Jazz Festival Organizors Announce New Live-Music Club in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A free performance by Swiss jazz group 60 Miles has given Playa del Carmen’s jazz festival something to carry beyond its October program: a newly announced club for live music.

The band played at the Courtyard by Marriott Playa del Carmen on October 17, marking the tenth concert of the festival’s third edition. Organizers estimated that close to 300 people attended. The group brought a contemporary sound shaped by improvisation and influences beyond jazz, including rock, pop and classical music. On its official website, 60 Miles describes a musical approach that keeps looking for new directions rather than staying within one style.

During the evening, organizers announced ATOUSS, a jazz club planned for the same hotel. The idea is to give musicians and audiences a place to meet for live performances after the festival ends. A regular venue would mark a meaningful step for a city whose jazz audiences have often gathered around festivals and occasional concerts. ATOUSS’s opening date and performance schedule have not yet been announced.

A Festival Built Around Performances and Learning

Organized by Explayarte A.C., the Playa del Carmen Jazz Festival has paired national and international performers with workshops and masterclasses for musicians, students and curious listeners. Earlier this month, its concert program included Mexican jazz groups and Spanish singer Sole Giménez. Members of 60 Miles also led a free class examining three compositions before their evening performance.

The festival’s educational work continues after the concerts. Its October calendar includes an improvisation workshop at Explayarte through October 29, followed by a closing session for participants on October 30. A masterclass with Mario Monroy is also advertised for October 23.

The event is relatively young, but Playa del Carmen’s relationship with jazz goes back much further. The separate Riviera Maya Jazz Festival held its final edition in 2023. Explayarte director Luis Ernesto López explained that the new Playa del Carmen festival began in 2024 because local organizers did not want the city to lose a major jazz gathering.

Now in its third year, the festival has reached a new milestone with the announcement of ATOUSS. Its value to the local scene will depend on what happens after the festival crowds disperse: how often the club presents live music and whether local players have a regular place on its stage.