Press Release

Have a jazztastic weekend at the City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival

Wednesday 23rd April

A packed programme of world class jazz musicians, big bands, celebrated singers and professional dancers are guaranteed to have everyone dancing in the streets as the hottest music festival in Northern Ireland sails into Derry/Londonderry city on Thursday 1st May and the greatest wonder of it all is that most of the entertainment is completely free!

One of the most popular aspects of the City of Derry Jazz Festival, organised by Derry City Council is the Guinness Free Jazz Trail, providing hundreds of hours of great music in venues across the city ranging from restaurants and cafes, to bars and hotels, as well as the city’s finest theatres and venues - all for FREE.

The festival has become synonymous with several acts that delight local audiences every year and so welcomes back The Jive Aces, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, Kings of Rhythm, The Lee Hedley Band, Greggi G and his Crazy Gang and Les Swingin’ Lovers. Catch The Extraordinaires who have returned for another year to impress audiences after their show-stopping performances at last year's festival.

Some of Ireland’s finest jazz artists will once again be part of this year’s festival; Gay McIntyre a respected musician throughout the European Jazz scene; Tommy Halferty, without doubt one of Europe’s foremost Jazz guitarists and Ronnie Greer one of Ireland’s most acclaimed blues men; Stevie Rice is a multi-talented musician who has just returned from New Zealand and will be performing swingin jazz and blues sets; No festival would be complete without The Derry Jazz Quartet and the Johnny Quigley All Stars ; Also watch out for Fiona Trotter, Sophie Garner, Noella Hutton, June Grant and Carmel McCreagh who will be wooing audiences with their soulful voices in various venues throughout the Free Jazz Trail.

The festival is delighted to welcome the following acts that are making their debut appearance this year; Hot Pepper Jazz, from Germany will bring you the best in Chicago and Dixieland Jazz; Brass Impact are guaranteed to make an impact as this 18 piece brass band are one of Scotland’s most dynamic big bands and offer a unique presentation of big band music that is entirely new, fresh and exciting with their outstanding vocalists; Mirenda Rosenberg, is an act that is not to be missed, this powerhouse singer hails from Washington DC and has a vocal presence that is reminiscent of Nina Simone and Billy Holiday; Oo-Bop-Sh’Bam are simply one of the best R&B-jump-Boogie-Blues bands in Europe and will deliver a performance and a night you won’t forget; Fiona Stelfox, originally from Derry resides in Italy and has returned to perform at the festival for the first time accompanied by her Italian ‘Lucca Quintet’. Playing both a selection of modern and traditional Jazz, Fiona also has a passion for Brazilian Jazz.

Real Jazz fans won’t want to miss Equinox will play their only Northern Irish date at the festival. The band resides in the Netherlands, consisting of three Americans and one Irishman and their current tour is devoted to the music of the Thelonius Monk. Monk is considered one of the most important (and eccentric) jazz composers of the century and fans of the underground can catch Equinox at The Playhouse on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is funded by Derry City Council and Guinness, and supported by BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio Ulster

For information on accommodation please contact Derry Visitor Convention Bureau on Tel: (028) 7126 3511 (048 from the Rep. of Ireland). For further information about the festival log on to the festival website www.cityofderryjazzfestival.co.uk , pick up a festival programme from Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau or contact the festival office on 028 7137 6545.

Ends

For additional information contact:

Press Office

return to previous page