Register Now: Jazzahead! 2018 Set for April 19-22 in Bremen, Germany

Where the jazz world gathers

The international jazz trade fair jazzahead! 2018 in Bremen has a special focus on partner country Poland, an increase in participants from Central Europe and innovations in the conference programme.

The jazz trade fair has seen an increase in registrations from its target markets

This year’s jazzahead!, the 13th edition, will take place on 19-22 April in Bremen, Germany. The organizers are pleased to announce a stronger take-up from the countries which they have designated as their target markets for expansion. European countries, such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, UK, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries, have been well represented in the past. This year however, the Central European countries—and especially partner country Poland—and the Baltic States are perceptibly becoming part of the catchment area of the world's largest jazz trade fair. “The number of American participants will be higher again this year,” says jazzahead! project manager Sybille Kornitschky. “We are noticeably closer to our declared goal of bringing the European market, and Germany in particular, into closer contact with the US market. The facts that participants from all five continents—nations last year—are coming to us, and that more festival organizers, bookers and promoters from Europe and overseas, especially from the USA, are registering, demonstrates the status and the value of jazzahead! as a truly international industry gathering."

Partner country Poland and bilateral business discussions

The “Polish Night" on 19 April will demonstrate what a lively and young jazz scene Poland has to offer. It will be an impressive opening for jazzahead!’s showcase festival. Eight bands from this year's partner country will be given the opportunity to establish themselves in front of both the professional jazz world and a discerning audience. The selection of the bands has been made by an international jury of experts.

Poland will also be strongly present at the jazzahead! trade fair with their own partner country stand “We’re from Poland”, where key players from the Polish scene can be met. The stand is organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. In addition, targeted meeting sessions will take place at the first German-Polish speed meetings on 19 April. These scheduled short sessions are intended to strengthen bilateral business relations between Germany and Poland and to nurture the exchange of contacts and facilitate service exchanges across the two jazz industries.

German Jazz Expo – platform for jazz made in Germany

The purpose of the export platform German Jazz Expo is to make jazz from Germany better known internationally. jazzahead! has been hosting the Expo since 2012. The programme includes eight showcasing bands on Saturday afternoon 21 April and also a German Market. This is a joint stand at which people from the German scene can register at discounted rates to exchange information and to build their international networks.

Call for panel propositions

jazzahead! is now calling for submissions of topics for its conference programme. Closing date is 2 March 2018. Suggestions can be sent directly to [email protected] together with a brief description of the proposed content. jazzahead! has the aim to make the trade fair's professional programme even more attractive and concise. The panel discussions selected from these proposals will be held on Friday and Saturday between 12 noon and 2 pm. The programme will focus on one topic with specific reference to the German market, plus three themes of more general and international relevance.

New opening hours, booking of conference stands and registering

This year the fair will open its doors earlier: on Thursday 19 April at 1 pm. There are still just a few stand spaces available for exhibitors. Stand bookings which include an entry in the printed participant’s registry will only be available until 14 March 2018. After this deadline, co-exhibitors and professional participants can continue to register online until 5 April 2018 and will be included in the online directory. Thereafter, on-site registrations will only be accepted with the payment of a surcharge. Visit the website for more information.