Jazz at the MET

Jazz returns to Santarcangelo

Jazz at the MET is one of the most beloved festivals of the summer in Santarcangelo di Romagna, in the province of Rimini. For three evenings, the garden of the MET — the Ethnographic Museum of the Customs and Traditions of the People of Romagna, at Via Federico Montevecchi 41 — transforms into an open-air stage where jazz notes resonate. Admission is free, and the atmosphere is intimate and cozy, like a historic courtyard in the heart of the Malatesta village.

A showcase for young talent

The peculiarity of this festival is that the protagonists are the young musicians from the Bruno Maderna - Lettimi Conservatory of Cesena, specializing in the jazz repertoire. Each evening features a different ensemble, with formations ranging from quartets to quintets: vocals, piano, double bass, saxophone, guitar, and drums alternate in tributes to the great masters and in original projects. Over the years, audiences have enjoyed homages to legendary figures such as Billie Holiday and Sonny Rollins, as well as evenings dedicated to exploring the infinite possibilities of the jazz language.

Who organizes it

The festival is promoted by the Pro Loco of Santarcangelo di Romagna in collaboration with FoCuS — Fondazione Culture Santarcangelo, which manages the Ethnographic Museum spaces. The initiative was born with the aim of promoting the talent of young conservatory students from the area and enlivening the city's summer evenings with quality musical offerings, accessible to all.

Setting and context

Santarcangelo di Romagna is one of the most fascinating villages in the hinterland of Rimini, known for its tuff caves, the poet Tonino Guerra, and a vibrant cultural tradition. The MET, housed in a 1930s building that was the old municipal slaughterhouse and is now an important example of industrial archaeology, preserves the memory of Romagna's peasant civilization. Listening to jazz in its garden means combining the rediscovery of local heritage with the pleasure of live music, in one of the most genuine offerings of the Emilia-Romagna summer.