Ventspils Groove 2025

From August 24 to 30, for the twentieth year, the Ventspils Music Secondary School organizes the beloved International Contemporary Rhythm Music Festival “Ventspils Groove,” which enthusiastically welcomes students, graduates, and teachers from music schools, secondary music schools, and music academies. The festival offers a week-long intensive cycle of learning and music-making – from professional masterclasses to open jam sessions and public concerts. This is a time and space where experience meets creativity, technique and improvisation, order and musical freedom. 

The heart of the festival is the masterclasses led by internationally recognized musicians from Croatia, France, Denmark, the USA, Estonia, and Latvia:

• Daniel Cacija (vocals),
• Matīss Čudars (guitar),
• Marc Michel (percussion),
• Kenneth Dahl Knudsen (bass),
• Stephane Escoms (keyboards),
• Kārlis Vanags (saxophone),
• Jason Hunter (trumpet).

Young musicians, guided by the masters, will work both in their specialties and in ensembles to collectively create concert programs for the festival's conclusion.

Concerts and jam sessions will take place at festival venues – free, creative, and emotionally charged musical encounters.

VENTSPILS GROOVE 2025 events at the “Latvija” concert hall and in the city of Ventspils:

Events at the “Latvija” concert hall and in the city of Ventspils:
Sunday, August 24, at 19:00
Festival Opening / at the “Latvija” concert hall
Tuesday, August 26, at 19:00
Jam session with masterclass leaders / restaurant “Meisons Ventspils”
Wednesday, August 27, at 19:00
Ventspils Big Band ALL STARS ORIGINALS / Small Hall of the “Latvija” concert hall
Concert “Hold on to Summer” and beach jam session / café “Vieta, kur būt,” Ventspils beach at boardwalk No.5
Friday, August 29, at 19:00
Masterclass Instructors' Concert / Open-air stage of the “Latvija” concert hall
Friday, August 29, at 21:00
Groove jam session with Patrīcija Anna Doniņa Quartet / restaurant “Meisons Ventspils”
Saturday, August 30, at 15:00
Masterclass Participants' Concert / Open-air stage of the “Latvija” concert hall

The festival is organized by Ventspils Music Secondary School.
Supported by: Ventspils City Council, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Cultural Capital Foundation, Latvian Historical Lands, SIA “Kurzeme Philharmonic,” Ventspils Free Port, Meisons Ventspils, VIETA, KUR būt.