The history of the Baltic Jazz Festival began in 1987, when two jazz lovers, Kaj and Magi Kulla, organized a small jazz festival in the village of Dalsbruk (Taalintehdas). The event was a success so they decided to hold it every year. By the late 1990s, the Baltic Jazz Festival had become one of the largest and most popular jazz festivals in Finland. Its line-up features both local musicians who haven’t had their big break yet and world-class jazz artists from all over the world. Despite its growing attendance, the festival has retained its friendly and intimate atmosphere.
The Baltic Jazz Festival is organized primarily by volunteers. The festival association (Intresseförening för Jazzmusik I Dalsbuk r.f.) that manages the event consists of the artistic director, the executive director, and about 10 team leaders. They are involved in the planning. During the festival, about 150 volunteers are responsible for all the arrangements, from selling tickets and arranging seating to doing office work and working as guards. Most volunteers are from the Dalsbruk area, but many enthusiasts come from all over Finland as well as from abroad. But when it comes to the artistic and technical side of the festival, the organizers rely on professionals to ensure the best line-up and high-quality sound.
Originally the Baltic Jazz Festival focused on classic jazz. In 2013, the organizers decided to expand the program in order to appeal to a broader audience. Today, the festival encompasses a variety of music genres and styles such as blues and rock. It has become a place where different styles of classic jazz meet other genres of music. According to the festival team, “Baltic Jazz offers melodic jazz to make your happy, blues for your soul and rock for your dancing feet”. Alongside concerts, the program of the festival features meet & greets with musicians, theater performances and other shows, sports events, a street market, and more.
Photo: balticjazz.com
