The Kensington Market Jazz Festival (KMJF) is back. Now in its 11th year, the festival returns to one of Toronto's most storied neighbourhoods on Sept. 18, 19 and 20. The festival begins with five of the biggest names in Canadian jazz: Alex Bird, Hilario Duran, Robi Botos, Rich Brown, Jane Bunnett, and book readings from Marc Jordan and Robert Priest, including the premiere of a new event – the Poetry Slam.
KMJF was founded by Molly Johnson, O.C., collaborating with Tracy Jenkins of Lula Lounge and the 2025 Shaw Festival, and remains artist driven and volunteer powered in every sense of those words.
Want to learn more? Visit www.kensingtonjazz.com.
How did this festival get its start?
I grew up in Kensington Market, so this neighbourhood has always been a big part of who I am. I started the Kensington Market Jazz Festival in 2016 because I wanted to showcase the incredible cultural tapestry of the Market and create something that belonged to the artists, audiences and community. That first weekend we had more than 200 Toronto musicians performing in nine venues, and it grew from there. The idea has always been pretty simple: Better, Not Bigger. Keep it intimate, keep it about the music and make sure people can experience great Canadian artists up close in this incredible neighbourhood.
For those not familiar, what can they expect?
You can expect to walk through Kensington Market and hear great music everywhere. We use the cafes, courtyards, community spaces, patios and venues that are already part of the neighbourhood, so you might see an artist you love in a room that holds a fraction of what a traditional concert venue would. A typical festival weekend has more than 100 Canadian musicians performing across about 10 venues in more than 100 shows. It’s intimate and spontaneous, and you really do feel like you’re part of the neighbourhood for the weekend.
How has the festival grown since it started?
We’ve presented more than 500 Canadian artists over the years, and we now have more than 100 volunteers helping make the festival happen. We’ve added programming like our Kids Music Series, recording initiatives, seasonal music series, busking and, this year, the El Mocambo and a new Poetry Slam. But I’m very protective of what made the festival special in the first place. Growth for us means creating more opportunities for Canadian artists and finding new ways to bring people together through music while keeping that intimate community feeling.
Who are you most excited to see?
That’s an impossible question because so many of these musicians are friends and people I’ve worked with and admired for years! We have Hilario Duran, Jane Bunnett, Robi Botos, Rich Brown and Alex Bird among the artists this year, and they’re all extraordinary. Robi has been my pianist of choice for close to 15 years, so there’s obviously a very special musical relationship there. What I love most is seeing these incredible musicians playing in small rooms where the audience is right there with them. That’s really what this festival is about.
What’s in store for next year?
First we have to get through this year, ha. I want us to keep supporting Canadian musicians, keep bringing people into Kensington Market and keep finding interesting ways to use the neighbourhood. We’re a registered charitable arts organization now, and the volunteers, audiences, artists, businesses and supporters are what allow us to keep doing this. As long as we can keep making the festival better and giving artists a place to play and audiences a reason to come together, I’ll be happy.
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