Are you ready to GO back to the Beaches Jazz Festival this year?!
We’re ready to take you there - just in a different way!
The Beaches Jazz Festival has been one of Toronto’s most popular outdoor events since 1989! Sitting on a blanket with some friends in Kew Gardens and listening to jazz while feeling the light breeze blowing off the lake - those are great summer memories!
Last year, the Jazz Fest went completely virtual and it was a great solution to keep the festival going during the pandemic. We were all missing the in-person element, but safety is always the top priority!
This year, the Beaches Jazz Festival organizers got extra creative and figured out how to make an in-person concert pandemic friendly! GO Transit plays a big role in making it happen!
So what do we mean by “taking you there in a different way”? See if you can guess!
Riddle Me This!
To figure out what’s changed this year, see if you can solve this riddle:
Q: What’s safe, comfortable, and even more exciting than a drive-in movie?
A: A drive-in live music event, of course!
Okay, one more riddle:
Q: What’s better than one drive-in live music event?
A: FIVE drive-in live music events!!!
That’s right, we said five! They’re spread throughout the month of July so at least one of them is sure to work for your schedule! And they’re all happening at a GO train station!!
What’s The Venue?
A concert at a GO Station? Sure! Why not? We’ve all spent the last year adapting to doing things differently so we can roll with this!
GO Transit is providing the venue for all five events at Guildwood GO Station Main Parking Lot. Located on Kingston Rd in Scarborough, Guildwood Station is easily accessible by car and the perfect amount of space to allow for a drive-in concert!
We’re committed to helping keep events like this fun but safe for everyone!
So what are these five fantastic events? Let’s dive into the details of the Jazz Fest 2021 schedule!
DriveN’Drag: Tea Party in Wonderland
The first Beaches Jazz Festival event is a spectacular show of fantasy and fun with a cast of Toronto Headlining Drag Performers! If you enjoyed any of the virtual drag events for Pride Month, you’ll definitely want to attend this live show!
This two act extravaganza features The Ugly One, Manny Dingo, Luna Dubois, Tash Riot, and Tiffany Boxx as the lovably quirky characters from Alice in Wonderland. Your host for this event will be The Mad Hatter, played by the amazing BOA, of Canada’s Drag Race fame!
One ticket is required per vehicle. You may have as many people in your vehicle as there are working seatbelts, but everyone should be from the same household.
Date: July 2 & 3
Cost: $99-$149
Grab your tickets here for a spot of tea and a splash of sass!
Block Party Drive-In featuring Brass Transit
The world’s foremost Chicago tribute band, Brass Transit, headlines this night of crowd pleasing hits! They are joined by Toronto’s The Free Label, an energetic boy band whose music is a perfect blend of R&B, pop, and hip hop. You’ll be singing along from the comfort of your car!
One ticket is required per vehicle. You may have as many people in your vehicle as there are working seatbelts, but everyone should be from the same household.
Date: July 16
Cost: $60-$80
Doors open at 5:30 pm
7:00 pm - The Free Label
9:00 pm - Brass Transit
Purchase your tickets here before they sell out!
AfroFest Showcase
Do you miss celebrating the vibrance and diversity of African music at AfroFest? This year Music Africa has partnered with the Beaches Jazz Festival to create a showcase of amazing musical talent! Check out the line-up of each night:
Saturday, July 17
Doors open at 5:30 pm
7:00 pm - Imah (Senegal)
9:00 pm - Steele (Jamaica) | DJ Shaqt (Rwanda)
Sunday, July 18
Doors open at 4:30 pm
6:00 pm - Donne Roberts (Madagascar)
8:00 pm - Slim Flex (Ghana) | DJ Shaqt (Rwanda)
One ticket is required per vehicle. You may have as many people in your vehicle as there are working seatbelts, but everyone should be from the same household.
Date: July 17 &18 Cost: $25/day
Buy your tickets for one or both nights of the AfroFest showcase here!
Groovin’ In The Parking Lot
The 5th Annual Groovin’ In The Park becomes “The Do Right! Soul Revue” as we groove in the parking lot this year! Celebrate your love of soul, funk, disco, and hip hop as NuFunk.ca presents a night of groovy talent, featuring:
- The Soul Motivators
- Tush
- Odario
- The Luvmenauts
- With DJ John Kong, DJ Jason Palma, and DJ Quesquecest
One ticket is required per vehicle. You may have as many people in your vehicle as there are working seatbelts, but everyone should be from the same household.
Date: July 23
Cost: $40-$60
Doors open at 6:00 pm
Showtime: 7:00 pm
Grab your tickets here, and if you’re feeling especially groovy, don your platform shoes so you can arrive in style!
Legends of Motown
If you’re a fan of Motown, you won’t want to miss this amazing musical event! Get comfy in your car as the sights and songs take you back to the 60’s and early 70’s.
Legends of Motown is a 16-piece ensemble of singers and musicians, recreating the greatest hits of The Supremes, The Temptations, The Jackson 5, and many more! You will truly feel as though you have been transported to the height of the Motown era!
Sean Jones is a Juno award winning singer/songwriter and a must-see performer for any fans of R&B and soul.
One ticket is required per vehicle. You may have as many people in your vehicle as there are working seatbelts, but everyone should be from the same household.
Date: July 24
Cost: $60-$80
Doors open at 5:30 pm
7:00 pm - Sean Jones and the Righteous Echo
9:00 pm - Legends of Motown
You can buy tickets here for this spectacular tribute to Motown!
Keep Safe and Have Fun!
GO Transit is thrilled to be providing a venue that allows for a safe alternative to a crowded concert! Just like you, we hope that next year The Beaches Jazz Festival will return to the usual sprawl of blankets on the grass, and we’ll be just as thrilled then to make your ride into Toronto a safe and relaxing one! In the meantime, we’re here to help you plan your trips for pandemic friendly day trips!
