Showcases
11 - 13 April 2024
Jury selected program
"Showcases" are the 30- to 45-minute short concerts at jazzahead! which are open to the general public and at the same time part of the trade fair. 40 jazz highlights and current formations from all over the world can be experienced on three days and nights on the stages of Hall 7 and the Kulturzentrum Schlachthof.
jazzahead! is not a regular festival for which bands are booked, but an international industry get-together with an integrated showcase festival. Bands that play one of the 40 showcase concerts have previously applied and are selected by international expert juries.
Showcase Festival 2024
40 bands from Germany, Europe and overseas as well as the partner country will be chosen from all applications by the international juries and will be invited to play their Showcase concert live in Bremen.
In 2024, the Showcase Festival consists of:
| 11 - 13 April 2024 | Partner Country the Netherlands |
| 11 - 13 April 2024 | European Showcases |
| 11 - 13 April 2024 | German Jazz Expo |
| 11 - 13 April 2024 | Overseas Showcases |
„The showcase has been a great chance for David Helbock and his colleagues and we succeded in getting a number of promoters and festivals to take interest in the band."
Showcase Modules 2024
Partner Country the Netherlands
8 Showcases
11 - 13 April 2024
- formations from the partner country the Netherlands
European Showcases
16 Showcases
11 - 13 April 2024
- Formations from Europe
- majority of band members have their residence within Europe; except Germany and Canada
German Jazz Expo
8 Showcases
11 - 13 April 2024
- for formations from Germany
- majority of the band members are resident in Germany
Overseas Showcases
8 Showcases
11 - 13 April 2024
- for formations from overseas / outside Europe
- majority of the band members are resident outside of Europe
The assignment of the modules European and Overseas is geographically based - not political. Bands from Africa, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia or Asia are bidding on the Overseas module. Bands / artists from Turkey and Russia are applying for the European Showcases
Application
The showcase application phase for jazzahead! 2024 starts on 06th September and ends on 18th October, 2023. We will announce the selection of bands in December 2023.
Of course, you still have the opportunity to attend jazzahead! 2024 and make use of the great networking possibilities the event offers.
To register as a (co-)exhibitor or as a professional participant see this information page.
Here you can read all terms and conditions for the showcases:
If you have questions, you can contact Insa Stanke.
This is how the band application works:
Register for jazzahead!
Precondition for applying for a showcase slot is that the band/artist is proposed by a registered (co-)exhibitor or a professional participant (all days) of jazzahead! 2024. Bands and artists can register themselves as (co-)exhibitors (e.g. with an umbrella stand) or professional participants (all days) to submit an application, or a representative (e.g. from a label) submits the application.
Choose showcase module & apply online
Please decide in advance which showcase module you are applying for.
As a registered (co-) exhibitor or trade participant (all days) please log in to the participants portal. There visit the section "Submissions", choose the module and follow the link. Then follow the instructions in the application form.
Jury & Criteria for band selection
All information about the jury and the respective selection criteria
The selection of jazzahead! showcase bands are held by annually changing expert juries. Each of the four showcase modules has its own jury team with at least seven jury members, festival and program directors from the international jazz scene.
Criteria for the first voting session
What counts: the main criteria for selection are musical quality and whether the band/artists is/are able to perform on an international level. Age, gender and origin are of no importance. The criteria for the second voting session will be communicated to the jury members with the short list of the bands - the result of this first voting session.
Second voting session
As for the first voting session now, for the second voting session, other criteria should be taken into account. :
- Instrumentation
- Country of origin (does not apply for GJE and the night of the partner country)
- Gender
Also considered is the probability that the band will present exactly the line-up stated in the application and that the final program should present a wide stylistic range.
