Festival/Cruise News

Copenhagen Jazz Festival Announces Headline Acts

Published: 2012-04-03

Legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter (US), sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar (IN), and afrobeat inventor Tony Allen (NG) will all be playing at this summer’s Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Also, three new festival posters have been revealed.

The poster has been an important part of Copenhagen Jazz Festival since 1980. Every year a new artist is commissioned to design the poster. A tradition that throughout the years has resulted in very varied expressions.

“This year’s festival posters are done by graphic designer Leo Scherfig and consist of three improvisational snapshots,” says festival director Signe Lopdrup, “As such, the motive transcends the poster as a single piece of art and illustrates a new visual dimension that will meet people at this year’s festival. The idea is to add an improvisational visual dimension to selected shows during the festival in the form of vj sets, lights and video artists that will interact with – and hopefully reinforce – the musical improvisation that is essential to jazz and makes up the festival’s beating heart.”

Three continents—Three very different musical visions

The first batch of names for the festivals spans no less than three continents as well as three very different musical visions. 78 year old American Wayne Shorter – widely considered to be one of the most significant saxophonists in jazz history – will be playing at The Royal Theater. Indian sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar will play at the beautiful Koncerthuset, and Nigerian afrobeat icon Tony Allen will set the dancefloor grooving at Store Vega. Tickets for Wayne Shorter and Anoushka Shankar are already on sale, while tickets for Tony Allen will be available for sale on April 11.

With the unveiling of the new visual theme and the three headliners, this summer’s festival is well on its way. Like previous years the festival will overflow the city with major concert hall events, packed club experiences and a host of outdoor delights – many of them free. Likewise, visitors will once more be meet with special themes like the much loved Something Else, Jazz for Kids, Classic Jazz Tributes and Jazz by the Sea. The major concerts will be held at The Royal Theater, Koncerthuset in Ørestad and for the first time in many years Store Vega. All in all it looks like the festival once again will top previous achievements regarding the number of concerts and venues. The support from venues, cafes and organizers this year has been massive and visitors can look forward to an increased activity in the areas of town just outside city.

Copenhagen Jazz Festival takes place July 6 to July 15.

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