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I remember distinctly the first time I ever heard jazz. I was fourteen when I stumbled upon At Last by Etta James, and from that moment, I was captivated — there was no looking back. What followed was a continuous exploration of what jazz was, what its history held, and what it could become. I fell down endless rabbit holes, discovering Nina Simone, Ryo Fukui, Laufey, Herbie Hancock, and many more along the way.
Yet jazz never quite felt local or my own; it always seemed distant — something to aspire to, something to watch from afar. But this October, Jazz Weekender sets out to change that perception, returning for its 4th edition on the 11th and 12th at 1AQ, New Delhi, bringing the music closer, making it ours.
What began under the shade of a single banyan tree has grown into one of India’s most beloved boutique festivals, now hosting more than 3,000 music lovers over two days. And even as it has expanded, Jazz Weekender has preserved its intimacy.
This year’s lineup features artists from across India and around the globe. From Australia to Shillong, London to Bangalore, the performers reflect jazz’s global nature while rooting it in the Indian context. Highlights include Dhanji and his 13-piece band delivering a one-of-a-kind jazz–funk experiment, Sera Kalo’s eXante blending soul and jazz with electronic sounds, and Marthe — a French quartet weaving Greek and Middle Eastern influences into their music. Also taking the stage are Bangalore’s Derek & The Cats, Australia’s Allysha Joy, London’s oreglo, and many more artists and collaborations yet to be revealed.
But Jazz Weekender is not only about the music. With evenings spent sprawled on the grass while cocktails flow as easily as the melodies, the festival builds a world around the music. Curated by boxout.fm, Wild City, Gatecrash, and Jazz in India, it resists the idea that jazz is something to be admired only from afar. Instead, it insists that jazz can thrive right here in Delhi, carried by the same spirit of collaboration that has always defined the genre.
Jazz was always meant to be heard in the company of others — to feel connection, to create community. At its core, jazz has always been about improvising and creating a rhythm in every unexpected beat and finding freedom in it. For two days in October, Jazz Weekender sets out to recreate that magnetic chemistry, the kind only this genre, and its artists, can make possible.
