Jazz au Ranquet

Jazz with your feet in the sand in Istres

Jazz au Ranquet is a free jazz festival held every last weekend of July on Ranquet beach, in Istres. A former fishing village nestled on the edge of the Étang de l'Olivier, the Ranquet district offers an intimate and picturesque setting for open-air musical evenings. The audience settles on the sand, facing the water, to listen to ensembles playing vocal jazz, swing, gypsy jazz, and contemporary jazz in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Three evenings of eclectic jazz

The festival unfolds over three evenings — from Friday to Sunday — with two concerts each night (at 8 PM and 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and a single concert on Sunday at 9 PM). The programming favors small-scale ensembles — duos, quartets, and quintets — that suit the intimacy of the location. Tributes to jazz greats (Frank Sinatra, swing standards) are featured alongside more contemporary projects and local bands, offering a rich and accessible panorama of jazz in all its forms.

A partnership with Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents

Jazz au Ranquet benefits from a partnership with the Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents festival, which allows for the programming of internationally renowned artists on the Sunday evening. This collaboration enhances the festival's musical credibility and offers the people of Istres the opportunity to discover major artists in an intimate setting, far from large concert halls.

Free access and shuttles for everyone

All Jazz au Ranquet concerts are free and open to all. To facilitate access to the beach, free shuttle buses run from 6 PM to 11:30 PM, departing from the top of the Chemin de la Digue. Food and drink are available on-site, allowing the audience to dine by the sea while enjoying the concerts. The seaside guinguette atmosphere makes Jazz au Ranquet a unique event in the Istres summer.