Music, Variety, and Government's Cultural Strategy

Marburger Jazz Summer 2025: A Celebration of Jazz and Cultural Diversity

The city of Marburg is set to host the 3rd Marburger Jazz Summer from September 11th to 14th, 2025. This four-day event, organised by the Marburg city council, Jazz Initiative Marburg e.V., and the Jazz Association Hessen, promises an exciting programme that showcases jazz music and cultural diversity.

The festival will take place at various venues around the city, including socio-cultural centres such as Cave, KA.RE., TNT - Theater neben dem Turm, trauma im g-werk, Kulturzentrum KFZ, and Waggonhalle Kulturzentrum.

The international programme features artists who reflect the cultural diversity of Europe. On the opening day, September 11th, the improvising trio Vehicle/Passenger will kick off the concerts at trauma. This trio, which includes a female-identifying saxophonist, electronic artist, and poet from Curaçao, a US-American drummer, and a Cologne-based bassist, promises a unique and captivating performance.

Following Vehicle/Passenger, Nausyqa, a five-piece band from the Netherlands, will take the stage. Concerts at trauma take place outdoors when the weather is good.

Berlin-based drummer and composer Lukas Akintaya, also known as Adeolu, will present his new band project at KFZ at 6 PM on Friday, September 12. South African singer Dumama and Akintaya's sister Lucina are part of the band. German jazz and fusion guitarist Michael Sagmeister will follow Lukas Akintaya's performance at KFZ at 7:30 PM.

German-Greek bassist Athina Kontou and her quartet Mother will kick off the concerts at Waggonhalle on Saturday, September 13 at 6 PM. Singer Enji, born in Ulaanbaatar, will perform at Waggonhalle on Saturday, September 13 at 9 PM.

The ensemble's debut "Tzivaeri" has been nominated for the German Record Critics' Award and the German Jazz Prize, and their new album "Sonor" has already been nominated for the German Jazz Prize. Enji will also perform at Waggonhalle on Saturday, September 13.

The improvising trio Vehicle/Passenger will play at trauma on the opening day, September 11th. The trio includes a female-identifying saxophonist, electronic artist, and poet from Curaçao, a US-American drummer, and a Cologne-based bassist.

Topics such as origin, democracy, collaboration, and diversity are central to the Marburger Jazz Summer. The festival also focuses on supporting young talent and giving less-known musicians stage experience.

On Sunday, September 13, 2025, at Marburger Jazz Summer, the artists performing include "The Nina Simone Story feat. Fola Dada," presenting jazz and soul music. The concert features music related to Nina Simone's life and times.

The festival will conclude with a Mediterranean brunch at the LEO restaurant in KA.RE., accompanied by a combo of the Studio Big Band Marburg on Sunday, September 14. The festival will conclude with a performance by a combo of the Studio Big Band.

The German Jazz Union and the curatorial team Tinka Steinhoff, Timm Tulach, and Hermes Villena also support the festival. A one-hour yoga session to jazz sounds will take place at a location to be announced on Sunday, September 14 at 10 AM. British percussionist and sound researcher Bex Burch will perform at KFZ at an open jam session starting from 10:30 PM on Friday, September 12.

The European Jazz School / Sister City Project will continue the concerts at Waggonhalle on Saturday, September 13 at 7:30 PM. The Marburger Jazz Summer promises to be an exciting and diverse event, not to be missed by jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike.