About us

“Are You Syncopated?!” aims for the sweet spot between a dance and a music festival in the space of early jazz and swing, with a strong emphasis on musicality. This year we want to reflect the work of the Syncopated Sisters and we have one big headline in the work! We will also be welcoming guests from the USA for a big get-together to celebrate the heritage of jazz culture with a fresh perspective. More details to come soon…

The Syncopation Society

We are a music collective which identifies with a new movement focusing on early American music such as swing, hot jazz, and blues with connections in both Europe and the U.S., particularly in New Orleans. The founding bands of the collective spring from the street and squat culture. We have grown alongside the Berlin dance community and include also dancers, teachers, DJs, and political activists.

We primarily promote musicians who share our dedication to early jazz by providing booking, distribution, and label services. We also offer musical education in these specific styles to keep this music alive and relevant. In this regard, we believe that jazz, and all music derived from blues, has its roots in, and is indeed the creation of African-American culture. As musicians, we deeply feel the need to give recognition to the creators of the music we perform, the world they lived in, and the struggles they faced personally and professionally due to systemic racism.

Syncopation website ↗

Another important mission of the Syncopation Society is to support women in their pursuit to play and perform this music. In that regard, we urge you to have a look at the Syncopated Sisters Residency which took place last March.

The Syncopated Sisters residency ↗

Media partners

Festival listed on: 
SWING DANCE FESTIVALS and EXCHANGES WORLDWIDE
SWING PLAN-IT
JAZZ LINK