Trumpets and trombones abound, accompanied by a musical symphony of clarinets, basses, guitars, cellos and drums. Sitges is a true party in honour of the old jazz that grew out of New Orleans at the end of the 19th century, immortalised by the brilliant Louis Armstrong. During the course of four days, from Thurday the 25th to Sunday the 28th of April, the streets and venues of Sitges will distil jazzy magic, allowing visitors to discover spaces such as hotel gardens, the Palau del Rei Moro or the new Centro de Interpretación de la Malvasía (Malvasia Information Centre). And, what’s more, you can enjoy cuisine, shopping and time on the beach in an intoxicating cocktail of springtime fun. Trumpets and trombones abound. Sitges sounds like jazz.

Jazz culture continues to make an impact on Sitges, a living, breathing town where things are always happening, at any time of the year. After a month defined by creativity in March, with the Festival Internacional de Patchwork (International Patchwork Festival, a global point of reference for the world of textiles), the Feria Scrap+ (Scrap+ Fair, for personalising photo albums and souvenirs) and the Fira d’Art (Arts Fair), the arrival of spring brings yet another feast for the senses, this time for the ears. And Sitges, absolutely all of it, completely transforms into an enormous concert hall which take us on a surreal journey to New Orleans at the end of the 19th century; this is the birthplace of one of the most emotionally mesmerising music genres, founded on its Afro-American roots.

Like New Orleans, Sitges is also infused with maritime spirit, with the Mediterranean sea that caresses its beaches, now prepared to welcome the first bathers as spring arrives. It also shares the same passion for culture as New Orleans, a city which Sitges symbolically stretches a hand out to with the Festival Jazz Antic Sitges, Sitges’ Old Jazz Festival, which now celebrates its 7th edition.

From Thursday the 25th to Sunday the 28th of April, Sitges will be swimming in jazz. Trombones and trumpets, clarinets and guitars; basses, cellos and drums will belt out music throughout the town’s streets as well as in venues such as El Retiro, La Granja, La Oca, La Guineu, Utopia Beach House, Queenz, Café Bar Roy and Montroig Café, among other establishments.

It’s also the perfect opportunity for visitors to discover hotel areas, such as the gardens at the Medium Sitges Park –which on Saturday the 27th, at 12:00, will host a Concert Vermut with the Gourville Jug Band–, or the rooftop terrace at the ME Sitges Terramar (8th floor), which on the same day, at 16:00, will host a drinks and mingling event with the atmospheric sounds of Swedish musicians Sven and Fredrik.

What’s more, on Thursday the 25th at 22:00, the Palau Rei Moro, a historic building in the centre of Sitges, will become the setting for one of the festival’s headline concerts, starring French musician Fanou Torracintà, one of the most original young ‘jazz manouche’ guitarists on the world stage. In addition to this, you’ll be able to visit the new Centro de Interpretación de la Malvasía, Sitges’ Malvasia Information Centre, opened last Saturday, the 13th of April, where the origins of this local sweet wine are explained.

The jazz festival’s high point will take place on Saturday the 24th, at 19:00, with the Jazz Antic Sitges Parade, which will tour through the town’s main streets from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to the Passeig de la Ribera, on the seafront. On the very same Saturday, cuisine will make an appearance at Sopar & Jazz, where visitors can have dinner in several different establishments to the lively sound of the parade’s musical groups.

The other grand star of the event will be American musician Lucien Barbarin & New Orleans Jazz Tradition, performing on Sunday the 28th at 12:00, at the Casino Prado Suburense. This event showcases one of today’s best traditional jazz trombonists, and will provide a finishing touch on top of the night-time Jam Session at La Sínia Garden (El Garrofer campsite). Four days to let yourself be allured by the magic of jazz in Sitges.