Djangofest History
DjangoFest began in 2000 when I attended the annual Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois sur Seine, France. In response to the sentiment, ‘wouldn’t it be nice if we had such an event in the United States’, I conferred with my long time friend Robin Nolan, whom I had met while living in Amsterdam, and decided to try to make it happen. We decided to call it DjangoFest and bring European Gypsy Jazz musicians to the states to play with groups over here and share some of the excitement the music was beginning to generate. I had witnessed Pearl Django playing at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, in Langley, Washington, to a sold out house several months earlier so I surmised we had a good chance of raising some interest in that area. I contacted Stacie Burqua at WICA and explained to her the notion and after some persuading DjangoFest Northwest was born.
The first festival was in October 2001, with Pearl Django and the Robin Nolan Trio. There were two sold out shows and two sold out workshops and we had attendees from around the world. The following year we added more bands and more concerts and again had sold out concerts and workshops and it became clear that we had a success on our hands. In 2003 we added Angelo Debarre, Serge Camps and Patrick Saussois and with Robin Nolan’s continued presence it was already on its way to becoming a festival with international importance and attracting some of the top performers in the genre.
In June of 2004 we branched out with DjangoFest San Francisco, and added the John Jorgenson Quintet to the DjangoFest family. In February of 2005 another DjangoFest was held in Laguna Beach, CA. In 2005 and 2006, with three festivals running, we continued to work with many exciting artists (see list) and attract fans. In 2008 we went to Crested Butte, Colorado, for DjangoFest Colorado and some high altitude Gypsy Jazz. The big event of '08 was DjangoFest Northwest with the incredible Rosenberg Trio, their first US performance in over ten years. ’09 continued on with four great festivals featuring Romane and his son Richard Manetti, Stochelo Rosenberg, the amazing Gonzalo Gergara quartet and many others.
With Django’s 100th birthday this year and DjangoFest’s 10th anniversary we are looking forward to the best DjangoFest season ever. (The next one is always the best.)
We've added sponsorship programs for all the festivals, so if you are interested in helping to make sure these events continue on, please check out and take advantage of the info on the various websites. It's a good way to get in on the action. Please, feel free to drop me a line a let me know who you'd like to see appear at a DjangoFest near you. Also, don't forget to join the mailing list so you can keep up with what's coming up.
I hope to see you at a DjangoFest soon!
Happy Birthday Django!
Nicholas Lehr, DjangoFest Artistic Director
February, 2010
Our Founder, jamming at the campground near Samois
with Kevin and Robin Nolan
in the
year 2000. Notice Kevin's one finger chord. Don't try that at home.
DjangoFest History (in chronological order):
DjangoFest Northwest 2001
Friday, October 5
Robin Nolan Trio
Pearl Django
Saturday, October 6
Pearl Django
Robin Nolan Trio
DjangoFest Northwest 2002
Thursday, October 3
Ed Cotton
Savitrio
Hot Club Sandwich
Friday, October 4
Swingamajig
Hot Club of San Francisco
Robin Nolan Trio
Saturday, October 5
The Hot Club of San Diego
Pearl Django
Robin Nolan Trio.
Sunday, October 6
The Hot Club of San Diego
The Hot Club of Mars
Pearl Django
DjangoFest Northwest 2003
Thursday, Oct. 2
Hot Club of Langley
Savitrio
Hot Club Sandwich
Friday, Oct. 3
Swing Gitan
Pearl Django w/ Patrick Saussois
Robin Nolan Trio
Saturday Matinee, Oct. 4
Hot Club of San Diego
Swing Gitan
Pearl Django w/ Patrick Saussois
Saturday, Oct.4
Swingamajig
Robin Nolan Trio
Angelo Debarre with Serge Camps
Sunday Matinee, Oct.5
Swing Gitan
Hot Club of Mars
Robin Nolan Trio
Sunday, Oct 5
Hot Club of San Diego
Angelo, Serge, Patrick and Friends
Hot Club of Mars
DjangoFest San Francisco 2004 (Little Fox, Redwood City, CA)
Friday, June 11
Hot Club of San Francisco
Pearl Django
Robin Nolan Trio
Saturday, June 12
Hot Cub of San Diego
Pearl Django
John Jorgenson Trio
Sunday, June 13
Robin Nolan Trio
John Jorgenson
Hot Club of San Francisco
DjangoFest Northwest 2004
Thursday, Sep. 30
Billet Deux
Django’s Tigers
Djangomatics
Trio Gonzalo
Friday, Oct. 1, Matinee
Trio Gonzalo
Swing Gitan
Robin Nolan Trio
Friday, Oct.1
Hot Club Sandwich
Hot Club of San Francisco
John Jorgenson Quintet w/members of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra
Saturday, Oct. 2, Matinee
Neil Andersson Quintet featuring Susan Pascal
Hot Club of San Francisco featuring Sam Miltich
Boulou and Elios Ferre
Saturday, Oct 2
Pearl Django
Angelo Debarre
Sunday, Oct. 3, Matinee
Pearl Django
John Jorgenson Quintet w/members of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra
Angelo Debarre
Sunday, Oct. 3
Hot Club of Mars II
Robin Nolan Trio
Boulou and Elios Ferre
DjangoFest LA-Laguna Beach 2005
Friday, February 25
Club Django
Pearl Django
John Jorgenson Quintet
Saturday, February 26, Matinee
Marcelo Damon and Nomad Jazz
Robin Nolan Trio
Angelo Debarre
Saturday, February 26
Trio Gonzalo
Rhythm Brothers
Angelo Debarre
Sunday, February 27, Matinee
Trio Gonzalo
Hot Club of San Diego
Angelo Debarre
Sunday, February 27
Robin Nolan Trio
John Jorgenson with Beryl Davis
DjangoFest San Francisco 2005 (Little Fox, Redwood City, CA)
Thursday, June 9
Hot Club of Berkeley
Gaucho
Pearl Django
Friday, June 10
Hot Club Sandwich
Hot Club of San Francisco w/Dan Hicks
Angelo Debarre
Saturday, June 11, Matinee
Robin Nolan Trio
Angelo Debarre
Saturday, June 11
Stephane Wrembel’s Hot Club of New York
John Jorgenson Quintet
Ferre Brothers
Sunday, June 12, Matinee
Hot Club of San Francisco
Ferre Brothers
Sunday, June 12
Stephane Wrembel’s Hot Club of New York
Robin Nolan Trio
John Jorgenson Quintet w/special guest appearance by Joe Craven
DjangoFest Northwest 2005
Wednesday, September 28
Zazou
Billet Deux
Django’s Mustache
Ari and Sammo
Thursday September 29
Gaucho
Django’s Tiger
Clearwater Hot Club
Friday September 30, Matinee
Clearwater Hot Club
Pearl Django
Friday September 30
Michael Dregni
John Jorgenson Quintet and Strings, with Beryl Davis
Samson Schmitt Trio
Saturday, October 1, Matinee
John Jorgenson Quintet and Strings, with Beryl Davis
Samson Schmitt Trio
Saturday, October 1
Marc Atkinson Trio
Robin Nolan Trio with Brandi Shearer
Patrick Saussois and Alma Sinti
Sunday October 2, Matinee
Marc Atkinson Trio
Patrick Saussois and Alma Sinti
Sunday, October 2
Hot Club Sandwich
Pearl Django w/special guest, Patrick Saussois
Robin Nolan Trio with Brandi Shearer
DjangoFest LA/Laguna Beach 2006
Thursday, March 9
Club Django
Hot Club of Berkeley
Stephane Wrembel Trio
Friday, March 10
The Gypsy Kidz
Robin Nolan Trio
Angelo Debarre
Saturday, March 11, Matinee
John Jorgenson Quintet
Angelo Debarre
Saturday, March 11
The Gypsy Kidz
Robin Nolan with Brandi Shearer
Angelo Debarre
Sunday, March 12
Hot Club of San Diego
Robin Nolan with Brandi Shearer
John Jorgenson Quintet with Beryl Davis
DjangoFest SanFrancisco/Mill Valley 2006
Thursday, June 8
Hot Club Pacific with Bruce Forman
Howard Alden
Friday, June 9
Hot Club Sandwich
Kruno
Stephane Wrembel Trio
Saturday, June10, Matinee
Kruno
John Jorgenson Quintet
Saturday, June, 10
Dan Hicks and the Gigolos
Stephane Wrembel Trio
Samson Schmitt
Sunday, June 11, Matinee
Pearl Django
Samson Schmitt
Sunday, June 11
The Younger Generation (Sammo Miltich, Samson Grisman, Annie Staninec and Jason Vanderford)
Hot Club of San Francisco
John Jorgenson Quintet
DjangoFest Northwest 2006
Wednesday September 27
The Djangophiles
Hot Club Pacific
Ameranouche
Kruno
Thursday September 28
Billet Dieux
Kruno
Andreas Öberg with The Djangomatics
Friday, September 29, Matinee
Andreas Öberg with The Djangomatics
John Jorgenson Quintet
Friday September 29
Ameranouche
Marc Atkinson Trio
Opus 4
Saturday Matinee September 30
Billet-Dieux
Tchavalo, Dorado and Samson Schmitt
Saturday Evening September 30
Robin Nolan
Tchavalo, Dorado and Samson Schmitt
Sunday, October 1, Matinee
Hot Club Sandwich
Opus 4
Sunday, October 1
Annie Staninec (Dudley Hill Prize Winner.)
Pearl Django
Whit Smith’s Jazz Caravan
DjangoFest LA/Laguna Beach 2007
Friday, March 2
Hot Club Pacific
Andreas Öberg
John Jorgenson Quintet
Saturday, March 3, Matinee
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
Angelo Debarre
Saturday, March 3
Hot Club of San Diego
Andreas Öberg
Angelo Debarre
DjangoFest on Tour 2007
March 9, 142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley, CA
Stephane Wrembel
Andreas Öberg
March 11,Town Hall , Seattle, WA
Kruno and Andreas Öberg
Stephane Wrembel
March 15, Old Church, Portland, Oregon
Djangophiles
Kruno and Andreas Öberg
Stephane Wrembel Trio
DjangoFest San Francisco/Mill Valley 2007
Thursday, May 31
Café Americain
Fishtank Ensemble
Kruno and Andreas Öberg
Friday, June 1
Gaucho
Marc Atkinson Trio
Stephane Wrembel & Comarade Soleil
Saturday, June 2, Matinee
Hot Club Sandwich w/Dan Hicks
Robin Nolan Trio w/Frank Vignola
Saturday, June 2
Mimi Fox w/Hot Club of the Pacific
Kruno and Andreas Öberg
Sunday, June 3rd
Annie Staninec w/Samson Grisman and Friends
Robin Nolan Trio
Hot Club of San Francisco
DjangoFest Northwest 2007
Wednesday, September 19
Early Swing Now
Pete Krebs Trio
3 leg Torso
Thursday, September 20
Swing Papillon
Howard Alden Gypsy Project
Andreas Öberg
Friday, September 21, Matinee
Hot Club Sandwich w/Dan Hicks
Sebastien Giniaux Trio
Friday, September 21
Fishtank Ensemble
Pearl Django w/ Howard Alden and Robin Nolan
Kruno and Andreas
Saturday, September 22, Matinee
Sebastien Giniaux Trio
Robin Nolan Trio
Lache Cercel and the Roma Swing Ensemble
Saturday, September 22
Billet Dieux
Larry Corryell w/ Hot Club Pacific
Norig
Sunday, September 23, Matinee
Kruno
Larry Corryell with Hot Club Pacific
Sunday, September 23
Vic Wong w/ Annie Staninec, Jason Vanderford and Simon Planting
Robin Nolan Trio with Howard Alden
Norig
DjangoFest LA/Laguna Beach 2008
Saturday, May 3, Matinee
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
Stephane Wrembel
Saturday, May 3
Tommy Davy Trio
Pere Soto
John Jorgenson Quintet
DjangoFest San Francisco/Mill Valley 2008
Thursday, May 29th
Jessica Fichot
Hot Club of San Francisco
Lulo Reinhardt Latin Swing Quartet
Friday, May 30th, 8:00 pm
Howard Alden Gypsy Project w/ Gonzalo Bergara and Simon Planting
3 Leg Torso
Ensemble Zaiti
Saturday, May 31, Matinee
Lulo Reinhardt Latin Swing Quartet
Robin Nolan Trio
Saturday, May 31
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
Fishtank Ensemble
Ensemble Zaiti
Sunday, June 1
Hot Club Pacific with Annie Staninec
Bo Django featuring David LaFlamme w/ special guest Dan Hicks
Robin Nolan and Friends
DjangoFest Colorado 2008
Friday, September 19
Le Chat Lunatique
Gonzalo Bergara w/ Simon Planting and Mathieu Chatelain
Robin Nolan and Friends
Saturday, September 20, Matinee
Carute Roma
Hot Club of Boulder
Gonzalo Bergara w/Simon Planting and Mathieu Chatelain
Saturday, September 21
Mango fan Django
John Jorgenson Quintet
Robin Nolan Trio
DjangoFest Northwest 2008
Wednesday, September 24
Hot Club of Eugene
Jessica Fichot
Gonzalo Bergara w/ Mathieu Chatelain and Simon Planting
Thursday, September 25
Hot Club Sandwich
Mimi Fox w Hot Club Pacific
3 Leg Torso
Friday, September 26, matinee
Marc Atkinson Trio
Mimi Fox w/ Hot Club Pacific
Friday, September 26
Hot Club of San Francisco
Sebastien Giniaux Trio
Fishtank Ensemble
Saturday, September 27, Matinee
Van Django
Pearl Django
John Jorgenson Quintet
Saturday, September 27
Trio Gonzalo
Rosenberg Trio
Sunday, September 28, Matinee
Billet Deux
Howard Alden Gypsy Project
Sebastien Giniaux Trio
Sunday, September 28
John Jorgenson Quintet
Rosenberg Trio
DjangoFest LA/Laguna Beach 2009
Friday, April 24
Fishtank Ensemble
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
Saturday, April 25
Jessica Fichot
Andreas Öberg w/ special guest Gonzalo Bergara
Djangofest San Francisco/Mill Valley 2009
Thursday, June 4
Panique
Hot Club of Marin
Pearl Django
Friday, June 5
Mimi Fox w/ Julian Smedley and Hot club Pacific
Pigalle 44
Saturday, June 6
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
Stochelo Rosenberg with Tim Kliphuis
Sunday, June 7
Doug Martin with Annie Staninec
Hot Club of San Francisco
Tim Kliphuis plays Grapelli
DjangoFest Colorado 2009
Saturday, September 4
Hot Club Sandwich
Kruno
Sunday, September 5, Matinee
Deco Django
Swing Gitan
Sunday, September 6
Mango Fan Django
Andreas Öberg w/ special guest Kruno
Djangofest Northwest 2009
Wednesday, September 23
Djangomatics
Dennis Chang
Stephane Wrembel Quartet
Thursday, September 24
Mango Fan Django
Lache Cercel and the Roma Swing Ensemble
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
Friday, September 25, Matinee
HC Sandwich
Howard Alden Gypsy Project w/ Bria Skonberg
Friday, September 25
Hot Club of Detroit
Zaiti
Saturday, September 26, Matinee
Marc Atkinson Trio
Stephane Wrembel Quartet
Saturday, September 26
Van Django
Romane Trio, Father and Son
Sunday, September 27, Matinee
Billet Dieux
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
Sunday, September 27
Pearl Django
Parisian Djam, hosted by Zaiti, with Romane, Richard Manetti, Gonzalo Bergara, Stephane Wrembel and other special guests.
Djangofest San Francisco/Mill Valley 2010
Thursday, June 10
Marc Atkinson Trio
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet
Friday, June 11
La Gâité
John Jorgenson Quintet
Saturday, June 12, Matinee
Doug Martin Avatar Ensemble featuring Annie Staninec
Moses Rosenberg w/ Gonzalo Bergara
Saturday, June 12
Robin Nolan Trio
Romane and Richard Manetti-Father and Son-w/ special guest John Jorgenson
Sunday June 13
Duo Gadjo-with Paul Mehling on bass.
Euro Djam-hosted by Gonzalo Bergara Quartet w/ Romane, Richard Manetti, Moses Rosenberg, Paul Mehling, Robin Nolan, and more.
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