Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival

Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival: Jazz in Exceptional Venues

The Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival is a jazz festival created in 2015 by La Barcarolle, the contemporary music venue in Saint-Omer, in partnership with the City of Saint-Omer and the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer. The festival was conceived by Laurent Cugny, founder of the Maison du Jazz, with the aim of democratizing jazz and offering a rich artistic experience, especially to young audiences.

The Double A of the Aa

The name "Jaaz" with its double A is a territorial brand: it evokes the Aa, the small river that flows through Saint-Omer before joining the North Sea. The black and white stripes of the zebra, the festival's emblem, recall the piano keys.

Concerts in Heritage Sites

One of the festival's unique features is its concerts held in remarkable heritage sites in Saint-Omer: the Motte Castrale, the gardens of the Tourist Office, the churches (Immaculée Conception, Notre-Dame Cathedral), the Italian-style theater of La Barcarolle (Le Moulin à Café), the Place Victor Hugo, and the ruins of the Saint-Bertin Abbey.

An Open-Minded Program

Under the artistic direction of Laurent Cugny, the festival particularly highlights the French-speaking jazz scene and emerging young artists. The program is both sophisticated and accessible, covering the full diversity of contemporary jazz. Training workshops are offered to students from regional conservatories.

A Mostly Free Festival

The Jaaz Festival is distinguished by its free access: the vast majority of concerts are free, allowing everyone to discover jazz in an exceptional setting.