Scotland at jazzahead!

Scotland’s presence at jazzahead! gives our jazz and improvised music a profile in front of one of the industry’s most important international gatherings.

jazzahead! is the industry’s biggest international gathering, taking place from 24 to 26 April 2025 in Bremen, Germany.

Showcase at jazzahead! 2025

Applications are now open for Showcase slots at jazzahead! 2025, 30 to 45-minute short concerts performed to industry delegates and the general public. Showcases are open to professional artists and bands, who are able to tour internationally. The deadline to apply is 1 October 2024.

jazzahead! 2024

In 2024, Creative Scotland worked with Glasgow Jazz Festival to support a delegation of artists with bursaries to attend from 11 to 13 April in Bremen, Germany and online.

The artists attending in 2024 were: saxophonists Brian Molley and Helena Kay, singer kitti, Joe Nichols of Nimbus Sextet and Marco Cafolla of Mama Terra. Mama Terra and Matt Carmichael will both be performing at the jazzahead! showcase, supported by Creative Scotland through PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund.

At jazzahead! 2024, Creative Scotland aimed to represent the quality, diversity and export-readiness of Scotland’s jazz and improvising talent, to support individual artists to reach new markets and extend professional networks, and to develop relationships that support future opportunities.

Scotland's delegation was present in person at jazzahead! trade stand 6B45, as well as hosting a panel discussion, a VIP networking event and networking sessions every day at 4pm, to allow delegates to get to know Scotland’s vibrant jazz scene a little better.

Dates and times

  • 4pm daily: Networking sessions for international delegates at trade stand 6B45
  • 10am, Friday 12 April: VIP networking event in the Business Lounge
  • 2pm, Friday 12 April: Traditional Threads In A Jazz Tapestry panel in the Business Lounge. This event was chaired by Alan Morrison (Creative Scotland Head of Music) and joined by Matt Carmichael, Christine Kamau from Kenya and Amro Salah from Cairo Jazz Festival

Meet the Showcasing artists

Spiritual jazz group, Mama Terra and folk-jazz fusion saxophonist Matt Carmichael both performed at the jazzahead! showcase, supported by Creative Scotland through PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund.

Dates and times

  • Matt Carmichael at Schlachthof at 9.45pm on Friday 12 April
  • Mama Terra at Schlachthof at 9.30pm on Saturday 13 April

Meet the delegates

As well as supporting artists to showcase, Creative Scotland is working with Glasgow Jazz Festival to bring a delegation of musicians with bursaries to attend the 2024 edition of the industry event. Attending this year are saxophonists Brian Molley and Helena Kay, singer kitti, Joe Nichols of Nimbus Sextet and Marco Cafolla of Mama Terra.

Scotland at jazzahead! 2024 Playlist

We've gathered together tracks featuring Scotland's delegate artists Brian Molley, Helena Kay, Joe Nichols, kitti and Marco Cafolla, and showcasing artists Mama Terra and Matt Carmichael, plus recommended tracks from some of their favourite artists from Scotland.

Scotland's Jazz by Rachel Lightbody

Enjoy this brand new playlist of jazz from Scotland in 2024, curated by jazz vocalist Rachel Lightbody and stay tuned for more exclusive music content from jazzahead! this year.