About fill in

In recent years, a lively jazz scene has developed in the greater SaarLorLux region. More and more young people are discovering this music for themselves. During the coronavirus pandemic, this gave jazz drummer and HfM Saar professor Oliver Strauch the idea of initiating a festival for the SaarLorLux Greater Region that would present contemporary jazz by world stars and up-and-coming talents, bringing international jazz to the region.

fill in is 100 percent jazz: the festival presents exclusively jazz music. An important focus is on the neighboring country of France and musicians from the Greater Region also get attention on the “big stage”.

The festival delighted more than 12,000 visitors in 2024, almost tripling its attendance figures. Sold-out concerts and an enthusiastic audience carried the festival through 2024.

New this year was the start of the festival at the end of April. In cooperation with the GIU, the festival started in AVENUE in the neighbourhood at the Eurobahnhof. Conceived as a street festival, AVENUE was intended to be a low-threshold offer for the region and combine the best jazz free of charge with a delicious street food offer and market stalls for adults and a children’s programme. The format was enthusiastically received and will be continued next year. It will be held again on two days in spring.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

As in 2023 and 2024, the festival itself began the evening before on St. Johanner Markt. Several free concerts by young jazz musicians and bands from the HfM SAAR in the bars, pubs and restaurants transformed the market into the city’s living room. The main festival will take place from 26 to 28 June 2025 from Thursdays to Saturdays at the E-Werk and will feature two concerts each evening.

The team will create a cosy festival atmosphere in and around the E-Werk. The festival will not only take place inside the former industrial cathedral, but will also include the surrounding park-like grounds.

The festival is also aiming to organise cooperative events as additional dates to the main festival in 2025. Exact locations and dates will be announced in good time.