For the next week the North Shore will be a sizzling and a-shakin’ as it takes part in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

“It is a great festival,” said its producer Fiona Black.

She’s excited about all the acts, but can’t wait to see the Red Stick Ramblers.

Black saw them play while visiting New York. She’s expecting a lot of toe tapping at their show, which kicks off the flurry of music on this side of Burrard Inlet tomorrow.

Red Stick Ramblers, Friday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m.

This high-energy group from Louisiana will be playing a free show at West Vancouver Memorial Library at 1950 Marine Dr. Since their first performance in 2000, the five-piece band has mixed styles as diverse as traditional Cajun, western swing, blues and old-school jazz.

Kow Kanda, Saturday, June 27, at 1 p.m.

Ready for an infusion of warmth? Kow Kanda blends pop, West African highlife, and reggae into a mix of non-stop entertainment. West African vocalist Ronald Garber, who was nicknamed Kow Kanda by his grandfather, has been based in Vancouver since 1986. Kow Kanda’s debut album, Blind Faith, was recorded in Ghana, and his second CD, Gbengbeh, was recorded in Sierra Leone. The free music event will be jumping at the Civic Plaza at 14th Street and Lonsdale Avenue.

Van Django, Saturday, June 27, at 8 p.m., Presentation House Theatre

Vancouver’s premier gypsy-jazz ensemble plays classic Django Reinhardt, as well as their own mix of original tunes and eclectic arrangements of jazz, pop and classical music. The four musicians — Budge Schachte (guitar), Finn Manniche (guitar/cello), Cam Wilson (violin), Laurence Mollerup (bass) — will play at the Presentation House Theatre at 333 Chesterfield Ave. Tickets cost $16 for students and $18 for adults. Tickets available at the door or by calling 604-876-5200.

Sweet Papa Lowdown, Sunday, June 28, at 1 p.m.

These Vancouver-based musicians bring a contemporary energy to classic vocal blues and jazz tunes of the ’20s and ’30s. Drawing from past masters such as Jelly Roll Morton, Blind Blake, and Bessie Smith, they combine country blues with the sophisticated horns of New Orleans style jazz. The band takes the stage at for the free event at John Braithwaite Centre at 145 West 1st Street.

Steve Dawson, Sunday, June 28, at 8 p.m.

Multi-instrumentalist, producer and multi-award winner Steve Dawson is a musical chameleon. The list of instruments he plays includes the banjo, ukulele, Weissenborn Hawaiian guitar, dobro, lap steel, and pedal steel. Dawson released two CDs in 2008 — Waiting For The Lights To Come Up and Telescope. He takes to the stage at Presentation House Theatre. Tickets cost $13 for students and $15 for adults.

Kelly Joe Phelps, Thursday, July 2, 8 p.m.

Kelly Joe Phelps is a singer and guitarist/slide guitarist. After a decade and a half of travelling the world — occasionally with a band, but usually alone with his guitar — Phelps has just released Western Bell, his eighth full-length album. He takes to the stage at Capilano Performing Arts Theatre at 2055 Purcell Way. Tickets cost $30 for students and $32 for adults.

Duke Robillard Band, Friday, July 3, at 8 p.m.

B.B. King calls him “one of the great players.” The Blues Music Awards named Duke Robillard “Best Blues Guitarist” four years out of five (2000-01, 2003-04) making him the second most honoured guitarist for that award. He was also nominated in ’05, ’07, and ’08, and received a Grammy nomination for his 2007 CD Guitar Groove-a-rama. Don’t miss this legendary artist in action at Capilano Performing Arts Theatre. Tickets cost $32 for students and $34 for adults.

Mimosa, Saturday, July 4, at 1 p.m.

Mimosa’s concocted an original bag of samba grooves, sky-high improvisations, and captivating melodies and lyrics. With Rebecca Shoichet singing, Anna Lumiere on keyboards and left hand bass, Karen Graves on saxophone, flute and lending her voice and Bernie Arai on drums, the band will fill the area in Civic Plaza with tunes at this free event.