Jazz Accordion Festival

A festival born in the capital of the accordion

The Jazz Accordion Festival (JAF) is the jazz event that has chosen Castelfidardo as its home, a city in the province of Ancona universally recognised as the Italian capital of the accordion. There could be no more natural place for a festival that puts the accordion at its heart and explores its possibilities within contemporary jazz. Since its first edition, JAF has carved out a specific niche in the Marche region's cultural landscape: three evenings of concerts that each year, in March, bring the On Stage Club in Castelfidardo and the Cortesi Theatre in Sirolo to life.

The artistic direction of Simone Zanchini

The soul of the festival is the accordionist Simone Zanchini, one of the most authoritative and experimental names on the international scene for this instrument. His artistic direction imbues JAF with a clear vision: no concessions to commercial taste, but a research-oriented programme that celebrates the accordion as a full-fledged voice in avant-garde jazz. Soloists and trios from all over Europe – Portugal, Slovenia, Greece, Russia – perform alongside the best talents of the new Italian scene.

Concerts, jam sessions, and masterclasses

JAF is not just a showcase of concerts. The opening evenings host the J.A.F. Sessions, jam sessions where musicians and guests come together to play in an intense and collaborative atmosphere. In recent years, the J.A.M. - Jazz Accordion Masterclass has also been added, an educational opportunity open to all musicians wishing to deepen their knowledge of improvisation and the instrument's technique. The festival thus also represents a moment of training and meeting for generations of accordionists.

A recognised event in Europe

Over time, the Jazz Accordion Festival has become a reference point in the European contemporary jazz circuit. In some editions, the festival has intertwined with major international events such as the CIA Winter Congress of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes, an occasion that brought delegates and enthusiasts from numerous countries to Castelfidardo. Promoted by the Culture Department of the Municipality of Castelfidardo, together with the On Stage Club and with the collaboration of the Municipality of Sirolo, JAF combines the region's luthiery tradition with the most current musical research, confirming the Marche region's vocation for great live music.