TRADITION, CREATIVITY, CURIOSITY AND ACCESSIBILITY - now the 56th edition!
Umeå Jazz Festival is a living and vital international playground for artistic development where core values such as tradition, creativity, curiosity and accessibility are part of our fabric. One of the festival's trademarks is to present musicians and groups that pave the way for new expressions and possibilities. Another is to create a meeting ground where everyone can find great experiences, unknown favorites and also brake out into a dance.
More than 50 years ago, or more precisely in 1968, a lasting and recurring phenomenon started that opened Umeå to the outside world – Umeå Jazz Festival! Since the beginning of the festival, Umeå - the small town in northern Sweden has presented great jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Sun Ra, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, BB King, Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, - and many, many more. Not to mention all the Scandinavian and local heroes who have played at the festival over the years. The festival is, if anything, a colorful event that, since its inception, has attracted both brilliant artists from all corners of the world as well as returning and new enthusiastic listeners. We would like to send a big thank you to Umeå Folkets Hus, who with their great commitment and broad experience is now the main organizer of the festival.
Jonas Knutsson Artistic Director and Helena Karlsson Festival Coordinator
