This year’s Jazz Around Town lineup brings together a great line-up of Guelph and Toronto artists and bands, performing at downtown venues all within walking distance of the festival’s main venue, Royal City Mission.
Explore the lineup below and plan to check out some of these great downtown spots over the festival weekend.
Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 7:00 PM | La Poche | Liam Gallagher Trio
Friday, September 11, 2026 | 4:00 PM | Atmosphere Café | Midswim-prov
Midswim is the songwriting project of multi-instrumentalist and often-times-improviser, Claire Whitehead. Her songs offer catchy melodies and unexpected guitar turns that have been described as “elemental” and “alive”. For this special Guelph Jazz Fest performance of Midswim-prov, Claire will be playing some lyrical songs as well as some winding, instrumental guitar compositions, accompanied by at least one other well-atuned local improviser.
Friday, September 11, 2026 | 6:00 PM | Brother’s Brewing | Guelph Jazz Society: Little Band and Big Band
The Guelph Jazz Society Big Band is a jazz orchestra and community concert ensemble featuring saxophones, trumpets, trombones, rhythm section, vibraphone, and two vocalists.
Since its first rehearsal at La Poche in February 2026, the band has been run in the Ellingtonian model, shaping its music around the personalities, strengths, and stories of its members. Drawing repertoire from every era of the jazz big band tradition, the ensemble performs music that reflects the lives, tastes, and experiences of the musicians themselves.
The result is a warm, cohesive sound rooted in strong community relationships, where storytelling and collective expression are at the heart of every performance.
Friday, September 11, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Fixed Gear Canteen | Andrew Schoettler Trio
Andrew Schoettler is a drummer and bandleader based in Guelph, Ontario. Known for his dynamic groove and grounded musicality, Andrew has developed his voice through live performance, ensemble work, and playing alongside musicians throughout southern Ontario. He studied Music at the University of Guelph alongside a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and is the founder and host of the Silence Jazz Jam, a monthly event that brings local musicians together in a welcoming, collaborative space. Andrew’s playing focuses on feel, interaction, and improvisation, with a particular interest in creating music that feels both spontaneous and connected.
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 10:00 AM | Planet Bean Coffee | The Aiden Davies Trio
Aiden Davies is a Toronto based upright bassist, and composer. He performs throughout the GTA in a variety of ensembles both as a bandleader and as a sideman. Aiden is passionate about playing and composing jazz music, but can also be found playing in folk and fusion settings. Aiden’s personal sound as a jazz musician is shaped by his study of bebop and modern jazz, as well as the many musicians he’s inspired by, including Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, and Pat Collins.
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 1:00 PM | The Wooly Pub | David Celia Trio
Innovative singer/songwriter guitar player, known for his spontaneously driven live performances. David Celia on Vocals/Guitar with Matt Coldwell (Doghouse Orchestra) on Upright Bass. Tours frequently across Canada/Europe (Glastonbury Festival) and quoted as “One of Toronto’s best guitar players” by CBC. Gordon Lightfoot was a fan.
“This Is Superb. A Gem” -Bob Harris. BBC Radio 2.
“I like the sentiment in your lyrics” – Gordon Lightfoot
Highlights include performing at Trafalgar Square, London for Canada Day (2025) and many more
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 1:00 PM| Guelph Civic Museum | Swing Dance: Becca Litvak and the Wyndham Gardens Band
Dance lesson with Becca Litvak, live music for social dancing by the Wyndham Gardens Band.
Harper Young: Clarinet; Hayden Mesnick: Piano; Liam Gallagher: Vocals, Bass; Thomas Rolph: Drums.
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 5:00 PM | Atmosphere Café | Andrew Schoettler Trio
Andrew Schoettler is a drummer and bandleader based in Guelph, Ontario. Known for his dynamic groove and grounded musicality, Andrew has developed his voice through live performance, ensemble work, and playing alongside musicians throughout southern Ontario. He studied Music at the University of Guelph alongside a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and is the founder and host of the Silence Jazz Jam, a monthly event that brings local musicians together in a welcoming, collaborative space. Andrew’s playing focuses on feel, interaction, and improvisation, with a particular interest in creating music that feels both spontaneous and connected.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 2:00 PM | The Wooly Pub | GUH
This GUH is the one that came out of a house in Toronto in the year 1991. Wherever there was busking and dancing and milling about in crowded public spaces there was GUH. In movie houses, bars, airport arrival lounges, festivals and in the quiet of an Ontario wilderness there was GUH too. Their genre-bending songs have been described as jazz/rock/pop/latin/march/polka/bop/chant/mayhem/what-was-that? Some call it GUH.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 3:00 PM | Silence | Silence Jazz Jam
Silence Jazz Jam is a monthly jazz jam session held every second Sunday of the month in Guelph, bringing together musicians from across the local community to play, connect, and learn from one another. Hosted by drummer and bandleader Andrew Schoettler, the jam creates a welcoming space for musicians of all experience levels to get on stage, take some chances, and enjoy playing together. Andrew is joined by Kevin Mak on piano and Tyler Wagler on upright bass as the regular house band, with a focus on collaboration, improvisation, and the community that makes live jazz special.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 6:00 PM | Atmosphere Café | Heather Saumer & Patrick O’Reilly duo
Mark Zurawinski/ Matt Endahl / Dave Riedstra
Heather Saumer is a trombonist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, mover, thinker, wonderer, noticer, collaborator. She is also a Psychotherapist, music teacher, and group facilitator. A versatile performer, you may find her singing country songs, playing in Jazz/Contemporary Classical ensembles, or dancing with tall grasses.
This evening performance will feature Heather on voice and trombone, and Patrick O’Reilly on guitar/effects, sharing songs from jazz and folk traditions as well as original pieces.
Mark Zurawinski is a percussionist, improviser and sound designer with an eclectic palette, and fondness for left field music which takes him to interesting and diverse sonic places – from contemplative chamber music to frenetic free-jazz, minimalist groove to digital noise. Mark is inspired by the tangibility of sound and has a keen interest in exploring the fluidity of texture and time, and the space where composition and improvisation meet. He is a regular collaborator, sometimes band-leader, and can be found performing with a band called Agnes, improvised math-rock duo Scallions, Kindhorse, No Octopus Dancing, Imaginary Percussion Ensemble, and many others in Toronto and Guelph.