The 11th edition of the Antic Sitges Jazz Festival will be held from 20th to 24th March with more than 25 concerts and a great international projection. Over 100 musicians from Sitges and all over the world will once again this year make this event a point of reference for music professionals and amateurs alike. The event's programme was presented this Wednesday at the Centre d'Interpretació de la Malvasia (CIM) with the participation of the Councillor for Culture, Albert Oliver-Rodés, and the festival's artistic director, Joan Pinós.

One of the Festival's highlights is the band The Fried Seven, which is offering two concerts as part of Jazz Antic Sitges. The first performance is on Friday 22nd March at 10 pm at the Prado Theatre, and the second on Sunday 24th March at 5.30 pm in the Jofre Vilà Room at the Casino Prado. The ensemble's repertoire includes music from the 1920s and 1930s with music by King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, as well as original arrangements.

Once again this year, the traditional Parade becomes the distinctive feature of the Jazz Antic Sitges festival to bring together musicians from Sitges and all over the world in the streets of the town. The musical parade is scheduled for Saturday 23 March, starting at 6.30 pm. The musicians' route will start in the Plaça de l'Ajuntament and continue along carrers Major, Cap de la Vila, Sant Francesc, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Josep, Bonaire, Joan Tarrida, Marquès de Mont-Roig, Parellades, Cap de la Vila, Jesús and Francesc Gumà.

Other highlights of the programme include the Windy Coast Jazz band (Friday 22 March / 6 p.m. / Teatro Casino Prado), who will bring the ever-warm original sounds with famous standards and lesser-known tunes that speak of the roots of jazz, and the New Art Deco Band (Sunday 24 March / 12 p.m. / in the canteen of the Sociedad Recreativa El Retiro. Canteen). The ragtime pianist Nils Bondesson from Sweden launches a new work with the clarinettist of Swedish origin and resident in Sitges, Fredrik Carlquist. This tandem presents a special concert with the collaboration of Sitges drummer Pinyu Martí and musician David Parras (tuba) with a repertoire that will include stylistic elements of jazz from the 20s and 30s mixed with influences and the personal style of the group. The programme also includes a performance by the Five O'Clock Jazz Band, a group of experienced musicians from Catalonia (Friday 22 March / 8 pm / Prado Theatre), and a concert by the Sitges-based BKT Brass Band, who will once again offer a parade and a concert (Friday 22 March). 

The parade starts at 7.15 p.m. from the Casino Prado and ends at the canteen of the Sociedad Recreativa El Retiro, where there will be a performance with their own songs, versions of cutle tunes from the American tradition and original arrangements. The group takes the DNA of the streets of New Orleans and combines it with elements of music such as pop, reggae, hip-hop and rock. As has become customary, the festival dedicates a day to Manouche Jazz, a style of music born in the first half of the 20th century thanks to the guitarist Django Reinhardt.

All the performances are free of charge, with the exception of three paying performances. Both concerts by The Fried Seven cost 10 euros, while the Five O'Clock Jazz Band's performance costs 10 euros.

Live jazz dinners

Since the first edition, the live jazz dinners have been held on Saturday evenings in 4 venues in the town and last year they were extended to 5, while this year 2024 has seen the addition of another venue and now, in total, there are 6 venues with concerts on Saturday evening. In each partner restaurant there will be a surprise concert (9 p.m.) with a band made up of musicians who will have taken part in the Parade.

Educational side of the Jazz Antic Sitges Festival: Concert exclusively for Sitges Schools (Friday 22 March)

On Friday morning, the event offers a show for first and sixth grade pupils from Sitges schools to discover the origins and main characteristics of jazz in New Orleans.