7 Jazz Festivals To Check Out This Summer
Music festivals are always a highlight of every summer and jazz is probably not the music genre that is commonly talked about when it comes to festivals. Aside from the music itself, you can have a short getaway with your friends, meet new people, get tipsy, dance, take loads of Instagram-worthy pics and, most importantly, enjoy the fun, creative and culturally rich atmosphere around you. Forget the mainstream and jazz up your weekend with these 7 summer festivals around the world.
1. Paris Jazz Festival
This summer festival invites the visitors to see the world-famous jazz musicians live and spend quality time with your friends and family in the Botanical Gardens in Paris, France. The key concept is to promote upbeat music, like jazz, that is known for bringing a natural relief to your mind, as well as increasing your positive energy, in the creative outdoor environment. The event takes place every weekend in the month of July so you definitely have time to stay in one the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world and get a chance to pop by the festival.
2. Jazz à Juan
If you decided to go visit Paris this July anyway, why not travel around and visit the glorious South coast of France and swing by the beautiful Juan-les-Pins – the jazz capital of Europe. Aside from its magnificent views, beach vibes and delicious French cuisine, you can jam to every single sub-genres of jazz music that ever existed during the second and third weekends of July. This place is a unique blend of different cultures and backgrounds; they all come together to celebrate the sound of liberty and self-expression that is jazz.
3. San Sebastian Jazz Festival
Continue your brief European jazz tour in the city of Basque, which is north of Spain along the Bay of Biscay. It’s a nice resort area, a famous tourist attraction and the cultural center of Spain. Besides, you can visit one of the most remarkable jazz festivals that is taking place all around the city on the long weekend between July 24th and July 28th. There is even a stage in the heart of the widely recognized Zurriola beach, where you enjoy the evening of drunken reveling to the sounds of jazz.
4. EPD Cool Jazz
Another July option is this ‘cool’ jazz festival located in the city of Cascais, Portugal. The event usually happens during the last three weeks of the month when the nights are warm, the sun is shining and the streets are busy with random tourists, locals, artists, musicians, and other creative minds. Apart from the indie jazz bands, you might spot pop stars such as Jessie J as well as other the big names like Tom Jones and Jamie Cullum.
5. Blue Wave Jazz Festival
Music is an important part of German culture and the plethora of music events and festivals taking place in this country provides ample evidence of that. Blue Wave festival, in particular, conform to the audience who love any kind of serene music from jazz to blues to funk to soul. Located on the island of Rugen, it takes place on the second weekend of June and attracts artists from all over the world.
6. North Sea Jazz Festival
The Netherlands is another brilliant example of a country that is known for hosting world biggest and most awe-inspiring music events and festivals; North Sea festival is one of them. It had first taken place in Den Haag in 1976 but 30 years later was moved to Rotterdam. The scope of the event is wide enough to invite over 1000 musicians delivering more than 130 performances. Along with jazz, you will be able to enjoy blues, soul, funk, hip hop, pop music and more. You can check the lineup for July 12th to 14th now on their official website.
7. Montreux Jazz Festival
The ticket price and the general price level in Switzerland may scare you away but, despite it being one of the most expensive festivals to visit, the experience is certainly worth a go. Besides, you can always get away with a few free options in the festival program, such as workshops and young performers competitions. Aside from jazz, the lineup includes top rock artists such as Kasabian, Alt J, Bryan Ferry and much more!
