Jazz in Mars — Bois-Guillaume Jazz Festival

Ten Years of Jazz in Bois-Guillaume

In 2017, the City of Bois-Guillaume launched Jazz in Mars, a jazz festival designed as a local cultural event in the heart of the Rouen metropolitan area. The ambition is to offer an immersion into the world of jazz every year for a week in March, through concerts, conferences, shows for young audiences, and moments of musical sharing. Ten years later, the festival has become a key fixture on the Norman jazz scene.

The festival takes place at the Espace Guillaume Le Conquérant, Bois-Guillaume's municipal performance hall, with an intimate capacity that fosters closeness between artists and the audience. Each edition alternates an "off" program at the beginning of the week — thematic conferences, shows for young audiences, student concerts — and a series of "in" concerts from Thursday to Sunday, featuring national and international artists.

A Demanding and Eclectic Program

Jazz in Mars explores all facets of jazz: vocal, Caribbean, New Orleans, contemporary, gospel, swing, and improvisation. Over the years, the festival has managed to invite top-tier artists while also making room for discoveries and emerging groups.

The 2026 edition, the 10th, welcomes Camille Bertault, winner of the Victoire du jazz vocal in 2023, known for her sharp, incisive, and melancholic lyrics, blending influences from Thelonious Monk, André Minvielle, Björk, and Ravel. The Clélya Abraham Quartet offers a fusion of Caribbean and modern jazz, the French Quarter Sextet celebrates New Orleans jazz, and the Franck Terrier Trio accompanied by Nicolle Rochelle & The Hot Sugar Band closes the week in style.

The "off" component of the 2026 edition includes a conference on women jazz creators, a discussion on improvisation followed by a jam session, the puppet show La Parade de Poche for young audiences, and a gospel concert by students from the BBI music school.

A Festival Committed to Women in Jazz

For its 10th edition, Jazz in Mars places women in jazz at the center of its programming. Three of the four groups performing in the "in" concerts are led by female musicians, echoing International Women's Day celebrated on March 8th, the festival's closing day. This programming choice is part of a broader initiative to highlight the role of women in jazz history and creation.