North Sea Jazz

The North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam is the largest indoor jazz festival in the world.

The first edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival took place in 1976. The festival then had six stages, three hundred artists and about nine thousand visitors. In this first year of the festival jazz legends like Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz performed and also a complete overview of the Dutch jazz avant-garde.

In 2006, the festival moved to its current, bigger, location in Rotterdam. This year, the organisation expects more than a thousand musicians, spread out over 150 performances and fifteen different stages. Though the numbers of visitors were between 65.000 and 70.000 in recent years, the festival still manages to retain its intimate character.

North Sea Jazz is the largest indoor music festival in the world, known globally as the event where the past, present and future of jazz are featured within three days. Next to a firm base of jazz many genres will pass by, such as blues, soul, funk, hip hop, world, pop and much more. Next to enjoying top names from around the world, visitors get the chance to discover new favorite artists.

In September 2010, the first edition of the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival took place. On 3 and 4 September 2010 John Legend, Simply Red, George Benson, India and Sergio Medes played the first festival. Also this year many jazz, soul, world beat and latin artists will perform. North Sea Jazz Festival also organized a festival in Kaapstad from 2000 to 2004.

For more information on the North Sea Jazz Festival Rotterdam visit: www.northseajazz.com