Destination - Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival 2013
Catch Fredericton's fabulous fall festival!
Jazzed about the blues?
Then save some of that vacation time for September - and take in the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Harvest Jazz & Blues has grown into one of North America's premiere music festivals, attacting world class artists for six days of awesome entertainment each September.
Where else can you find 400 musicians performing 150 shows in 27 venues within 6 city blocks? Whether you go for straight ahead blues, cajun-zydeco, smooth jazz or the whole enchilada, you'll find it here - year after year.
Go "all in" with an Ultimate Hard Core Pass - guaranteeing access to every show and venue (you can always sleep later) - or just wander the streets and soak in the sights and sounds of sidewalk buskers, historic architecture and contagious we're-having-a-good-time-now atmosphere.
Photo: Playing the Blues By griangrafanna [CC BY-NC 2.0] on Flickr.
It's all about music...
Although the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival brings in big name acts from around the world, we don't have to go to far to find amazing talent. New Brunswick's Matt Andersen is a must-see bluesman - guaranteed to leave you screaming for more.
Check out this incredible Matt Andersen acoustic set filmed in Australia...
22 Years of Jazz & Blues
Festival History
The very first Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival kicked off in September, 1991 with just 25 acts in 17 venues. Being a musician myself, I was fortunate to be involved in the early years, playing in blues bands in various bar venues and opening for headliners like Dutch Mason, known in these parts as the "Prime Minister of the Blues". His son Garret has taken up the mantle and is a regular at the festival these days.
Over the past 22 years this family-friendly festival has grown from four to six days, continually expanding the numbers of musicians, performances, venues and volunteers. The festival's Music Director, Brent Staeben told CBC "tens of thousands of people" participated in the 2012 festival. That's not a surprise given the quality of the talent and the local support.
About Fredericton
Atlantic Canada's Riverfront Capital
Fredericton is the capital city of New Brunswick, Canada. This beautiful city of about 56,000 is located on the Saint John River, about 60 miles from the US border crossing at Houlton Maine on the I-95.
Fredericton's rich history as a garrison town is well preserved and celebrated. In fact, festival venues are located right in the centre of the Fredericton's Historic Garrison District in the heart of the downtown.
Fredericton airport (YFC) is just twenty minutes away and has regular flights via Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.
What to wear
September evenings can be chilly in New Brunswick
September weather in New Brunswick can be a bit of a wild card, so be sure to bring some warm clothing for those cool evenings. The Festival goes rain or shine so bring along some wet weather gear just in case.
Average temperatures for mid-September range between 9C (48F) and 19C (66F) with the warmest hours between 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
Columbia Men's
Zephyr Ridge JacketCHECK PRICE
Columbia Women's
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The 2013 Musical Lineup
It's smokin' hot!
The complete 2013 lineup and schedule is now online at the Harvest Jazz & Blues website.
Big Sam's Funky Nation
Big Sugar
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
Canned Heat
Gov't Mule
Hey Rosetta!
Holly Cole
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
JJ Grey & Mofro
Marcia Ball
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Michael Kaeshammer
The Avett Brothers
The Record Company
The Wailers
Warren Haynes and Gordie Johnson
If that lineup doesn't get you in the jazz and blues mood - nothin' will.
Photo: The Irving Tent by nagzi [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0] on Flickr.
While you're waiting.... - Check out some smokin' festival performances from the past.
Eat Sleep Music
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Evolution saxophone
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Blues Man
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Blues Music
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Blues Music
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Blues
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Workshops
Behind the scenes there are always a number of workshops presented by local and visiting musicians and partners. These include music workshops at local schools, song writing workshops and technical demonstrations hosted by local music stores.
Afterburners - Jamming the night away
One of the staples of every Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival are the Afterburner parties. Most evenings after their headline performances are over, it's time for the musicians to wind down. And that means....you guessed it...partying hard and jamming with the other performers. You can purchase tickets for Afterburners as well.
Photo: Ross Neilsen & The Sufferin' Bastards By ElizPalmer [CC BY-NC 2.0] on Flickr.
The Volunteers
Experience the festival from the inside
The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival wouldn't exist without an army of volunteers. A thousand dedicated volunteers take on tasks from manning the Harvest Central Store - where you can purchase tickets as well as HJ & B merchandise - to painting hundreds of notes on the sidewalks or slinging suds in the venues. There's plenty to do both before and after the festival.
Many of these volunteers come back year after year for the camaraderie and ever-present good-time feeling that has become the foundation of the festival.
The Festival organizers begin accepting volunteer registrations in July.
Photo: Music on the streets by nagzi [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0] on Flickr.
Hotels & Restaurants
Visitors to Fredericton will find several hotels within walking distance or a short drive away from the downtown core. There are many fine restaurants, pubs and fast food franchises close by as well.
Fredericton Tourism has excellent information covering everything from accommodations to special interests and sightseeing.
Photo: Patio of Isaac's Way restaurant By jtbrennan [CC BY 2.0] on Flickr.
Books - Learn a little bit about New Brunswick
Why not jot it down now
Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
September 10 - 15, 2013.
Fredericton, NB, Canada.
(Oh, and don't forget to book that vacation time too.)