The second edition of the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival was another great success, with great artists and an exuberant mood amongst the public. During the two festival days, there was an unprecedented positive and festive atmosphere at the festival area at the WTC.

During the second edition of the festival, the audience was presented with a great program. On Friday, the festival was opened by Chic, who immediately set the mood for the rest of the festival. Then the audience was treated with the relaxing sounds of Levi Silvanie, the huge throat of gospel / soul singer Sharon Jones, the real jazz of Danilo Perez Trio, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, conga king Poncho Sanchez and the party violence of Earth, Wind & Fire. The evening was closed by Sting, who brought singalong filled with big Police hits.

Also a spectacular show packed with hits from Saturday headliner Stevie Wonder. Earlier that day, the public could enjoy pianist Roberto Fonseca, Chucho Valdes and his Afro Cuban Messengers, local talent Ronchi Matthew and a serie of classic hits by Dionne Warwick. The salsa of Rubén Blades and Dominican superstar Juan Luis Guerra made sure that nobody in the audience stood still.

See the pictures of Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival 2011

The tickets for Saturday have sold out. For Friday ther're still some ticksets available. Don't wait for the last minute to buy them.

While the creation of the festival is now in full swing, the festival week begins tonight with a free concert of Los Van Van at the Brionplein. The concert starts at 21.00. Tomorrow Trijntje Oosterhuis performs at the Avila Hotel. This concert also starts at 21.00. Tickets are on sale for 50 Nafl Albert Heijn Curacao, Bruna Curacao and the Avila hotel. On the night self tickets cost 60 Nafl. Selah Sue plays on Wednesday at Mambo Beach. This concert starts at 22.00 hours, tickets are on sale for 45 Nafl. The last pre-program is on Thursday, Sept. 1. Then Eliane Elias is performing at 20:30, at Brakkeput Mei Mei. Tickets are $ 35 and can be bought at Brakkeput Mei Mei and 24 uur uit de Muur. All prices are excluding service charge and tax.

The organizers have reserved sufficient parking space for all visitors. These parking areas will be well lit and guarded permanently by security personnel. Free shuttle buses will transport visitors from the parking areas to the WTC.
 
On both festival days, the doors of the festival area will open at 6 p.m. From 5 p.m. onward, the special parking areas will be open to the festival visitors. These areas are:
-         Inside and outside of the Johnny Vrutaal Stadium;
-         Coney Island;
-         Velt di Mundu Nobo;
-         Velt di Jong Holland (zakito);
-         Velt di Para Sasa.

These parking areas will be indicated with signs: “Parking”. With your entrance ticket, you will have free access to the parking areas and the shuttle service.

The shuttle buses will take you to the entrance of the festival area. They will start taking visitors back to the parking areas from midnight onward. This means you will be able to take the bus back to your parking area from the same place you got off earlier that night.

Since it might occur that one or more locations are occupied or the road is blocked, we ask that you follow the directions of the police and security staff to ensure safe and easy parking of your vehicle.

The whole week leading up to Curacao North Sea Jazz is inspired by the festival with several concerts. We start on Monday, August 29 with a free concert by Los Van Van on the Brionplein. The next day is Trijntje Oosterhuis performing at the Avila Hotel. On Wednesday, August 31 Selah Sue plays at Mambo Beach and we finish with a performance by Eliane Elias on Thursday September 1st at Brakkeput Mei Mei. Tickets for the concerts are available at the venues and tickets for Eliane Elias can be bought at 24 uur uit de Muur.