It’s that time again, the next jazzahead! is in the starting gates: Registration for what is now the 17th edition of the largest international jazz industry get-together starts today – September 27! jazzahead! takes place as a trade fair and festival from April 27 to 30 in Bremen. Each year, the partner country changes, and this year it is Germany. Deadline to apply is October 27th, 2022.
jazzahead! 2023
MESSE BREMEN is again planning jazzahead! 2023 as an in-person event, but due to the ongoing circumstances is again offering a hybrid program, as well as the option of online-only participation. Registration for on-site participation will be possible from September 27. This date also marks the start of the showcase application process; here, however, the application period is limited to four weeks and ends accordingly on October 27. Registration for online-only participation will begin on November 1. Applications can be made as usual on the homepage.
The selection of the showcase acts for jazzahead! 2023 will be made by three international juries. Artistic director of jazzahead! Peter Schulze, together with Ulrich Beckerhoff, say: “We want applications from the entire breadth of the scene and expressly call on musicians from the Afro-diasporic, indie or electro scenes to apply.” Schulze added that there is a lot of interesting stuff happening on the creative fringes, in particular.
Some changes: the familiar program tracks such as the European Jazz Meeting, the Overseas Night or the Partner Country Night will be left out this year. Instead, the musical program of this year’s 36 showcase concerts will be spread over all four days.
Among the highlights will be four big premieres – as part of the concept with the partner country Germany and in the form of completely new jazz formations with bandleaders from Germany and musicians from the Netherlands, France, Austria and the USA.
The German Jazz Prize has a new date: next year it will be awarded on the opening day, April 27, at the Metropol Theater. Once again, a large number of exciting acts will be present. Realized by the Initiative Musik, the International Prize has, since 2021, been given with the aim of spotlighting the diversity and creativity of the German and international jazz scene and honoring the prize winners each with 10,000 euros in prize money.
Further information on jazzahead! is available on the website.
Apply to jazzahead!
Precondition for a showcase application is that the band/artist is proposed by a registered (co-)exhibitor or a professional participant of jazzahead! 2023. Bands/artists can also register themselves.
You will need:
- CV/short portrait of the artist/band (only pdf/doc) – in English!
- Technical rider and/or stage plan (only pdf/doc)
- Professional photo(s) of the artist/band incl. copyright(s)
- Relevant video/audio material of the performing line-up in form of links to Youtube, Soundcloud, Vimeo, etc. (at least 1, max. 3)
For more information on applying, go here.