More than 80 concerts in 4 days: XJAZZ! Festival announces full line-up for 2022 edition.

With over 250 international acts that span from jazz to modern classical and electronica, it’s the biggest edition of the festival to date.

Since its inception in 2014 which turned the German jazz scene on its head, XJAZZ! Festival has been known for causing a stir. Born from an independent and grass-roots desire to break with conventions, the festival offers a platform for both established and lesser-known artists to express themselves without restraints, merging styles and stretching-out the definition of “jazz” to a much broader and more exciting landscape than what is traditionally allowed. From the bold vocals of Lady Blackbird, the Afro-Caribbean-infused melodies of sax player Nubya Garcia and Angel Bat Dawid’s avant-garde mix of hip-hop, gospel and poetry, the 2022 edition of the festival embraces jazz’s revolutionary and countercultural roots with might.

The idea was to develop a jazz festival format which should represent a clear antithesis to the established German jazz culture.

Founder and artistic director, Sebastian Studnitzky.

The rebellious manifesto has persisted resolutely throughout the years, as the XJAZZ! Festival has grown into the most famous jazz festival in Germany attracting crowds of around 20,000 from around the world to Berlin. For one week a year in May, the city’s Kreuzberg neighbourhood is taken by storm, captivating a diverse, urban audience in the process.

With over 250 international acts, the XJAZZ! 2022 line-up brings together some of the biggest names in jazz like Nu Genea Live Band, Avishai Cohen, Emma-Jean Thackray and Amaro Freitas alongside newcomers in the genre as well as electronica and classical acts such as Leona Berlin, Pip Millett, Stimming X Lambert (live), Moses Yoofee, Wanubalé, Mariana Zwarg, Evîn, Jembaa Groove and many more. Regardless of its size or the renown of its headlining acts, XJAZZ! Festival is above all an intimate experience.

Happening in a small radius, it allows for up-and-close encounters with musicians, and new friendships to be formed within an audience united by their love of music. For one week a year Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighbourhood is taken by storm, becoming the world stage for everything new and avant-garde, captivating a diverse, urban audience in the process.

Following a year marked by closures and isolation, restoring a sense of community is intrinsic to this year’s edition of the festival with several special events planned to bring people together beyond the concerts. This year’s edition of the festival will also allow audiences the autonomy to curate their own festival experience with a 12 concert ticket pass, encouraging the discovery of new acts in a welcoming and fluid environment.

The XJAZZ! team

Sebastian Studnitzky, founder and artistic director. Sebastian Hecht, Programme planning, production and booking. Natalie Greffel, 2022 Guest curator. Alicia Gil de Oliveira, Communication. Ulla C. Binder, Design. Daniel Best, Booking.

More information: https://www.xjazz.net/