2026

Thank you so much, Pocket Change for making this wonderful video for us! We're incredibly excited to have you playing nearby! 🎺🥳

They'll be performing at Waterloo Town Square alongside Sorta Kinda Blue and Combo No. 5! Check out our feed for more information.
(Clever groups' names, might we add!)

"Typically, the Youth Jazz Ensemble is a group for young musicians (ages 14-22) who have auditioned to participate in a series of workshops relating to jazz music including the basics of jazz theory, improvisation, harmony and soloing.
facilitated by Jason White, BMus, MMus, RMT
This year, we were so impressed by the quality of the students at Eastwood Collegiate eager to explore jazz that we decided to feature them. As winners of several first place awards at the recent Nationals, you will see them at Waterloo Square as well as on our stage."