The first Marciac Jazz Festival was held in 1978. The event was initiated by local jazz enthusiasts and actively supported by the mayor of Marciac. The inaugural festival was headlined by famous jazz trumpeter Bill Coleman who was born in the United States but relocated to France in 1948. Originally focused on traditional jazz, Jazz in Marciac has diversified its program under the leadership of Jean-Louis Guilhaumon, the festival’s president and artistic director.
The festival’s rich and diverse programming is what has made Jazz in Marciac one of the largest and most popular jazz festivals in Europe. Its annual attendance is over 200,000, which is manifold more than the entire population of Marciac (a little over 1,200 people). People are drawn to the festival because of its high-quality line-up of national and international musicians, picturesque landscapes of Southern France, and exquisite local delicacies and wines.
Jazz in Marciac prides itself on hosting the world’s finest jazz performers. Artists who have performed in Marciac over the years include Herbie Hancock, Stéphane Grappelli, Bill Coleman, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Diana Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Michel Portal, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Michel Petucciani, Sonny Rollins, Eddy Louiss, Gerry Mulligan, Wynton Marsalis, Keith Jarrett, Dianne Reeves, Ibrahim Ferrer, Chuco Valdes, Marcus Miller, and many more.
The main stage of Jazz in Marciac is located right at Marciac’s main square in a large marquee with a capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 thousand spectators. Performances are also held in other venues throughout Marciac, such as L’Astrada (the city’s concert hall) as well as various cafes and bars. Alongside traditional and contemporary jazz, the festival encompasses other genres and styles such soul music, ethnic music, blues, Latin jazz, and others.
In 2020, the event was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
© Photo Amat Michel
