The full line-up for JZ Festival’s 15th anniversary is out; this year it’s at the Maxus Plaza in the Disney Complex. No explanation for why they chose a venue so far away from civilization, but organizer Ren Yuqing told us back in April that any downsizing is due to the festival becoming more authentic, which could be why there are only four stages this year. Despite any shrinking, it still holds the title for China’s biggest jazz festival and has attracted some pretty exciting names from home and abroad. It's also three days this year because day 1 (Friday 13) falls on mid-Autumn festival. Superstitious sound technicians, beware. Here’s the rundown.

Ren Yuqing

9.13

World music collective Return To Mongolia begin proceedings at 11am on Friday, then the rest of the day notably has Tom Peng's Newgrass Band on the Swing Stage, and JZ Big Band joined by Beijing-based "father of Chinese Rock" Cui Jian and Shanghai's Li Quan on the Groove stage. Friday’s headliners are multi-instrumentalist jazz wizard Marcus Miller on the Melody Stage, and Al McKay’s Earth, Wind and Fire Experience on the Groove Stage - probably the highlight act of the weekend. You can actually get your boogie on to September, in September. Destiny.

9.14

Saturday’s frivolities start at 11am and will include British singer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier and a second show from Al McKay’s Earth, Wind and Fire Experience, this time on the Melody Stage at 7.30pm. Alec Haavik and the Shanghai Shindiggers (who we interviewed not long ago) are playing at the same time on the Swing Stage, and experimental Norwegian jazz band Jaga Jazzist will round off the evening from 9pm to 10pm.

Alec Haavik

9.15

Sunday has second performances from Marcus Miller and Jacob Collier, along with Chinese singer Tia Ray accompanied by Soulmate. Viento Terral will bring fierce Latin rhythms and jazz harmonies to the Melody Stage at 4.30pm, while Sunday’s headline act is the prolific soul singer, 5-time Grammy winner and another definite contender for highlight act of the weekend Lalah Hathaway. *** 75 musicians and bands will grace the stage over the course of what will definitely be an awesome weekend. JZ Festival Tickets start at 460rmb for a single day ticket and are available on SmartTicket. Full line-up and schedule below.