
Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival
- When: 17th – 21st July 2018
- Where: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Website: jazzvitoria.com
For more than four decades, the Basque city of Vitoria has been hosting the Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, a unique event that brings together the world's greatest jazz stars.
Different performances and shows complete a line-up that invites locals and tourists to enjoy the best jazz tunes in a fantastic setting in the month of July. Below, we'll tell you all about the Vitoria Jazz Festival, a summer classic.
Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital city of the Basque Country
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the Basque Country. Historically, the city has had an important strategic point in military, cultural and commercial spheres, as it is located at a crossroads. Vitoria is a communications hub between the Spanish Central Plateau and mainland Europe, a truly cosmopolitan city.
Likewise, the capital of Álava has a valuable monumental heritage that increases the importance of this Basque city even more. Vitoria is also considered European Green Capital and has one of the most acclaimed music festivals in the country: the Vitoria Jazz Festival.
The Jazz Festival of Vitoria-Gasteiz
During the month of July, jazz music becomes the real protagonist of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Its streets are filled with good songs and an even better atmosphere thanks to the Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, an event that after more than four decades has become an essential part of the summer for many tourists in Spain. Soloists, renowned groups and young talents have all contributed to turning this festival into the hallmark of the city.
The Jazz Festival was created in 1977 by a collective called Jazzteiz. In its first few years, the festival lasted only two days and the programme was attended by the winners of the amateur contest of the San Sebastian Jazz Festival.
Little by little, the festival grew and created a fuller programme with stars like Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Gezt and Ella Fitzgerald. Thanks to them, the capital of Álava now hosts this famous musical event for 7 consecutive days.
This year, the Jazz Festival has an amazing line-up, including world-famous musicians Carla Bruni, Kool & The Gang and the Earth, Wind & Fire Experience.
Currently, the main performances can be enjoyed in the official venues: the Mendizorrotza sports centre, the Teatro Principal and the Hotel NH Canciller, which hosts the midnight jazz cycle. As well as these formal live concerts, the streets of the city become the scene of various open-air bands that animate the passers-by with their music during the week-long Festival.
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