Pre-event concert announced for 13th Cyprus jazz & world music showcase

The department of contemporary culture and the Rialto Theatre have scheduled a pre-event for the 13th Cyprus Jazz & World Music Showcase, which will take place on November 21, 2026, at 8:00 PM. The concert will be hosted at the Lemba Cultural Village in Paphos, featuring the Soulful Groove Collective.

The Soulful Groove Collective, which previously performed at the 2025 showcase, includes musicians Marguerita Freeks (vocals), Giorgos Morfitis (piano and keyboards), Marios Menelaou (electric bass), Stelios Xydas (drums), and Odysseas Toumazou (electric guitar). Their performance will blend original compositions with soul-jazz arrangements, emphasizing improvisation and rhythmic intensity. The event serves as a musical bridge connecting the previous edition of the showcase to the upcoming main festival, scheduled for December 4-6, 2026, at the Rialto Theatre.

This initiative aims to highlight the diversity of the contemporary Cypriot music scene and maintain momentum ahead of the main event. By showcasing returning artists, organizers hope to foster a connection between past and future iterations of the festival, providing the audience with an opportunity to engage with local talent before the main showcase begins in December.