Get ready for another amazing Blues and Jazz Festival in Orangeville, May 30-June 1, 2025. This year will be the festival’s 21st year and is sure to be as exciting as in past years. Perhaps if you concentrate hard, you might even be able to imagine hearing the instruments starting to tune up!
How did this wonderful live musical festival come about? Larry Kurtz, the founder & artistic director of this not-for-profit organization, has always had a passion for music, especially blues. One could say that bringing Blues and Jazz to the Orangeville community was his brainchild.
Larry and his wife have always sought out various live concerts and band venues throughout Ontario. With this interest at his core, Larry first hatched a plan back in 2003 to bring live music to his community of Orangeville. The first festival featured bands in five Orangeville local restaurants on a Friday night, then it continued with 7 bands in Alexandra Park behind Orangeville Town Hall the next day. It was his own money that supported this musical venture the first year, with five volunteers. It turned out to be a roaring success! Interestingly, those few volunteers have now grown to a whopping 230 enthusiastic helpers.
Fast forward to 2004, high on the stellar coup from the year before, Larry and his friends knew they had found a significant musical event, which would enhance the community of Orangeville. For this next year’s festival, he and his aunt took out a bank loan. However, they soon realized to go forward, and make them eligible for grants and sponsorships of this proven musical venture, a board of directors was necessary. Larry overseeing artistry, for the continuing festivals recognized that the music focus needed to expand beyond not only blues & jazz, but to encompass world music styles as well.
As already mentioned, this festival is completely not-for-profit and relies solely on its sponsors and government grants for its success. The board is continually looking for more sponsors and of course, volunteers. So far, the volunteer program has been blessed with wonderful people, many of whom have formed life-long friendships. More help is always needed.
Over the years, the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival has been awarded numerous awards, in fact in 2024, it was voted one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario for the 11th time. Quite the honour!
The board of directors has been concentrating on making improvements over other years. For example, this year they have been working on ways to solve much of the traffic congestion, as well as adding more washroom facilities. The size of the festival will be as large as last year, but the one thing that will always remain of the utmost importance is ensuring the highest quality of music for patrons to enjoy.
In an interview with Larry Kurtz, I was pleased to learn quite a few intriguing details from behind the scenes of the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival. It is interesting to know that the musical artistry changes annually and this year’s lineup will be announced in March. Larry chuckled as he mentioned that he has a couple of surprises up his sleeve, for this year.
Larry believes that it is important for people to know that there has been a special provincial economic study to measure the impact the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival has had on the community. It has been ascertained that there has been about $1.5 million per year going back into the local community of Orangeville from this festival. The town, in fact, does not operate this festival, but certainly supports the endeavour whole heartedly. The organization uses as much local talent and as many local vendors as possible. Larry says that this music festival is, “All about and for the community…”
The price for tickets will remain the same as last year – $20 Friday & Saturday, $10 Sunday or $40 for the weekend which allows entrance to the Main Stage and the Opera House. Where else can you enjoy so many activities and fantastic live music at such amazing prices? You might even be lucky enough to hear Larry play harmonica with his band Larry Kurtz and the Law Breakers or see him playing with other bands over the weekend.
The same events as other years will continue to delight throughout the May 30 – June 1 weekend. There will be music in the park throughout the weekend and the Opera House will be providing acoustic blues and award-winning jazz performers while you enjoy comfortable seats and wonderful acoustics on the Saturday and Sunday.
For those who prefer to wander, you might want to consider the Downtown Ramble, where various vendors will tempt you with their crafts and delicious food treats, all while grooving to the music. All the local shops will be open to welcome you, as well.
Fellow musicians will be able to pick up musical tips and ideas at the Music Workshop in the Orangeville Public Library, too.
Car enthusiasts are sure to be in heaven strolling by and checking out the vintage cars as well as sampling sumptuous foods during the Blues Cruise on Friday evening. After checking out the cars, the highlight of this event will be stopping by the bandstand to listen and groove to the music or catch up to other interspersed musicians along the way between First Street and Fourth Avenue.
To help with your parking concerns, shuttle services, run by the BIA will be running from Sobey’s and Walmart’s parking lots.
Accommodations, such as hotels and bed and breakfasts fill up extremely quickly, so Larry suggests if you plan to visit this popular festival throughout the whole weekend, you may want to plan a long time ahead so as not to be disappointed.
For more information on this fun weekend festival, to volunteer or provide sponsorship, please visit: www.orangevillebluesandjazz.ca
Even if you do not necessarily recognize the featured artists at first and there are so many Maple Blues, Juno, and even Grammy award winning musicians, that is part of the joy and reward of the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival. Meeting these amazing, new-to-you talents, will surely make you come away with new favourites. The best way to enjoy music is live! Enjoy and appreciate music at its best. Take in all the amazing music with all your senses. The 2025 Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival will be waiting to welcome you!
WRITTEN BY: MARILYN LEGGETT | RESOURCES/PHOTOS: ORANGEVILLE BLUES & JAZZ FESTIVAL
