Summertime Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with three days of Latin music, young professionals, icons, and musical heritage.
From July 16 to 18, the Summertime Festival celebrates its twentieth anniversary on the Grote Markt in The Hague. For three days, the rich music culture of Latin America and the Caribbean, including Suriname and the Antilles, takes center stage in a free festival program. For a brief moment, The Hague becomes Rio on the North Sea.
Summertime Festival presents a rich program full of emerging careers and established names; from original folk music to Latin jazz, salsa, samba, kaseko, reggae, and modern fusions. The genres central to the festival emerged from encounters between African, European, and indigenous traditions and carry stories connected to migration, colonial history, and cultural exchange. In doing so, the festival connects artistic quality with accessibility and societal significance.
The anniversary year is dedicated to passing on musical traditions. Young professional musicians are given the opportunity to collaborate with experienced masters of the genre. For example, the big band Reyes del Mambo, in which young professionals perform alongside renowned musicians. Mid-career artists such as Cuban singer Evelyn Dupuy and the internationally composed group Jabuticaba are also part of the program. For the youngest audience, there is Koló, an interactive family performance in which children are introduced to South American music through play. Another highlight is the performance by flutist and ethnomusicologist Ronald Snijders, who celebrates his 75th birthday during the festival with the project Bigi Yari. Summertime is for the whole family.
Just like last year, there are public dance workshops preceding various concerts. Local dance schools provide introductions that tie in with the live program and invite visitors to participate actively.
With twelve concerts on the Grote Markt, Summertime expects to welcome approximately 15,000 visitors once again. The festival offers a platform to Hague-based creators, young professionals, and artists from home and abroad, and contributes to an inclusive and culturally diverse city.
More information: www.summertimefestival.nl