The Mercedes Benz Colombo Jazz festival on 18-19 February

Jazz can be seen as a reflection of cultural diversity and individualism. European classical music, American blues, and South American songs and rhythms came together to form what became known as jazz. At its core is openness to all influences, and personal expression through improvisation. Throughout its history, jazz has straddled the worlds of popular music and art music.

The concept behind the Mercedes Benz Colombo Jazz & Blues Festival is a music event that promises to combine and showcase the talents of the best international artists as well as artists of national renown. The event will be a mix of blues, traditional and contemporary jazz and much more. The Mercedes Benz Colombo Jazz and Blues Festival by Mainstage Events started in February 2016 to rave reviews, with the objective of promoting this diverse genre of music and putting the island on the international jazz festival circuit. 

On 18 and 19 February the stunning heritage property the Galle Face Hotel, in Colombo, will welcome global music fans to jazz-centric celebration, where fans of all types of jazz-related music rub shoulders with aficionados of the genre. The Galle Face hotel an iconic historic property, has long supported the arts and been a popular choice with performers passing through the capital. Duke Ellington was a guest in 1963, visiting what was then called the Coconut Grove (now the Jubilee Ballroom), a nightclub where Radio Ceylon broadcast and Mignonne Fernando and The Jetliners got their break. The hotel was so popular and the parties so legendary that guests would often sleep in and miss their ships. 

The festival will host concerts and activities on an outdoor stage, welcoming visitors to the city, from noon to midnight! It will all take place at this unique site, designed to meet festival-goers’ every need, in the heart of Colombo with the beauty, sounds of the ocean and the cool breeze that drifts in, as its spectacular setting.

The Festival plays home to an irresistible ‘Feastival’ with an incredible array of speciality foods and chefs. Wine and champagne bars among others will also be a part of the festival as will a home-grown design fair.  

All of these elements will be installed at the Galle Face Hotel with architectural precision, turning the festival site into a city within a city—a cultural wonderland showcasing the soul of Sri Lanka. Filled with music, food, design and energy, the festival aims to bring alive culture and spirit that defines jazz. 

This year’s festival will feature over 40 artists, one of the largest to be held in Sri Lanka. Headlined by famed, chart topping British acid Jazz band Incognito, the festival brings together other big names like Marco Mendoza, Holly Perkins and the Diablos, the Kevin Davy quartet, the Gang of Brothers , local stars like Geoffrey Fernando and Brown Sugar will also form part of the stellar, star- studded line up.

One of the main aims of the Mercedez Benz Colombo Jazz Festival is to promote Sri Lanka as a key tourist destination with a rich and diverse cultural heritage.

The Jazz & Blues Festival is a property of Mainstage Events and the brainchild of founder and Chairman Gehan Fernando. Mainstage Events has a track record of producing successful sold-out events like The Wailers, Mohombi live, High on Heels and Julian Marley. Mainstage Events have consistently delivered exceptional events. Working with the top artists and DJs in the world, their goal and ambition is to deliver what most people have not experienced before, a world class music event, within a world class environment.