About La Fontaine
La Fontaine is Denmark’s oldest jazz club and a living piece of Copenhagen’s cultural history. Since 1959, the club has been a gathering place for musicians, students, and jazz lovers from all over the world – a place where audiences come close to the music, and where generations of jazz musicians have played their first concerts.
Over the years, the club has welcomed some of the biggest names in jazz – including Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Duke Ellington’s musicians, and Pretutiani – and has helped shape several of Denmark’s most important jazz profiles such as Svend Asmussen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alex Riel, Marilyn Mazur, Kresten Osgood, Jakob Fischer, and former co-owner Finn Ziegler. Even Lady Gaga has felt the magic of the club – one night she stopped by and spontaneously went on stage to jam with the local musicians. It is precisely this mix of intimacy, tradition, and surprise that has made La Fontaine what many call “the mothership of jazz.”
The club as we know it today was shaped by Ole Hierwagen, who ran the venue for more than 36 years with passion, warmth, and an uncompromising love for jazz. Under his leadership, La Fontaine became a sanctuary for improvisation, spontaneity, and presence – a place with soul, atmosphere, and deep respect for both the music and the people behind it.
Today, La Fontaine is run by Andreas Hierwagen, who continues his father’s legacy with great respect while developing the club to reflect the modern jazz scene and the society around it. La Fontaine remains true to its roots: the intimate atmosphere, the live music, and the unforgettable nights where jazz runs free.
We present live jazz every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – all year round. We primarily feature Danish jazz musicians to actively support and strengthen the Danish jazz scene, as the quality of Danish jazz musicians is truly extraordinary. Their musicianship, interplay, and personal expression are a massive part of what makes La Fontaine so special.
We strive to create professional and safe working conditions for everyone performing on our stage.
All concerts are paid according to the Danish Musicians’ Union’s rates, and we place great emphasis on ensuring that all musicians and employees are fairly compensated for their work.
Being part of La Fontaine – whether as a musician or staff member – is like joining a family built on respect, community, and love for the craft.
La Fontaine is founded on integrity, respect, quality, and community. We consciously foster an environment where inclusion and diversity are a natural part of the culture – both on stage and among the audience. Everyone should feel welcome, regardless of background, age, experience, or identity.
We believe that culture and music play a vital role in society, and we take responsibility – both socially and environmentally – to run the club with care.
For us, sustainability is not only about the climate but also about ensuring that jazz, musicians, and the club environment can thrive for many years to come.
La Fontaine is a club with history – but also with a vision for the future. We aim to preserve jazz as a living art form, give space to new voices, and stay true to the warmth, intimacy, and authenticity that make La Fontaine the heart of Danish jazz – and still “the mothership of jazz.”
