The Kildare Jazz Festival is a vibrant annual celebration of jazz, showcasing an exciting mix of local, national, and international musicians at the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge, County Kildare. Launched in November 2023, the festival is curated by singer, composer, and band leader Kasia Eliasz, whose passion for community and creativity drives the event's dynamic programming.
A Platform for Jazz Excellence
The festival’s inaugural edition featured standout performances by global talents such as Peruvian guitarist Rodrigo Almonte, Grammy-winning Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Boccato, and Irish vocalist Lauren Kinsella. Audiences enjoyed intimate gigs, large ensemble performances, and genre-crossing collaborations across a three-day schedule.
Workshops & Community Engagement
Beyond the concerts, the festival fosters community connection through interactive workshops. These have included samba sessions for children, Afro-Brazilian dance classes for adults, and drumming workshops, creating a rich, immersive experience for participants of all ages.
An Annual Tradition in the Making
Following its successful debut, the Kildare Jazz Festival is set to return in 2025, running from Friday, April 4 to Sunday, April 6. The upcoming programme promises an even broader array of performances and workshops, with highlights including French vocalist Camille Bertault, pianist David Helbock, and family-friendly shows like Ta Tum Tum! x Ceol Connected.
Tickets & Booking
Tickets are available individually, as day passes, or weekend bundles. They can be purchased online at riverbank.ie or via the Riverbank Arts Centre Box Office at 045 448327 during business hours.
Festival Vision
According to Kasia Eliasz, the festival aims to become a cornerstone of Kildare’s cultural scene:
"Our vision is for the Kildare Jazz Festival to be a platform for emerging artists, a wellspring of inspiration for future generations of music enthusiasts, and a symbol of unity within our community."
With its diverse programming, inclusive workshops, and a commitment to artistic excellence, the Kildare Jazz Festival is quickly establishing itself as a must-attend event for jazz lovers near and far.
Manouche Jazz Festival celebrating the music of the great Django Reinhardt in the picturesque village of Ramelton, Co. Donegal.
Celebrating the enduring style and jazz innovation of Reinhardt and Grapelli here in Ramelton, County Donegal, Ireland at a music festival we like to call Django Sur Lennon. Every September, we invite some of the greatest ambassadors of Gypsy Jazz on Earth to land on the shores of the river Lennon.
Whoever said 'May you live in interesting times' ... well, thanks a lot. Here we are in 2019, watching momentous events unfold across the world - politically, environmentally, and socially, and 'interesting' is, ummm, one way of looking at it. And for sure, people are getting interested! The massive groundswell of public engagement ( led by some inspirational teenagers ) with the issue of climate change is encouraging, and we in GJF are building on the baby steps we took in recent years, and going bald-headed at trying to minimise impact on our beautiful planet at the same time as delivering a cracking festival.
Central to our strategy is seeking out the best of Irish. There is a lot of lovely talent out there, and we are delighted to present world premieres of GJF special commissions from no less than three world class Irish artists, Lauren Kinsella, Sean Carpio and Donal O' Kelly. We also welcome more than 30 wonderful Irish jazz stars in various combinations over five days...a little Jazz Venn Diagram, if you will. Plenty also for our smallies, some educational events, brunch, a film, and a hugely important music in healthcare strand.
The theme of gentle revolution runs through the festival, with a first time visits from Daniele di Bonaventura, Trish Clowes and My Iris, Nils Økland, Kaja Draksler and Eve Risser, and the fabulous London Gay Big Band. We'll also put on our nature shoes and do some serious planting in the grounds of St. Nicholas church, growing our audience for next year, talking to the bats, and beeing fabulous.
In the words of trumpeter and plant lover, Daisy Gillespie, one of the reasons we're here is to be part of this process of exchange. We are thrilled to welcome you all to Galway, for exchange of music, words, ideas, friendship,food, and celebration of life in all its magnificence. I hope you find it way more than just interesting!
Féadann sibh taithí fhéile álainn a bheith agaibh, cairdeas buan a dhéanamh, agus amhrán saoil, dóchais agus síochána a chanadh.
Ellen Cranitch
Artistic Director
GJF19
Limerick Jazz has been promoting music in the mid-west of Ireland for over 35 years. We run spring and autumn seasons which feature the best of live Irish and international contemporary Jazz. The last five years have seen regular promotions of local artists by organizations such as Speakeasy Jazz, concert appearances by Wayne Shorter; Bobby McFerrin; and Bela Fleck and visits from Jazz greats like Chris Potterl; Thomasz Stanko; John Abercrombie; Manu Katche; Guy Barker; and Soweto Kinch.
2012 was the founding year of the festival and it was a terrific success, with worldwide performing talent, from the likes of Liane Carroll and Joe Locke/Geoff Keezer Group, as well as Irish groups Crisis Point and Black Magic Big Band, playing show stopping performances to large festival crowds.
2014 was a very special year for Limerick having being nominated as the Republic of Ireland’s City Of Culture. This accolade enabled Limerick Jazz Festival 2014 to bring some iconic figures to perform in Limerick. Multi Grammy Award winning artists Van Morrison and David Sanborn were just what was needed.
2015 saw Limerick Jazz Festival raising the bar once again with some more great Jazz performers showcasing their unique talents in the city; The Jost Project (USA) and Perico Sambaed (Spain) to name but a few. This was another hugely successful year for the festival.
In 2016 the festival hosted homegrown and international artists the Partisans; Spain’s Atchere; renowned Irish Jazz guitarist David O’Rouke; and the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra.
In its sixth year, Limerick Jazz Festival 2017 hosted the likes of The Soweto Kinch Trio; Ireland’s own Booka Brass; the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra ft. special guests Pia Dunne and Keith McDonald; renowned Jazz Funk band The James Taylor Quartet; Jazz Duo The Mysterious Mr. Valentine; and Joe O’Callaghan’s Electric Freeplay.
We are always keen to get volunteers involved in running Limerick Jazz and can particularly use help in promotion. Please email or phone if you can spare Limerick Jazz some of your time or get in touch if you have a suitable place for us to advertise promotional material for #LimerickJazzFestival2018.
Also, feel free to contact us to request being added to our mailing list for the latest news and updates on #LimerickJazzFestival2018 and future Limerick Jazz events.
Contact The Festival Director
if you would like ot participate in the festival please get in touch by emailing
Festival Dates - 2019 - 26th - 29th September
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Limeroick Jazz Festival Links
Sligo Jazz Project's annual summer school, which takes place each July, has grown into Europe's premier jazz education event. The 2019 event runs July 23-28. Running concurrently with our summer school is one of Europe’s most unique boutique jazz festivals.
Tutors at the summer school have included Ernie Watts, Rufus Reid, Kenny Werner, Liane Carroll, John Taylor, Federico Malaman, Virgil Donati, John Goldsby, Gwilym Simcock, Mike Walker, Steve Rodby and Adam Nussbaum. Performances by Yellowjackets, Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, Avishai Cohen and The Bad Plus have been some of our festival highlights.
Education – Summer School
Sligo International Jazz Summer School is a 6 day event (July 23-28 July 2019) featuring workshops, masterclasses and jam sessions with some of the world’s finest jazz educators and musicians.
World Class Music – Jazz Festival
Previous festival acts have included Mike Stern/ Victor Wooten Band, Dhafer Youssef, Kenny Werner, Avishai Cohen, Yellowjackets, Christian Scott, The Bad Plus and many more.
Quality Sessions – Powerful Performances
Sligo Jazz Festival also features quality pub/hotel/cafe sessions with the best of Irish and international jazz acts, plus jam sessions featuring summer school participants and tutors alike.
Contact The Festival Director
if you would like ot participate in the festival please get in touch by emailing
Phone: (071) 915 7862
Festival Dates - 2019 - 2nd - 6th May
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Sligo Jazz Festival Links
During the May Bank Holiday weekend the Walled City reverberates to the distinctive jazz rhythms echoing from theatres, bars, shopping centres, restaurants and on the city streets!
Enjoy Northern Ireland’s Biggest and Best Jazz Festival on May Bank Holiday Weekend. The annual celebration of jazz and big bands will feature artists from all over the world and welcome more than 60,000 revellers over the bank holiday weekend.
The jazz festival started in 2002 and is one of the leading annual music events in Ireland. Organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council, the Jazz Festival features live music acts at over 70 venues and featuring over 200 musical acts over the Bank Holiday weekend and is one of the region’s most anticipated and talked about social events of the year..
Contact The Festival Director
if you would like ot participate in the festival please get in touch by emailing
Address:
Derry City and Strabane District Council,
98 Strand Road,
Derry,
BT48 7NN
Phone: 028 7125 3253
Festival Dates - 2019 - 2nd - 6th May
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City of Derry Jazz Festival Links
- Details
The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is Ireland's biggest jazz event that attracts hundreds of musicians and thousands of music fans to the city each year.
This October sees jazz giants Kurt Elling, Fred Hersch and Spyro Gyra play alongside the incredible Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Mica Paris, Linley Hamilton and the Big Brass Band Explosion and many other across Cork’s venues.
Fringe, ECM and The Music Trail events around the city will also see Cork come to life over the October bank holiday weekend, making it one to remember.
Around 40,000 music fans from around the world are expected in Cork for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival that feature some of the biggest names in Jazz. Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Cleo Laine and Chick Corea have headlined the Cork Jazz Festival in the past. This year it's the turn of more amazing jazz musicians to thrill the Cork audiences.
Festival Dates - 2019 - 24th - 28th October
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Guinness Cork Jazz Festival Links