27.09.24
Our Digital Content Creator and Maker, Evie, was fortunate to head over to Ghent (Belgium) last weekend along with our Artistic Director, Steve Mead and Producer, Heather Spencer to attend the European Jazz Conference: Tomorrow Comes Today, 2024. With the city so aptly being coined the ‘European Youth Capitol’, the EJN provided free attendance for under 30’s within membership organisations. Read below to discover how Evie spent her time at the conference.
“Tomorrow really did come today at the EJN 2024 conference, as I had the unique opportunity and privilege to spend a sunny weekend walking the beautiful cobbled streets of Ghent and immersing myself in both the city & its flourishing jazz scene.
Having worked just two festivals for mjf, I consider myself fairly new to the jazz world and with over 427 participants from a whopping 39 countries this conference provided the perfect opportunity to learn and expand my networks, making lasting connections long after the conference was over. For example, I was inspired to hear from Loredana Franza over at Stockholm’s Women International Jazz Festival about their 2023 programme designed to showcase Ukrainian jazz artists and raise funds for a jazz club in Kyiv.
The option to bring a member under 30 to the organisation provided the chance to meet so many likeminded young people working in not only the same industry but the same role as myself. Chatting to Stockholm Jazz Festival’s Social Media Manager, Axel, provided a refreshing opportunity to discuss shared optimism on what we might do to combat that barriers that limit a young person’s interest in this genre defying music. Listening to Santa, a jazz vocalist from Latvia, share her insights on TikTok and the newly flourishing jazz community there motivated me to consider what the platform could do for our network. And, in true Gen Z style, we are, of course, all now proud members of the ‘Ghent Youths’ Whatsapp group chat.
It seems almost strange to imagine that I’d need to travel across the North Sea to become more familiar with the wider UK Jazz scene but that I did. The conference offered a unique opportunity to meet heads of organisations working across the UK and in turn I now have a much clearer picture of the wider UK jazz scene including shared practices, challenges & of course successes. I was fortunate to meet key players from organisations such as ‘Moving on Music’ (Belfast), The Glasshouse (Newcastle), Edinburgh & Glasgow Jazz Festival.
Arguably the second biggest highlight of my time at the conference, was the opportunity to partake in a panel discussion “Tell Me a New Story” where I shared my insights on how we can shape up the marketing message to invite more young people into the jazz community. But hands down, the top highlight of my trip was the
privilege to witness so many exciting and emerging jazz artists across Belgium. Nestled, (and often until the early hours) in lively and crowded fringe bars I saw the likes of the electrifying five-piece hybrid jazz combo, Black Flower and the rocky yet lyrical ODIL. On the final day, there was even time to explore this magical city on the water taking a river cruise up the canal. And of course, I definitely sampled my fair share of the finest Belgium Beers.
Overall, I walked away from this weekend filled up with music, knowledge and the loveliest of people. Thank you to the EJN for bringing me in to your thriving jazz community.” – Evie Henderson.