International Jazz Festival - Istanbul

Featuring an all-star line-up of jazz artists and luminaries from other genres, the Istanbul Jazz Festival is a firm favourite with locals and draws an international crowd of music lovers every year.

Having hosted artists as diverse as Eric Clapton, Norah Jones, Robert Plant, Sting, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham and George Benson in previous years, this is a festival with a truly international appeal. You clearly don’t have to be a jazz-head to enjoy this one. 2011’s line-up featured Paul Simon as the headline act, with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Marcus Miller performing a tribute to Miles Davis. Amadou & Miriam, Jamie Cullum, the Duwala Malambo Project and even Patrick Wolf are other notable line-up highlights that most international music fans will recognise. Taking place a t a range of different venues across the city, this is one festival that will require some planning if you want to catch your favourite artists. But if the line-ups of previous years are anything to go by, it will be worth it!