Another thing you should also know is that the BIJF hosts a ‘pre-festival warm-up’ known as the “Barcelona Jazz Weekend“. During this weekend before the festival, a number of free concerts and performances are put on for the early birds to enjoy to get everybody in the spirit. If you can make it this year, I’d recommend going for the ‘whole’ event, including the Jazz Weekend.
Following suit with other jazz festivals (or perhaps setting the gold standard), the festival also hosts a number of special educational programmes that run alongside the event, some free, some paid.
On the line up this year: Diana Krall, Chick Corea, Stefano Bollani, Ambrose Akinmusire, Richard Galliano and many others.
Visit the website for full programme and event details. http://www.barcelonajazzfestival.com/