MIDSUMMER JAZZ FESTIVAL: WHERE MUSIC AND ART MEET IN RONSE

words by NATALIE GAL

There’s only one thing I love more than listening to jazz — and that’s talking about it. It’s my favorite kind of music, hands down. No other genre captures the human soul so gently, so intimately. Whether I’m tucked into a smoky jazz bar with vintage posters on the walls, watching people lose themselves in the music, or sitting in a garden lit by fairy lights and golden hour sun — jazz just fits. It’s raw, honest, and beautifully imperfect.

That’s exactly what Midsummer Jazz 2025 in Ronse is all about. From Friday 20 to Sunday 22 June, the city will come alive with music and art in the enchanting gardens of the TIO3 Event & Business Center. But this isn’t just a festival — it’s a dream brought to life.

And jazz always has a story. It all began with Werther Vander Sarren, a devoted jazz lover who often spoke about Ronse’s jazz history and his own memories of legendary festivals like Comblain-la-Tour. After his passing in 2020, his daughter Femke Vander Sarren and close friend Pascal Van Overmeire made a pact to turn his dream into reality. And they did.

After a beautiful launch in 2024, the festival returns bigger and better, now expanding to three full days and introducing Ronse Midsummer Art. Curated by Hilde Van Canneyt and Rob Vanoudenhoven, this new addition brings contemporary art into the spotlight — featuring Where Art Meets the Sound, an exhibition where musicians explore their visual side.

And I could never forgive myself if I didn’t quote my greatest icon, Amy Winehouse, who once said:
"I would say that jazz is my own language." She was right. Jazz speaks to everyone in its own way — it’s not always particularly  elegant, and it’s never perfect. But it’s real, and that’s why we love it.

So whether you're a lifelong jazz fan or just curious, come share in the story this June. For tickets and more details, I recommend looking up the official Midsummer Jazz website.