Montreal's blockbuster jazz festival will incorporate folk, afrobeat, spaghetti western and a host of other musical genres in this year's lineup, organizers said Wednesday.

The 28th annual edition of the popular summer event runs from June 28 to July 8. The likes of Bob Dylan, Angelique Kidjo and Femi Kuti will take its various indoor stages along with celebrated jazz, blues and soul headliners such as Wynton Marsalis, Oliver Jones, Molly Johnson, Russell Malone, Keith Jarrett and Harry Connick, Jr.

Local music will share the spotlight with internationally known artists, as organizers make room for Montreal musicians like 13-year-old jazz-singing prodigy Nikki Yanovsky and the host of artists who will pay tribute to bandleader Bernard Primeau, who died last fall.

Organizers will offer nearly 150 shows at venues across the city. Highlights include:

  • A celebration of the music of famed composer Ennio Morricone, who was honoured earlier this year at the Oscars, with a performance by the Spaghetti Western Orchestra.
  • Performances by Louisiana's Zachary Richard and French singer-songwriter-guitarist Francis Cabrel, who collaborated on a post-Hurricane Katrina fundraising album benefiting musicians and have reunited to perform together several times since.
  • A massive Canada Day concert featuring Manu Chao with Radio Bemba Sound System and other guests.

Other jazz fest performers include Sean Lennon, the Cowboy Junkies with Garth Hudson and Ron Sexsmith, Randy Bachman, Sophie Milman, Holly Cole and Michael Kaeshammer.

Organizers will announce the festival's free outdoor schedule on June 5.

In total, the festival is expecting more than 2,500 musicians to take to Montreal stages during the event.

With files from the Associated Press