The Balaton region is full of fantastic, secret little places with lots and lots of untapped potential. Paloznak on the north shore used to be one of these places until Szabolcs Homola arrived in 2007, which is the best thing that could have happened to the little village. After creating Homola Winery and Homola Vinoteca, the businessman in love with Balaton, wines and Hungarian culture had an even bolder thought: he came up with the idea of the Jazz Picnic because “good music goes perfectly with good wine”.
In the beginning, the audience was made up by locals and those living in the surrounding area, but over the next few years the festival that is not really a festival began to grow at a surprising pace – it’s more like an intimate, very much human-scale, life-affirming fiesta with all the positive features of bacchanalias, but none of their extravagance. Sitting in the grass, sipping wine, eating great food and listening to jazz in total peace.
This year Paloznak has definitely been loud with the Homola name, especially with the recent opening of their wine terrace, which will serve as the newest venue of the Jazz Picnic – the jam terrace of the Snétberger Centre will be a platform for ad hoc bands where they can make magic and provide the audience of the two-day jazz euphoria starting August 7 with once in a lifetime moments. Sáfránkert Restaurant is another new, summer attraction: it would be a sin not to test their new wave, open-fire cuisine over the weekend.
Unlike at a festival, the food selection of the event will be as far away from the classic hot dog, hamburger, lángos triumvirate as possible. Terminál Restaurant and Baricska Csárda will set up shop temporarily on the premises, serving warm, guilt-free food that will make you feel lucky to have tried it. Other delicious products available on site include Tekeresvölgyi cheeses, Lollipop ice cream, the syrups of Tamás Winery, the wines of Homola Winery and coffees by Pörkölde, making sure that you have the energy to live perfect Balaton summer nights to the fullest, until dawn if it comes to that.
The organizers have made smart choices not only in terms of gastronomy, but also regarding music: continuing the improving trend of previous years, they’ve invited outstanding Hungarian performers and internationally acclaimed acts as well. They are constantly keeping an eye on current trends to be able to put together a high-quality programme that is captivating for both jazz aficionados and more amateur listeners. In line with that spirit, jazz-funk-hip hop fusion band Amoeba will take the main stage and bring something fresh to the table, but lovers of more traditional genres will be satisfied too with Fábián Juli & Zoohacker, Soul Surge, Candy Dufler and world-renowned Jazzanova also being among the performers. The stage of Homola Winery will be set up in the Tájház yard where guests can enjoy concerts by Zoltán Marosi, Pribojszki Mátyás Band and Little G. Weevil.
