Alright, let’s talk about summer plans. The weather started getting warmer, and you know how it is, you start thinking about getting out, maybe doing something different. For me, that often means live music, and jazz has always been my thing. So, the idea popped into my head: why not check out some of those big international jazz festivals this year?
First thing I did, honestly, was just daydream a bit. Imagined myself somewhere in Europe, maybe, listening to some great musicians. Then I actually got down to it. Fired up the computer and just started searching around. Stuff like “top jazz festivals summer Europe” or “best international jazz”. You get loads of lists, right? Some names kept popping up again and again.
Making a Messy List
I started jotting down the ones that caught my eye. Didn’t really have a system, just a messy notepad file. Here’s kinda what was on it initially:
- Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland) – Everyone knows this one, right? Big names, beautiful location by the lake.
- North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands) – Heard great things about this one for years. Huge lineup usually.
- Copenhagen Jazz Festival (Denmark) – Seems like it takes over the whole city, which sounded cool.
- Montreal International Jazz Festival (Canada) – Bit further afield for me, but massive reputation.
- Umbria Jazz (Italy) – Italy and jazz? Sounds like a good mix.
That was just the first pass. Just names and places, really.
Getting Real About It
Okay, so having a list is one thing. Actually going is another. I had to think practically. When exactly are these things? Do the dates even work for me? And the big one: money. Some of these places aren’t exactly cheap.
So, I started digging deeper. Montreux, for example. Looked stunning, amazing artists always seem to play there. But then I checked flight costs to Switzerland, and started looking at hotels near the festival. Wow. Seriously expensive. Made me pause and think. Is the prestige worth that price tag? For me, maybe not this year.
Then I looked at North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam. The lineup usually looks incredible, loads of variety, not just traditional jazz. Flights to the Netherlands are usually more reasonable for me. Rotterdam accommodation seemed a bit more manageable than Montreux too. This one started looking like a real possibility.
Copenhagen sounded fantastic too, especially the idea of jazz permeating the whole city, not just stuck in one venue. But again, Scandinavia can be pricey. Needed to weigh that up.
Montreal is huge, legendary even. But factoring in a transatlantic flight and the time difference, it felt like a bigger undertaking. Maybe one for another year when I have more time off.
Trying to Decide
So I spent a few evenings comparing lineups (as much as they were announced), looking at travel routes, reading blogs or forums about what the vibe was like at each place. I didn’t want something too overwhelmingly huge and corporate, but still wanted top-quality music.
North Sea kept coming back to the top for me. It seemed like a good balance. Big enough for major names, held in a city that’s relatively easy to get around, and potentially less crippling for the wallet than some others.
I even started sketching out a possible budget. Flights, festival pass, a simple hotel or maybe an Airbnb, food, spending money… trying to see if it added up to something I was comfortable with.
Where I’m At Now
Right now? I’m leaning heavily towards North Sea Jazz. I haven’t booked the flights just yet, but I’ve got price alerts set up. I’ve found a couple of potential places to stay near the venue. I’ve told my family that’s the plan I’m working on. It feels like the most realistic and exciting option from that initial messy list.
It’s a process, you know? You start with this big idea, then you have to filter it through reality – time, money, logistics. But narrowing it down and actually starting to picture yourself there, that’s the fun part. Hopefully, I’ll be sharing some snaps from Rotterdam later this summer!
