Jazz en Fête

Jazz en Fête: Jazz in the Streets of Biarritz

Jazz en Fête was an open-air jazz festival that transformed the most emblematic locations in Biarritz into open-air concert stages. For several days at the end of summer, jazz resonated from Place Sainte-Eugénie to the Port des Pêcheurs, from the Parvis de la Grande Plage to the Théâtre du Casino Municipal.

24 Concerts, 100 Musicians

Each edition offered a dense program of 24 concerts featuring over 100 musicians on the various stages in the city. This generous programming allowed festival-goers to discover jazz in all its diversity, from intimate ensembles to large bands, in exceptional natural and heritage settings.

An Eclectic Program

Jazz en Fête explored jazz in all its forms:

• Brazilian Jazz: bossa nova and tropical rhythms facing the ocean
• Big Band: the Big Band Côte Basque and other large ensembles in the open air
• Swing and Classic Jazz: standards and original compositions in historic venues
• Harmonie de Biarritz: the municipal orchestra in the service of jazz
• Closing Gala: a grand concert at the Théâtre du Casino Municipal to conclude the festival in style

Exceptional Venues

The strength of Jazz en Fête lay in its choice of concert venues:

• Place Sainte-Eugénie: historic square in the heart of Biarritz, overlooking the Port Vieux
• Parvis de la Grande Plage: in front of the Casino Municipal, facing the ocean
• Port des Pêcheurs: picturesque and intimate setting at the foot of the rocks
• Théâtre du Casino Municipal: historic hall for gala concerts

A Free and Popular Festival

Free access to all open-air concerts made Jazz en Fête a truly popular event, attracting jazz lovers as well as strollers and families on holiday in Biarritz. The festival contributed to the summer animation of the city and the dissemination of jazz to all audiences.