Jazz Weekender 2024

Starting this Sunday, Jazz Weekender is bringing boundary-pushing artists for its eagerly anticipated third edition at the picturesque 1AQ in Mehrauli. This year, the festival promises to transcend borders and genres, to deliver a weekend of exceptional live music and vibrant cultural exchange that will bring together sounds from around the world to the canopy of the city’s most iconic Banyan tree.

The artists for Jazz Weekender’s celebration of live music include:

Surprise Chef (Australia): Melbourne’s Surprise Chef creates music that feels like an inviting journey. Their unique sound blends 70s film scores, funky jazz, and hip-hop samples into a rich instrumental mix. With their distinct take on soul and funk, they craft immersive soundscapes that draw you in and make each listen a fresh experience.

Nao Yoshioka (Japan): Nao Yoshioka is a soulful singer from Japan who’s made a big splash in New York. Her powerful voice blends a modern touch with classic soul, channelling the vibes of legends like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. Nao is a rising star in the soul music scene, known for her heartfelt and inspiring sound.

Thee Marloes (Indonesia): Direct from the vibrant streets of Surabaya, Thee Marloes are redefining soul music with their irresistible blend of Indonesian rhythms and global grooves that have found a place on the most revered jazz labels of our times including NYC’s iconic Big Crown Records. 

NNAVY (Switzerland): NNAVY has been known to win audiences’ hearts with her soulful emotive voice and earnest performances at prestigious festivals like the Montreux Jazz Festival and opening for icons such as Lionel Richie and Arlo Parks.

Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange (Germany): Led by the dynamic Ziggy Zeitgeist, this powerhouse group transforms live music into an electrifying dance experience, blending synths, flutes, and raw jazz drums in a way that’s nothing short of hypnotic.

Saskia Laroo (Netherlands): The “Lady Miles Davis” of Europe, Saskia Laroo, is set to dazzle with her genre-defying whirlwind of jazz, funk, hip hop, and global beats, delivering a high-energy spectacle that’s both innovative and irresistible.

Daoud (France): Regarded as “the problem child of French jazz”, Daoud is a torch bearer of the French new jazz scene as he takes inspiration from hip-hop, Italian house and modern jazz mould together to create a rich, groove-infused tapestry of sounds.

NOON (UAE): Representing the sonic heart of the Middle East, NOON is a trio that seamlessly blends the traditional oud with modern jazz, funk, and electronic influences for a bold, borderless fusion that they call “experimental oriental”. After sold-out shows at Mumbai’s NMACC and Bangalore’s Fandom at Gilly Redefined last year and fresh off their European summer tour, Noon returns to India for their Jazz Weekender debut.

GMI Collective (India, Spain, Brazil): A pillaring institution for the new generation of jazz artists in India, Global Music Institute has produced the most recognisable names for the genre in the country. For Jazz Weekender, GMI handpicks an ensemble to bring their best to Jazz Weekender.

Syncopation (India): Known for their eclectic mix of modern jazz, funk, swing, and bebop, Syncopation has become one of India’s premier jazz bands during their one-and-a-half decades-long journey. They blend traditional and contemporary styles, offering a unique take on jazz that spans from classic to fusion.

Sol Sundae (India): Sol Sundae is a vibrant multi-genre music project from India that started during the 2020 lockdown. With a mission to unite musicians as one creative family, they blend soul, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and African-American gospel music.

With a diverse and truly international array of artists coming to India, Jazz Weekender will start the celebrations early with club shows across New Delhi in the run-up to the festival.