Birštonas International Jazz Music Festival returns after the break

It is the oldest international jazz festival in Lithuania, which has been taking place since 1980.

Birštonas Jazz Festival is not only the oldest, but also the most democratic Lithuanian jazz forum, presenting the most diverse aspects of Lithuanian jazz, a variety of genres and styles: from Dixieland to experimental, innovative explorations of today's jazz. Capacious and its program - a real jazz marathon, will present 16 bands during 3 days of the weekend. The largest part of the festival program consists of Lithuanian jazz musicians, so the Birštonas Jazz Festival mirrors the face of Lithuanian jazz - musicians debuting on the jazz scene and already gaining international recognition, for whom the Birštonas stage once became a springboard to major international jazz scenes, play here. The stage of Birštonas Jazz Festival is open not only to mature, famous jazzmen of the country, but also to young debuting musicians.

Birštonas Jazz Festival stands out with its Grand Prix, a kind of Lithuanian Jazz Oscar, awarded for the most important contribution to Lithuanian jazz. Already 20 Grand Prix created by famous Lithuanian artists have their hosts. The 21st will be awarded to the jazzist who deserves the most jazz in Lithuania.

Since the very first Birštonas Jazz Festival, jazz composers from other countries have been playing in it, so we have the opportunity to evaluate Lithuanian jazzmen in the international context.

A distinctive feature of the event is the organizers' attitude - "the stage is for art", so you will not read the names of the sponsors here (other spaces are dedicated to it), and the scenography on stage is a unique work of art. Since the first festival, his attributes have been created by the artist R. Kepežinskas, who has been creatively exploiting the theme of musical instruments year after year in the sign of the festival. And those who come to listen to jazz are traditionally greeted by a jazz photo exhibition.

You can find the program of the jazz festival here http://birstonasjazz.lt/programa/ .