Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Düsseldorf’s Jazz Rally Turns City And “Longest Bar In The World” Into Jazz Mecca


DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY – Jazz legend Klaus Doldinger and his current project Passport, plus hot younger musicians, like Curtis Stigers from the US and Germany’s Clueso, are headliners at the “Jazz Rally” in Düsseldorf (2011 dates: June 10-12, with preview concerts on June 9), an event that’s been dazzling music lovers for 19 years with its quality program, style and unique format. Visitors can “hop” from concert to concert, a total of 87 concerts in 36 venues, on one ticket. Jazz Rally keeps getting bigger: this year increases the number of concerts and musicians by about 10% compared to 2010, and more than 300,000 visitors are expected.

Düsseldorf has what’s known as the “longest bar in the world” – rows and rows of pubs and restaurants in the city’s historic old town, more than 260 of them, and bar-hopping might as well have been invented here. All year long, visitors and locals alike enjoy the short distances from bar to bar, and on many nights, the old town seems like one big party place for eating and drinking. It was a natural step to offer the same options and convenience for jazz lovers. There are 36 stages all over the city, including the off-beat Airport Hangar 8 at Düsseldorf International Airport, the city’s central train station, and the planetarium-turned-concert-hall Tonhalle. Most are in walking distance from each other and turn Düsseldorf into one large jazz venue for the weekend.

Jazz lovers can purchase in advance the “Jazz-Rally-Button,” an all-access event pass, for Euro 25 – 30 for admission to all scheduled concerts. Day passes are available for Euro 20 - 25. Children up to 14 years of age are admitted free of charge. The program features about 80 bands and also includes funk, soul, blues, and rock performances.

For more information about Jazz Rally 2011 and hotel specials, visit www.duesseldorfer-jazzrally.de. Düsseldorf International Airport, Germany’s third-largest, offers several non-stop flights from US cities, as well as convenient connections to many European cities and beyond.

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