Music and community programming tied to the South Coast Jazz Festival will centre on Brantford this summer, with a youth workshop at Glenhyrst Gardens and a string of performances that include local talent and touring acts.
Workshops kick off at Glenhyrst
The festival opens in Brantford on Aug. 14 at Glenhyrst Gardens with the Jazzin’ Juniors youth music workshop led by Tom Atkins. Organizers say the workshop has already sold out, underscoring demand for hands-on music education for young musicians in the region.
Mainstage weekend in Port Dover
The main festival event is scheduled for Aug. 15 at the Port Dover Community Centre and will feature two stages running continuous music. The primary lineup includes the Carla Muller Band, a set from festival organizer Julianne Kochaki performing material from her new album Kochaki Sings DiNovi, and the headliner Red Hot Ramble, described by organisers as a New Orleans–style band known for high-energy horn arrangements and dancing.
The festival’s local stage is programmed with a variety of Brantford-area and regional performers, including Brian Fetis, Mark Hukazali, Jane Laidlaw, Laura Porter, Christie Hamilton and Alif Mehdi. The mixed bill is intended to showcase emerging and established local artists alongside visiting acts.
“She says the festival has grown over more than a decade and she is thrilled to have the big show back where it all started.”
Tribute to Gene DiNovi and album project
One of the focal points this year is Kochaki’s tribute to jazz pianist and composer Gene DiNovi, who is 98 years old. Kochaki’s album project — more than seven years in the making — features songs DiNovi wrote and shared with her. The project began after DiNovi performed in Port Dover in 2016 and invited Kochaki to sing with him; among the tracks is a special piece titled But Only For You.
The album’s inclusion in the festival programming links Brantford audiences with a broader jazz lineage that stretches from local stages to artists who have worked with major figures in 20th-century popular music.
What Brantford residents should know
- Aug. 14: Jazzin’ Juniors youth workshop at Glenhyrst Gardens (sold out).
- Aug. 15: Main festival at Port Dover Community Centre — two stages, continuous music.
- Featured performers: Carla Muller Band, Julianne Kochaki (Kochaki Sings DiNovi), Red Hot Ramble.
| Date | Location | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 14 | Glenhyrst Gardens, Brantford | Jazzin’ Juniors workshop (Tom Atkins) — sold out |
| Aug. 15 | Port Dover Community Centre | Two-stage main festival, headliner Red Hot Ramble |
For Brantford residents, the festival offers both access to youth music development and a chance to see local performers positioned alongside touring acts. The sold-out youth workshop highlights local demand for music education and performance opportunities; organisers have emphasised the festival’s growth over more than a decade and a desire to return programming to its origins in the south-coast community circuit.
Further details on ticketing, schedules for the Port Dover performances and any additional Brantford events in the festival run are available through the festival’s official channels.
