Dear jazz friends!

There is now just a week until the start of the 14th Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival and we would therefore like to wish you a warm welcome to Ystad and the festival.

We would also like to give you some useful information and tips for your visit:

On the first day, 2 August, there is a concert to raise money for children in Ukraine. The concert at Saluhallen starts at 11.00. Admission is free, but it is hoped that audience members will contribute to raising funds. All donations will go in their entirety to support Save the Children’s work in Ukraine.

From Thursday to Saturday, a series of Next Jazz Generation concerts will feature young musicians in the beautiful courtyard at Hos Mortens Café. Admission is free and on a first come, first served basis.

We all need to eat, especially to keep up energy levels during the festival days. You can bear in mind our partners who support the festival when choosing where to eat.

At Ystads Teater, food is available 90 minutes before all concerts at the venue. Booking is easy via the theatre website: https://www.ystad.se/kultur/ystads-teater/mat-och-dryck/

At Ystad Saltsjöbad, it is necessary to book in advance via their website: www.ysb.se/restaurang/

At Japas Square, Stortorget 10, all those who show a festival concert ticket get a 10% discount.  

At Solhällan, barbecued food is available. No advance booking is required for food.

This year’s Jazz Artist Karl Valve is exhibiting at Galleri M (at Hotell Continental De Sud) during the festival. The exhibition preview is on 26 July at 17.00. Karl will be at the theatre to sign this year’s jazz poster. The original will be auctioned during the festival and all proceeds go to support the festival. 

Ystad is rich in traditions.

The tower nightwatchman has been safeguarding Ystad’s residents every night since the 1700s. Since 2012, one of festival’s artist has played a fanfare from the church tower. These include Nils Landgren, Hugh Masekela and Nicole Johänntgen. This year it will be Angelica Strandberg on 2 August at 22.00.

On 5 August, Ystads Frivillige Bergnings-Corps (the world’s second oldest volunteer fire brigade, formed in 1839) conduct their spray display at Stortorget at 17.00! A real resident of Ystad is baptised twice, first at St Mary’s Church and then by the volunteer fire brigade’s hoses at the spray display. 

You can start preparing for next year’s festival now. If you are not already a subscriber to the festival’s newsletter, take the opportunity to sign up, so you won’t miss next year’s ticket release date. Register on the YSJF website’s first page (right-hand column): https://ystadjazz.se/

If you want to secure the best seats, become a Jazz Festival Friend. As a Jazz Festival Friend, you have the chance to buy tickets before they go on general release, and you can collect the current jazz poster from the Jazz Shop during the festival. Members are also often invited to a concert.

Those who pay their membership fee now will receive something extra, as the year’s poster is also included as a membership benefit.

Once again, we wish you a warm welcome and some wonderful days in Ystad!

Thomas Lantz

President