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 shores of étang de Berre, the Ranquet district offers an intimate and picturesque setting for open-air musical evenings. The public settles on the sand, facing the water, to listen to vocal jazz, swing, gypsy jazz, and contemporary jazz groups 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 evening (at 8 PM and 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, and a single concert on Sunday at 9 PM). The program favors human-sized ensembles — duos, quartets, and quintets — which lend themselves to the intimacy of the venue. Tributes to great jazz names (Frank Sinatra, swing standards) stand alongside more contemporary projects and local groups, 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 Sunday evening. This collaboration strengthens the festival's musical credibility and offers the Istres public the opportunity to discover major artists in an intimate setting, far from large concert halls.

Free access and shuttles for all

All Jazz au Ranquet concerts are free and open access. To facilitate access to the beach, free shuttles run from 6 PM to 11:30 PM, departing from the top of chemin de la Digue. A selection of food and drinks is available on site, allowing the public to dine by the sea while listening to the concerts. The seaside "guinguette" atmosphere makes Jazz au Ranquet a unique moment in the Istres summer.