Darren Johnston Tickets

Hailing from Canada and now rooted in the Bay Area, Darren Johnston is a trumpeter and composer known for his distinct blend of jazz, freely improvised music, and influences from Balkan and Jamaican traditions. Since moving to Brooklyn in 2019, he has collaborated with a wide array of ensembles and artists, making his mark across major festivals and venues. His work crosses borders of genre and form, inviting listeners into a sonic landscape that defies easy labeling.

Johnston’s career features performances with the ROVA Saxophone Quartet, Marcus Shelby, Ches Smith, and Groundation, among others. He has earned multiple arts-funding awards and commissions from prestigious organizations such as the Canada Council for the Arts, The Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, Creative Capital, and the Gerbode Foundation. Notable commissions have appeared at San Francisco’s De Young Museum and the Yerba Buena Garden Festival, underscoring his impact on the contemporary jazz and new-music scenes.

As a performer, Johnston engages listeners with a versatile approach—whether leading a project, improvising within a group, or collaborating across disciplines. His festival appearances include the Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and he has performed at renowned venues like Blue Note (Honolulu) as part of ambitious group projects. His official social channels and music releases on Bandcamp (via his Linktree hub) offer direct access to new work and archival recordings.

Upcoming 2025 dates showcase his ongoing collaboration with groups like Groundation and standalone performances that emphasize improvisation and cross-genre exploration. For fans in San Francisco, Hawaii, and beyond, Darren Johnston’s shows offer a rare glimpse into a musician who consistently expands the language of jazz. Secure your seats through our easy, no-fuss process—we’ve got you covered.

• February 28, 2025 — Bird and Beckett Books & Music, San Francisco
• March 7, 2025 — Medicine for Nightmares, San Francisco
• March 13–17, 2025 — Groundation performances across Hawaii (Da Playground, Wailuku; Oa Brew, Kailua Kona; Anna Hou Park, Kauai; Blue Note, Honolulu)

Follow Darren Johnston’s official channels for the latest updates and music releases: