UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival

05/31/2026

Our Artistic Director Derek Hines laid it down for Galt Jazz Cambridge this afternoon! Band mates Jeff Daniels, Tyler Wagler and Andy Macpherson provided their usual solid support! What a great day for great music outside!!

05/28/2026

Grab Your 50/50 Tickets for a chance to win the Early Bird and Cash Prize‼️ By entering, you help support the Jazz Festival, and gain the chance to win half the jackpot for our draw!

Early Bird Draw: June 15th
Final Draw Date: July 19th

➡️ https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/utwjf ⬅️

🎺🎺🎷🎷

05/27/2026

This Friday, our friends at The Jazz Room are presenting Caleb Khuu, who performed at our Festival last year. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful venue in our Region that features a great blend of local, national and international talent. Thanks to Larry Larson and his team for all they do to make life better here!

Friday night at The Jazz Room, you're not going to want to miss Caleb Khuu!

Caleb Khuu presents an electrifying night of jazz, blues, funk, and everything in between. Featuring an exceptional trio performing original music alongside fresh, masterful reinterpretations of beloved tunes, this is a night you won’t want to miss!

Caleb Khuu is a dynamic and versatile multi-instrumentalist based in the Kitchener–Waterloo region. A first-call session musician and sideman for over a dozen artists, he has performed to audiences of 3000+ and made more than 100 appearances in the past year alone. His work spans genres including pop, funk, hip hop, alternative rock, folk, country, and jazz. He shares his passion as a jazz guitar instructor at the University of Guelph and through his private teaching studio, mentoring the next generation of musicians. He is proud to be an endorsed artist with D’Addario.

05/25/2026

On May 31st, the Derek Hines Quartet will be performing on Cambridge's Main Street! (You may know Derek as our Artistic Director!)
Check this poster out & head over to Cambridge next week for an awesome three hours of music! 🎤🎺

Come and enjoy the sultry sounds of Derek Hines on Cambridge's Main Street! 3 hours of great FREE music, patios open, Encore Kids Zone...bring a chair, relax, enjoy!

05/23/2026

We’re getting ready for the 2026 Festival (July 17-19, mark your calendars!) You won’t want to miss it!

Your help keeps the festival running with free entry year to year! We are so grateful.❣️
If you are wondering how to support us, we have a 50/50 draw, volunteer opportunities, and more to be announced! As well, donations are always welcome.

50/50 Link: https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/utwjf

Photo from the wonderful performance in 2025 by Christine Jensen!

05/22/2026

🎺 2026 ARTIST HIGHLIGHT - Paul Stouffer! 🎺

His bio:
“Paul Stouffer is a lifelong, professional musician who continues to be actively engaged in a variety of corporate gigs in the jazz, rock, pop genres.

Paul was at Sherwood Music for 41 years, as manager of the keyboard department.

At his project studio, he provides private lessons in jazz piano, music theory, composition and improvisation.

Paul also uses his broad musical talent and experience to guide musicians in song writing, as well as arranging, producing, and recording their work.”

See Paul Stouffer on Saturday, July 18th at 5:00pm at the Sun Life Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival!

💥 Our festival runs from the 17th - 19th of July, with free entry and loads of performances you won’t want to miss!

05/21/2026

🤭 Slide through for some of our favourite shots from this performance in 2025!

One of the highlights of the last year was Monkey House’s set. We were enamoured by how “in the pocket” (fancy musician terminology for playing really well together) they were, and how they were perfectly lit up in jewel tones. The purple, the blue, the orange... It was perfect.
💜💙🧡

(Photos & Comments From Michelle Toth!)

05/13/2026

Kultrun is hosting a fundraiser! Go check it out! 🎺

On May 16th, The Luis Franco Band will be playing at Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton. There will be a silent auction, a cash bar, and a delicious menu!

Countdown: 3 days! Who’s ready? ⏳
Our Neruda Arts’ Fabulous Annual Kultrun Fundraiser is around the corner, and we are so excited!

🪩 Enjoy live music with the Luis Franco Band, our silent auction, a cash bar, and a delicious menu. Plus, be the first to see a sneak preview of Kultrun World Music Festival 2026.

🗓️Saturday, May 16, 7pm
📍Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Where Waterloo meets St. Jacobs

🎫Tickets in our bio!

05/12/2026

🎺 One of many Artist Features to come:

Take Five plays Desmond, Feat. Tim Moher!
Check out this amazing compilation they put together to announce that they'll be playing for us!

See them at the first day of the 2026 Sun Life UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival (Friday, July 17th), along with so many other amazing artists and groups!

Take Five is excited to perform at the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival on Friday, July 17th, 2026 at 6:30 pm. This video was captured at our Registry Theatre ...

05/09/2026

UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival is excited to announce a new fundraiser! Follow this link to participate.
https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/utwjf

As our costs increase, we are looking for additional ways to raise funds so that we can continue to offer world-class jazz for free to our community.

There will be an Early Bird Draw on June 15th for a prize package of $450 value and the final draw will take place July 19, 2026