35th International Festival Canarias Jazz & Más Unveils Line-up
The International Festival Canarias Jazz & Más has announced its complete line-up for the 35th edition. Taking place from 3 to 25 July, the event will bring together 31 musical projects from 16 different nationalities across various venues in all eight islands.
Highlighted Performances
This year’s programme includes a multitude of local acts, with one of the main attractions being Jacob Collier performing alongside the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Suzie Collier. Other notable artists featured in the line-up include:
– Tigran Hamasyan
– José James with Célia Kameni
– Yellowjackets
– Marco Mezquida Trio
– Hamilton de Holanda
– Roberto Fonseca
– Moisés P. Sánchez
Nearly 60 Concerts
The full programme was unveiled on Friday at Espacio La Granja, with representatives from various institutions present, alongside the festival director, Miguel Ramírez. This edition will utilise theatres, auditoriums, music halls, and public squares, reinforcing the festival’s itinerant nature as it travels throughout the archipelago.
In total, the festival will take place in 30 venues: 11 in Tenerife, 13 in Gran Canaria, and one each in Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Graciosa, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. The organisers anticipate 59 concerts, in addition to five talks and two masterclasses.
Local Highlights
Among the new additions are several projects showcasing Canary Island talent, such as ‘Mujeres Canarias del Jazz’, a production by the Municipal Symphony Band of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, featuring Esther Ovejero, María Zerpa, Moneiba, Mónica Santana, and Olga Sánchez. Other local contributions include:
– Simbeque Project, blending Canary folk with jazz, rock, electronics, funk, or rap
– José Vera Bello Quinteto
– Carlos Meneses [Collabs]
– Ernesto Montenegro Quintet
– La Cofradía
– Lajalada
– Educational project Ponké & La Ciudad del Jazz
Cultural and Economic Impact
This year’s edition will feature approximately 220 musicians and highlights a significant female presence, with 12 out of 31 projects, over a third of the total. Additionally, the festival will welcome journalists from the UK, Germany, Portugal, Poland, and Italy as part of its international promotion strategy.
Economically, the organisation notes that 58.54% of the budget is allocated to hiring local businesses and professionals. The direct economic impact on the local business fabric exceeds €580,000, and the festival mobilises over 200 individuals annually, including technicians, production staff, communication, logistics, security, cleaning, and other services.
Jazz for All Audiences
The line-up features a mix of established names, emerging projects, and educational initiatives. Among the international acts are the Hannes Bennich Quartet and the Sylwester Ostrowski – Freddie Hendrix Jazz Brigade. The festival also emphasizes the presence of a new generation of musicians from the Canary Islands, blending tradition, experimentation, and contemporary styles.
The closing act of the festival will be Ponké & La Ciudad del Jazz, an educational show designed to spark curiosity about jazz and introduce younger audiences to the concept of music as a space for freedom, community, and self-expression.
