The eleventh We Jazz Festival will be held in Helsinki from November 23 to 30. The first performers have now been announced, including saxophone legend David Murray, Sven Wunder, making one of his first live appearances, and the renowned Australian trio The Necks. Tickets for the event are now on sale at Tiketti.
The first performers for the eleventh We Jazz Festival, known as a highlight of Helsinki's musical year, have been announced. The festival will take place in Helsinki from November 23 to 30. This year's international guest artists include the free jazz super trio David Murray / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love, the legendary improvisational music group The Necks, and the popular Swedish producer Sven Wunder's live band, making one of its first live performances featuring guitarist Reine Fiske from Dungen.
International artists from the highly regarded We Jazz record label making their Helsinki debuts include the Chicago quartet Black Diamond, the Swiss divr-trio, the Swedish Goran Kajfeš Tropiques, and the Turkish-American duo Berke Can Özcan & Jonah Parzen-Johnson, all performing music from their latest albums. Finnish We Jazz artists include Timo Lassy Trio, Oaagaada, Lampen, and Superposition (Olavi Louhivuori, Linda Fredriksson, Mikael Saastamoinen), whose special concept 1+2+3 will premiere at the festival's new venue, the Museum of Technology. Additionally, Brooklyn-based baritone saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson will collaborate for the first time with Finnish experimental music artist Lau Nau.
The festival will feature beloved traditions such as the secret concert concept Salakeikka and the Jazz Kiinnostaa radio broadcast brunch, which will air live on Radio Helsinki on Sunday, November 24. The Salakeikka event does not disclose the location or performer in advance and is phone-free to create a focused and "digitally free" space for an immersive experience.
As in recent years, the festival culminates with a grand finale at Korjaamo on Saturday night, November 30, showcasing numerous internationally significant bands in a comprehensive event that stands out in Helsinki's jazz calendar. In addition to the aforementioned artists, the stage will welcome the German-Brazilian duo Angelika Niescier & Maria Portugal, the Swedish top jazz musicians' ensemble Nacka Forum, and the rising experimental music artist, Berlin-based Australian Jules Reidy. The previously sold-out Korjaamo Children's Concert will have two performances this time, with the performer to be announced later. More performers will be announced for various We Jazz 2024 events.
The festival will span from the secret concert on Saturday, November 23, to the mega evening at Korjaamo on November 30, featuring new We Jazz venues (Hobo Hotel Helsinki, Museum of Technology) and well-established classics (Kahvila Sävy, G Livelab Helsinki, Peloton Cycling Eatery).
"The festival is going to be very exciting," says We Jazz artistic director Matti Nives. "The program is the highest quality and most international to date, and there's much more to say, but perhaps we'll save it for later since this announcement is already quite lengthy."
Described in attendee surveys as "mind-opening" and praised for its "deep humanity combined with a passion for offering good music," the We Jazz Festival, now in its eleventh edition, is seen as a "long-awaited, low-threshold city festival" that is "relaxed, open-minded, and human-scaled."
We Jazz 2024
Helsinki, 23.–30.11.
Festival website: wejazz.fi/2024
Facebook event
Tickets: Tiketti
ARTISTS (A-Z)
Angelika Niescier & Maria Portugal (DE/BR)
Berke Can Özcan & Jonah Parzen-Johnson (TR/US)
Black Diamond (US)
divr (CH)
Goran Kajfeš Tropiques (SE)
Jazz kiinnostaa
Jonah Parzen-Johnson & Lau Nau (US/FI)
Jules Reidy (AU/DE)
Lampen
Murray / Håker Flaten / Nilssen-Love (US/NO)
Nacka Forum (SE)
Oaagaada
*secret gig*
Superposition 1+2+3
Sven Wunder (SE)
The Necks (AU)
Timo Lassy Trio
We Jazz DJs & Friends
VENUES
G Livelab Helsinki
Hobo Hotel Helsinki
Café Sävy
Cultural Factory Korjaamo
Peloton Cycling Eatery
Museum of Technology
Partners:
Fat Lizard Brewing Co., Hobo Hotel Helsinki, Radio Helsinki, Museum of Technology, University of the Arts Helsinki's Sibelius Academy
Supporters:
City of Helsinki, Music Promotion Center, Emilie and Rudolf Gesellius Foundation, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, William Thurings Foundation