Jazz et Garonne

A jazz festival rooted in the Garonne Valley

Founded in 2011 by the association Les Z'arts de Garonne, the Jazz et Garonne festival has established itself as a must-attend event on the jazz scene in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Every autumn, the city of Marmande vibrates to the rhythm of jazz, blues, and improvised music for about ten days. The festival carries a strong ambition: to create and develop artistic encounters around jazz and improvised music, in dialogue with the territory and its inhabitants.

A demanding and accessible program

Jazz et Garonne stands out with a program that showcases the discovery of talented European artists, rather than big headliners. This approach, driven by the curiosity of a loyal and ever-growing audience, allows for concerts of great artistic richness, blending jazz, blues, world music, and improvisation. Past editions have hosted artists such as Renaud Garcia-Fons, Pierre de Bethmann, Éric Séva, Daniel Zimmermann, and the duo Obradovic-Tixier.

Various formats

Beyond the evening concerts, the festival offers a variety of formats:

• Jazz goûters at the Médiathèque Albert Camus, for a friendly and family-oriented approach
• Cine-concerts and screenings at the Cinéma Le Plaza, blending image and music
• Concerts in church in the majestic setting of the church of Fourques-sur-Garonne
• Educational activities and school concerts for students and young audiences

Iconic venues

The festival takes place in several heritage sites in Marmande and its surroundings:

• Théâtre Comœdia: main hall for major concert evenings, located in the heart of Marmande
• Cinéma Le Plaza: for cine-concerts and screenings
• Médiathèque Albert Camus: for jazz goûters and encounters
• Église Notre-Dame de Fourques-sur-Garonne: for concerts in an exceptional acoustic setting

A cultural and territorial commitment

Jazz et Garonne is not limited to programming concerts. The festival is part of a cultural mediation initiative for school audiences and residents of the Val de Garonne. Through its educational activities, it helps to introduce new generations to jazz and improvised music. The association Les Z'arts de Garonne works year-round to build bridges between artists and the region.

A tribute to Sylvain Luc

During its 2024 edition, the festival paid a moving tribute to Sylvain Luc, a jazz guitarist from the region who passed away prematurely. This gesture demonstrates the festival's attachment to its local roots and the memory of the great musicians who have marked jazz in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.