Festival de Big Bands de Pertuis

Festival de Big Bands de Pertuis 2025 — 27th Edition

The 27th edition of the Festival de Big Bands de Pertuis brought together around 4,200 spectators in early August 2025 over five evenings of concerts, confirming the vitality and popularity of this unique jazz event in Vaucluse. Ten high-quality ensembles performed on stage, covering the entire spectrum of big format jazz.

The Barcelona Big Blues Band opened the festivities with a two-part evening: saxophonist and singer Drew Davies for a powerfully communicative blues set, followed by pianist Ladyva, a boogie-woogie virtuoso, for a second set that got the audience on their feet. The Amazing Keystone Big Band presented a remarkable adaptation of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story — a tribute to the composer's centenary — with singers and actors integrated into the large orchestral ensemble.

Other European big bands completed a diverse lineup, exploring New Orleans, 1940s swing, jazz fusion, and Latin salsa. The four free evenings attracted a large popular audience, true to the festival's ethos of making big jazz accessible to all.

Program — 27th Edition, Early August 2025

Five evenings — two concerts per evening — indicative program:

• Evening 1 — Opening Concert — guest big band
• Evening 2 — Barcelona Big Blues Band: Drew Davies (sax, vocals) + Ladyva (piano, boogie-woogie)
• Evening 3 — Eclectic European jazz program
• Evening 4 — Amazing Keystone Big Band: West Side Story, tribute to Leonard Bernstein
• Evening 5 — Festive closing of the festival

4 free evenings / 1 paid evening. Bookings open early June.

• 4,200 spectators over 5 evenings — 27th edition
• Barcelona Big Blues Band — Drew Davies and Ladyva (boogie-woogie)
• Amazing Keystone Big Band — Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story
• 10 concerts, 10 ensembles from Europe
• 4 free evenings out of 5