This year’s list of headliners makes it pretty apparent that the Toronto Jazz Festival (June 24 to July 3) isn’t focusing strictly on jazz any more.
This isn’t really a problem, though, when it means you’ve got the rare chance to catch soul queen Aretha Franklin playing Metro Hall Square for free on June 24. Most of the other high-profile gigs are ticketed, so plan ahead if you want to hear conscious hip-hop legends the Roots ($50, July 1, Metro Hall Square), funk hero Bootsy Collins ($40, July 2, Metro Hall Square), Chicano rock institutions Los Lobos ($35, June 28, Metro Hall Square) or classic soul survivor Lee Fields & the Expressions ($25, July 2, Horseshoe). Check tojazz.com for more info.