One of the most important opportunities offered by jazzahead! is the live showcases: 30–45-minute slots in which a variety of bands perform for artistic directors, agents, and promoters. Could you briefly explain how it works?
We present 38 jury-selected bands from all over the world with the opportunity to showcase their music. These performances are spread over the three days of jazzahead! and take place consecutively across three venues, all within walking distance. Every concert is professionally recorded by Radio Bremen and later offered to members of the European Broadcasting Union. We also produce professional video recordings of the showcases, which are provided to the bands for their own promotion.
Is the application open to musicians of all ages?
Yes, absolutely – our goal is to present new music and new projects, and we do not consider age as a criterion. Young or old makes no difference to us – only the quality and originality of the music.
When can musicians submit their applications?
Applications opened on September 1 and remain open until October 8. The conditions for applying can be found on our website: https://jazzahead.de/showcases/#application.
How much does it cost to apply? Are there any compensation or expense reimbursements for the selected bands?
There is no fee to apply, but there is a registration fee for jazzahead!. Only registered professionals can submit applications. In our 20 years of experience, we have found this the best way to ensure that artists, managers, labels, and other representatives treat jazzahead! not as a single gig but as a professional opportunity to take full advantage of everything the event offers. Even if your band is not selected for a showcase, jazzahead! still provides an unparalleled platform to connect and build relationships at the world’s largest international jazz event.
Could you share some success stories that have resulted from participating in the jazzahead! showcases?
We are currently sifting through our archive of the last 20 years – hundreds of hours of recorded music – and the list of success stories is impressive. Julia Hülsmann played a showcase in 2010, met Manfred Eicher afterwards, and signed with ECM. Artists such as Shai Maestro, Phronesis, Julian Lage, Brekky Boy, Melissa Aldana, Jazzmeia Horn, Gard Nilssen, Bokani Dyer, and many more launched their careers at jazzahead!. Daoud from France signed with ACT after showcasing here. More broadly, if you look through the list of showcasing artists, you will notice them appearing at more festivals and touring more extensively after their showcases in Bremen.
Who will be on the jury reviewing the musical proposals?
The selection is made by five international expert juries composed of professionals responsible for booking artists at festivals, clubs, and major jazz events. The composition of the juries is renewed each year to remain current. To protect them from being inundated with requests, we only publish the names of jurors once the final selection has been made. This ensures they can work independently and without outside influence.
How many categories are there in the jazzahead! showcases?
The 38 showcases are distributed as follows: 8 Overseas showcases (including 3 dedicated to “Jazz from Africa”), 8 for the partner country – Sweden in 2026 – 8 for the German Jazz Expo, and 14 for the remaining European countries.
Could you tell me more about the German Jazz Prize?
As stated on its website: “The purpose of the German Jazz Prize is to reward innovators of jazz in all its facets, as well as to introduce jazz in new ways to a diverse audience.” The prize was established in 2021 and will be awarded for the third time in Bremen on the Saturday of jazzahead! in April 2026. It includes both national and international categories and provides substantial financial support: in 2025, each winner will receive €10,000 and each nominee €5,000, for a total of around €500,000 in prize money.
