Ezra Collective, Jacob Collier, Mary J Blige, Kamasi Washington and Samara Joy for North Sea Jazz Festival 2025
Mike Flynn
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
First wave of this year’s mega line-up includes six time Grammy winning multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier who Artist In Residence plus a who’s who of contemporary jazz
The NN North Sea Jazz Festival, the world’s largest indoor music festival, has announced the first wave of artists for its return to the Ahoy Centre in Rotterdam this July. Taking place from 11 – 13 July 2025, this year’s event will feature a star-studded line-up of international talent alongside the most celebrated up-and-coming artists spanning jazz, blues, soul, pop, and more.
Among the 30-plus artists announced today are numerous jazz heavyweights including 5-time Brit Award-nominated Ezra Collective, vocal sensation Samara Joy, virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage, Armenian-born pianist-composer Tigran Hamasyan, Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets celebrating Weather Report, boundary-pushing Israeli trumpeter Avishai Cohen’s Quartet, multi-award-winning singer Jazzmeia Horn, Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis, Snarky Puppy alumni Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth’s fusion outfit Ghost-Note, and a sparkling array of visionary US saxophonists including Kamasi Washington, Immanuel Wilkins, Branford Marsalis and Lakecia Benjamin.
This year’s program is anchored by Jacob Collier, the festival’s 2025 Artist in Residence. The six-time Grammy winner will perform across all three days, presenting a unique and varied show each night that reflects his musical versatility.
A selection of stars from across the worlds of soul, blues, pop and beyond will also grace the North Sea stages in 2025 with this year’s line-up featuring the likes of Lady Blackbird, Madeleine Peyroux, Jorja Smith, Anoushka Shankar, Jordan Rakei, Maxwell, and blues-rock guitar maestro Joe Bonamassa with the Metropole Orkest.
Attracting around 80,000 music fans annually, the North Sea Jazz Festival has earned an unrivalled reputation since its debut in 1976, having hosted legendary artists over the years such as Miles Davis, Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse, and Adele to name but a few. This summer the festival will feature more than 1,000 musicians across 150 performances and 15 different stages. With Rotterdam just under an hour’s flight, a direct train from London St Pancras, or even a ferry trip from multiple UK locations, the North Sea Jazz Festival is easily accessible, making it an ideal weekend getaway.
Line up so far announced:
Friday 11th July: Avishai Cohen (trumpet) Quartet, Branford Marsalis Quartet, DeWolff, Ezra Collective, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Jordan Rakei, Judith Hill, Julian Lage, Madeleine Peyroux, Omah Lay, Victor Ray and Mary J Blige
Saturday 12th July: Aja Monet, Fujii Kaze, Ghost-Note, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Joe Bonamassa & Metropole Orkest, Jonathan Jeremiah, Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis, Mary Halvorson Amaryllis Sextet, Maxwell, Naomi Sharon, Samara Joy
Sunday 13th July: Anoushka Shankar, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Jacob Collier (artist in residence), Jazzmeia Horn, Jorja Smith, Kamasi Washington, Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets celebrate Weather Report, Lady Blackbird, Lakecia Benjamin, Thee Sacred Souls, Tigran Hamasyan
Weekend tickets are on sale now, with day tickets available from 1 February via www.northseajazz.com
