JazzOUT! Festival
featuring, amongst others, Nate Smith (USA), Theon Cross (UK), NΔBOU (BE), Lakecia Benjamin (VS)Theater Heerlen - Limburgzaal
An evening full of jazz, discovery and musical encounters
JazzOUT! returns to Theater Heerlen with a new edition packed with surprising concerts and musical discoveries. During the festival, various styles, influences and artists come together in a programme centred on jazz, yet one that regularly pushes the boundaries of the genre.
From established names to innovative artists: JazzOUT! provides a platform for music that surprises, moves and sparks curiosity. A festival evening for jazz lovers and for anyone who enjoys being swept away by new sounds and extraordinary live experiences.
The first acts for JazzOUT! have now been announced: Nate Smith and N∆BOU. The line-up will be gradually expanded with new artists over the coming weeks, ensuring the festival programme develops into a diverse evening full of special musical encounters at Theater Heerlen.
Nate Smith (USA)
Nate Smith is a drummer, composer, producer and bandleader who has become one of the most sought-after musicians of his generation. The two-time Grammy Award-winning artist has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Pat Metheny, Norah Jones, Childish Gambino and Jon Batiste, and has built a versatile career spanning jazz and other musical genres. In addition to his work as a musician, Smith has also gained recognition for his educational videos, in which he makes complex rhythms accessible to a wide audience. With his project LIVE ACTION, he is releasing an album centred on live music and collaboration, featuring contributions from various musicians from his extensive network.
N∆BOU (BE)
The Belgian jazz quartet N∆BOU, led by trombonist and composer Nabou Claerhout, presents Indigo, the band’s third album. Featuring Trui Amerlinck (double bass), Gijs Idema (electric guitar) and Daniel Jonkers (drums), the quartet delivers a contemporary blend of jazz, improvisation and layered compositions. Indigo is all about change, renewal and human connections, moving between dreamy sounds, melodic passages and rhythmic energy. Since its formation in 2016, N∆BOU has built a strong reputation within the Belgian and Dutch jazz scenes. Following the EP Hubert (2019) and the album You Know (2021), the band has performed at leading festivals and venues, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Gent Jazz, Bimhuis and Ancienne Belgique. With Indigo, N∆BOU takes the next step in developing a distinctive and contemporary jazz sound. And this year, they’ll also be appearing at the JazzOUT! Festival.
Lakecia Benjamin (VS)
Six-time GRAMMY nominee Lakecia Benjamin is an alto saxophonist, MC and bandleader. With her infectious energy and commanding stage presence, she knows how to captivate any audience. Her critically acclaimed albums Phoenix and Pursuance: The Coltranes have firmly established her as one of the leading artists in contemporary jazz. Her work has received praise from publications including The New York Times, The Guardian and DownBeat.
Phoenix earned Benjamin three GRAMMY nominations, as well as an NAACP Image Award nomination in the Outstanding Jazz Album category. She was also named Alto Saxophonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and appointed a Jazz Scholar by the Library of Congress.
In 2024, Benjamin released the live album Phoenix Reimagined (Live) on Ropeadope, featuring contributions from John Scofield, Randy Brecker and Jeff “Tain” Watts, among others. She appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and made an impressive debut at NPR’s renowned Tiny Desk Concerts. Phoenix Reimagined also received two GRAMMY nominations.
In 2025, she released her original composition Noble Rise, which received a GRAMMY nomination in the Best Jazz Performance category. On 5 June 2026, Lakecia Benjamin released We Dream, her debut album for Artwork Records.
Theon Cross (UK)
British tuba player and composer Theon Cross has redefined the role of the tuba in modern jazz. With his technical mastery, extensive musical knowledge and innovative approach, he explores the instrument’s full sonic spectrum. From deep sub-bass and propulsive rhythms to melodies, polyphonic sounds and atmospheric textures, in Cross’s hands the tuba forms the foundation of an entire musical world.
His music is deeply rooted in his African-Caribbean heritage and moves freely between jazz, grime, reggae, Afrobeat and soca. Cross studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and continued his development through the influential talent development programme Tomorrow’s Warriors. As a result, he is equally at home in a jazz ensemble and in music where rhythm and bass take centre stage.
In 2015, Cross released his first EP, Aspirations, followed by his debut album FYAH in 2019 and Intra-I in 2021. Until the band disbanded in 2022, he was a key member of Sons of Kemet. He can also be heard on albums by artists including The Smile, Little Simz, Makaya McCraven, Joy Crookes, Steam Down and Ill Considered. For the Blue Note Re series, he also created his own interpretation of Thelonious Monk’s composition Epistrophy.
PARRA.DICE
PARRA.DICE dreams of a free world without restrictive genres, labels and other useless cages. The nine-headed f/x collective consists of a unique combination of three horns, a violin and extended rhythm section. Their music is a bundle of narrative melodies, driving bass lines and percussive rhythms, fusing into a colorful and grooving whole.
PARRA.DICE has already made a striking impression on Dutch festivals such as Wildeburg, ESNS, and sold-out club shows over the past years. In 2025, they made their first international appearance with performances in Germany and a tour through Indonesia. Wherever PARRA.DICE steps onto the stage, the band effortlessly unites the crowd, moves their souls, and guides them into collective motion.
