JAZZ CITY BILK FESTIVAL 2025

In the page's words:

Background to the creation of the "Jazz City Bilk" festival

When it was announced in October 2023 that there would be no Jazz Rally in the new year, there was great horror: no invigorating music at Whitsun, no cheerful commuting from pub to pub, no lively jazz in the city. That sounded like a difficult idea to bear. All those who feared that the once renowned title of "Jazz City Düsseldorf" would be forgotten were unwilling to accept it. Resistance to the development promptly arose, and the horror of the moment developed into a small jazz quake, the seething epicenter of which was clearly located in Bilk. There, a few stalwarts stamped their feet and said "now more than ever", which is why there were three days of invigorating music again in May 2024. You could spend a whole weekend commuting from location to location - in the "Jazz City Bilk".

Düsseldorf Bilk, a stronghold for culture

The initial impetus for the project came from three locations in Bilk where jazz already regularly set the tone: on Thursdays and Fridays at the Pure Note bistro on Brunnenstraße, on Saturdays at the flea market on Aachener Platz and throughout the week at the Jazz-Schmiede, where there is also an information board commemorating the "Jazz City Düsseldorf" exhibition. Peter Weiss once helped design this exhibition. As a nationally renowned drummer, he is a permanent fixture in Germany's jazz scene and, on the board of the "Jazz in Düsseldorf E.V." association, is responsible for top-class culture in Bilk and for the city.

Cohesion and support beyond the neighborhood

The energy of the initiators and the sense of community that has developed in the district and beyond have also convinced District Council 3, which was asked for help quickly: "We were impressed that so many of the cultural institutions in the district are pulling together and creating something for the district," says District Mayor Dietmar Wolf. Due to the success of the first year, the Cultural Office of the City of Düsseldorf has also pledged financial support for the coming years.

A jazz festival with more than just classical concerts

The list of venues for the second edition of "Jazz City Bilk" in 2025 is getting longer and longer. Not only will the venues from 2024 be included, but also new locations such as the Ballet Rehearsal House on Steinberg, the BiBaBuZe bookshop and Cafe Modigliani.

The fact that so many people wanted to be part of the jazz party not only surprised the initiators, but also inspired them. That's why the plan for 2025 is to include a public square as a venue. It will also become part of the Jazz Festival's DNA to combine jazz with other art forms. This creates the prospect of actively integrating other artists from outside the jazz scene into the festival.

Further supporters and sponsors are sought and most welcome in the "Jazz City Bilk".

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