Written by The NN North Sea Jazz Festival, renowned as the world’s largest indoor music festival, is set to make its highly-anticipated return to the Ahoy Centre in Rotterdam this July. Scheduled from Friday, July 12th, to Sunday, July 14th, 2024, the festival boasts a diverse lineup featuring international stars from jazz, blues, soul, pop, and beyond.
The festival is set to showcase special projects, including a new quartet featuring tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Johnathan Blake. Additionally, “Something Else!” will present a unique collaboration with Vincent Herring, Binker Golding, Jeremy Pelt, David Kikoski, Paul Bollenback, Essiet Essiet, and Lewis Nash. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Afro-Cuban jazz company Irakere, Cuban pianist and composer Chucho Valdés will grace the stage, and Shai Maestro is poised for a captivating performance with the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw.
The first wave of announcements includes 60 artists, featuring some of the world’s most celebrated jazz figures, such as Joshua Redman, Jamie Cullum, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Walter Smith III, bassist Avishai Cohen, and French-Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf.
Ibrahim Maalouf \ Photo by Yann Orhan
The festival will also introduce emerging artists making their North Sea debuts, adding a fresh dynamic to the event. Among them are Amaro Freitas, D.K. Harrell, Kymara, Lander & Adriaan, Laura Misch, Lawrence, and Veronica Swift.
Spanning the entire spectrum of jazz and soul, the festival’s broad lineup will showcase artists like Raye, Corinne Bailey Rae, Masego, Sampha, Noname, Sting, and more. The NN North Sea Jazz Festival, welcoming around 80,000 music enthusiasts annually, has built an incomparable reputation since its inaugural year in 1976. It has hosted a string of musical icons over the years, from Miles Davis and Count Basie to Amy Winehouse and Adele.
Veronica Swift | Photo by Matt Baker
Anticipated to feature over a thousand musicians across 150 performances and fifteen different stages, this summer’s festival promises a vibrant celebration of music set against the backdrop of Rotterdam’s Ahoy Centre.
Below is a list of artists performing, with new additions set to be announced in the near future.
NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2023 – Rotterdam Ahoy Centre
Friday 12 July: Amaro Freitas Trio; Avishai Cohen Bande Iroko; Brittany Howard; Chucho Valdés: Irakere 50; corto.alto; D.K. Harrell; Emily King; Henri Texier ‘An Indian’s Life’; Jamie Cullum; Kinga G?yk; Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet ‘The Next Step Reunion Tour’; Kymara; Laufey; Lehmanss Brothers; Myra Melford – Fire & Water Quintet; Potter*Mehldau*Patitucci*Blake; Raye; Reuben James; Smino; Vulfpeck
Saturday 13 July: Anouk & Metropole Orkest; Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram; Corinne Bailey Rae presents Black Rainbows; Ibrahim Maalouf and the trumpets of Michel-Ange ; Joel Ross Good Vibes; John Ghost; John Scofield & Dave Holland; Joshua Redman Group ft. Gabrielle Cavassa ‘where are we’ Tour ; Joss Stone; Laura Misch; Lawrence; Lizz Wright; Maite Hontelé & Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest; Marisa Monte; Masego; Quique; Something Else! ft. Vincent Herring, Binker Golding, Jeremy Pelt, David Kikoski, Paul Bollenback, Essiet Essiet, and Lewis Nash ; Sungazer Plus; Tems; Veronica Swift
Sunday 14 July: Bamba Wassoulou Groove; Benjamin Clementine; Black Pumas; Cécile Mclorin Salvant; Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society ; Dave Douglas Gifts Quintet ft. James Brandon Lewis, Rafiq Bhatia, and Ian Chang; Faada Freddy; Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation; Knower; Lander & Adriaan; Mahalia; Noname; Sampha; Shai Maestro & Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw; Sting; Sylvie Courvoisier Chimaera; Vicente Amigo; Walter Smith III
More information can be found on the North Sea Jazz website.
Last modified: January 30, 2024
