Bunt oder Blau Festival 2026

For music lovers who love discovering well-curated and exciting new music. We’ve made a conscious decision to go with a lineup without big-name headliners who “draw a crowd.” We love music, and if you’re open to new things and always on the lookout for great artists from all over the world, then you’ve come to the right place :-)

Whoa. 5-year anniversary. You can bet we’re going to go all out. There’s that huge scaffolding across from the Umschlagplatz. Right there!! So awesome 🤩 
A dream come true for us <3 

Lineup:

Secret Night Gang
Straight from Manchester for you: Secret Night Gang! Discovered by Gilles Peterson and brought together in this amazing ensemble, the band will be playing tracks from their last two releases and were nominated by Jazzfm as Best Band of the Year in 2021. Get ready for British street soul with fresh influences!
The very best part: For us, it’s coming full circle once again, because SNG were already booked back in 2024 but could never leave England due to a glitch in the airport computer system. Now it’s finally happening, and we’re super excited!!

Polarbæren X La Nefera
When we first met POLARBÆREN, they were “still” participants in JJO.ch, and we had the great honor of inviting them to our session. Shortly after that: their own project, tackling serious issues of our time, a completely unique, incredibly rare mix featuring a thick electronic sound. With La Nefera, the blend expands even further: climate jazz meets Latin rap.

Theodor 
Theodor is a band that plays slightly psychedelic soul—music that sounds warm, dreamy, and groovy all at once, without being complicated. Their songs feel a bit like a quiet summer day, with gentle grooves, synthesizers that have that characteristic “vintage vibe,” and soulful vocals.
That’s how we’d describe the sound, at least^^
🐈 The band’s name comes from a 24-year-old cat that was there during their first recording sessions. The band is currently on tour along the U.S. West Coast, bringing their sound to stages around the world, but they’ll be back in time for the Bunt oder Blau Festival on August 22 in Dortmund, hehe.

Swiss Youth Jazz Orchestra
In their current program, *No Bystanders*, the Jugendjazzorchester.ch tackles a central question of our time: What happens when we just stand by and watch?
Under the direction of Benjamin Weidekamp and Michael Haves, over 20 young musicians from all over Switzerland are creating music that addresses social tensions, personal conflicts, and political issues—without moralizing, but with sharp insight, humor, and great energy. Featuring compositions by, among others, the South African-Norwegian musician Shannon Mowday, the result is a multi-layered sound that blends big band, experimental music, and collective expression.
A JJO concert is not merely a performance.
It is a collective experience.