Northern lights over Bremen – Sweden at jazzahead!
Sweden has had an influential jazz scene for decades. However, until now, this culturally rich country has not yet been a jazzahead! partner country. For this special 20th anniversary edition of the world’s largest jazz trade fair, it’s the right time.
Glittering ‘Northern Lights’: Sweden will be taking centre stage from 22 April until 25 April. A delegation of more than 150 industry representatives will be travelling to Bremen for the festival and the three-day trade fair. Compared to previous years, around twice the number of Swedish musicians, agents and industry professionals are expected to attend.
Among the 38 showcase concerts – the artists selected having emerged from a painstaking jury process – are eight superb Swedish acts. These include the Agnas Bros, who captivate audiences with their folk and bop-influenced playing. These four brothers will also make a guest appearance at the Grand Opening on Wednesday. Britta Virves will also be on stage as part of the impressive Norrbotten Big Band. The Stockholm-based pianist will set a unique record: by the end of jazzahead!, she will have performed in a total of nine concerts over four days: Virves will appear with her own trio, the neo-soul sextet Nine Sparks Riots, and others.
In the conference programme, Sweden is bound to make its impact as a pioneer at the interface between technology and art. An AI workshop with Swedish and German musicians will explore creative possibilities for using AI, and the Swedish state supported licensing model for AI-produced music (the first of its kind anywhere) will also be presented. There will also be panels on diverse topics such as copyright and music pedagogy.
There is expected to be a high level of interest in a discussion about creativity in the context of caregiving. Musicians talk about what it means to sustain a creative life while being a caregiver, whether parenting or tending to loved ones.
One of the highlights of jazzahead! is CLUBNIGHT, with more than 100 concerts throughout Bremen. This includes ‘Swedish Night’ on Friday, 24 April, at Lankenauer Höft on the Weser. Four bands from four different Swedish regions (including the popular Emil Brandqvist Trio) will present the country’s musical diversity, accompanied by visual installations by artist Tomas Larsson. His spectacular Northern lights will also illuminate the Swedish concerts in St. Petri Cathedral.
For the first time, a company with global reach, IKEA, is supporting the appearance of a partner country. The Swedish furniture retail company is designing the exhibition stand as an authentic ‘living room’ and will give away all the furniture after the fair to charity.
Sybille Kornitschky, Director of jazzahead!, Götz Bühler, Artistic Advisor, and representatives of the Swedish delegation are available for interviews.
Press and media representatives who have not already registered – please use this accreditation form.
All photos can be found in our digital press kit. It also includes the latest press information, additional photos, logos and a social media kit:
ja!26_Press_kit
Password: ja!26_Press_kit
You can download images from the following links:
Photo 1: Agnas Bros © Agnas Bros
Photo 2: Britta Virves © Elvira Glänte
Photo 3: Tomas Larsson © Tomas Larsson
Copyright press photos:
Press photos may only be used for editorial purposes in connection with M3B GmbH events. The copyrights are held by M3B GmbH/photographer. Utilisation and exploitation rights are held by M3B GmbH. Press photos that are used for editorial purposes must be labelled with the corresponding source. Printing and publication of the press photos is free of charge. We ask print media for a specimen copy and electronic media (Internet) for a brief notification. Commercial use of the press photos requires prior written authorisation.
More information:
MESSE BREMEN · M3B GmbH
Jan Paersch | T +49 173 3250836
press@jazzahead.de
Web: jazzahead.de
www.messe-bremen.de
The copyrights belong to the photographer, while the rights of use and exploitation belong to M3B GmbH. Press photos used for editorial purposes must be credited with the source “M3B/[copyright holder]”. The reproduction and publication of press photos is free of charge. We ask print media to provide us with a specimen copy and electronic media (Internet) to send us a brief notification. Commercial use of the press photos requires the prior written consent of M3B GmbH.
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