City of Derry Jazz Festival 2024

WELCOME
Fáilte Bienvenido Witamy
Willkommen Bienvenue
CONTENTS
Ireland’s biggest and best Jazz Festival
returns this May Bank Holiday weekend,
from 2nd - 6th May 2024.
The 23rd City of Derry Jazz & Big Band
Festival will return this year and the
celebration of Jazz and Big Bands will
be even better featuring artists from all
over the world and welcoming more than
80,000 revellers over the bank holiday
weekend. Among the popular acts
performing at the festival this year are The
Revolutionaires, The Red Stripe Band, Mr
Wilson’s Second Liners, Ricky Cool & The
In Crowd and many more!
For full listings and much more Festival
info visit www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com
or download the What’s On DS App
from the App Store or Google Play.
Jazz Hubs.........................................
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Spotlight on Jazz...............................
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Opening Event...................................
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Jazz at the Guildhall ..........................
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Jazz Workshops & Dance Classes ........
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Jazz Masterclasses ...........................
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Education Programme .......................
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Jazz Al Fresco ...................................
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Jazz in the Community ......................
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Late Night Jazz Club...........................
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Music Capital ...................................
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Jazz at Nerve Centre ...............................
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Jazz at Jika Jika ...............................
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Festival Map ....................................
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2

JAZZ HUBS
Our Jazz Hubs return this year to Bennigan’s Bar and The Playhouse.
Relax, unwind and enjoy the authentic Jazz experience across two
Jazz Hubs in the city.
BENNIGAN’S BAR 13 John St.
Famed for its weekly Jazz programme, curated by pianist and
owner John Leighton, Bennigan’s will host multiple acts daily over
the five days of the festival. Tickets are available at Bennigan’s
Bar Box Office between 5pm and 9pm. Call 028 71 269 127.
Thursday 2 May
Julian Siegel Quartet 8pm £25 from Box Office 5-9pm
Friday 3 May
John Leighton Trio 4pm £15 from Box Office 5-9pm
Oow Trio 7pm £15 from Box Office 5-9pm
Odd Meter Fairy & The Jazzys 11pm £15 from Box Office 5-9pm
Saturday 4 May
House of Jade Quintet 4pm £15 from Box Office 5-9pm
Meilana Gillard Vocal Quartet 7pm £15 from Box Office 5-9pm
Joseph Leighton Quartet 11pm £15 from Box Office 5-9pm
Sunday 5 May
Bradley Nielsen & Sons Quintet 4pm £15 from Box Office 5-9pm
George Colligan Quartet 7pm £20 from Box Office 5-9pm
Jack Kelly’s Honkatonktet 11pm £15 from Box Office 5-9pm
Monday 6 May
The Men Who Knew Too Much 5pm £10 from Box Office 5-9pm
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JAZZ HUBS
THE PLAYHOUSE 5-7 Artillery St.
There’s plenty of top jazz acts at the Playhouse
this year! To book tickets visit derryplayhouse.co.uk or
contact the Playhouse Box Office on 028 7126 8027.
Thursday 2 May
Victoria Geelan: Chasing Amy – A Celebration
of the Life & Song of Amy Winehouse 8pm £8
Friday 3 May
Tom Robinson – Up Close & Personal 8pm £25
Saturday 4 May
Fiona Scott Trotter presents The Divas Story 2pm £8
Christine Tobin - ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ - New
arrangements of Leonard Cohen Songs 8pm £8
Sunday 5 May
Paul McIntyre & Special Guests 3pm £6
John Donegan, The Irish Sextet 8pm £8
Monday 6 May
George Colligan Quartet 8pm £8
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SPOTLIGHT ON JAZZ
Christine Tobin
Having been an integral part of both the
New York City and London scenes for
many years, Christine is now based in
Co. Roscommon. Her unique, rich sound
described by The Guardian as ‘Tobin’s
24 carat voice’. Her expressive range
acknowledges finely acquired jazz, folk
and 20th century European art song
influences. MOJO Music Magazine said
“Christine Tobin really transcends glib
genrefication… everything is shot through
with an unmistakable refinement, freespirited
earthiness and giddy romanticism”.
She has recorded 12 highly acclaimed
albums and has a string of international
awards including ‘Best Vocalist’ at the BBC
Jazz Awards, a BASCA British Composer
Award for her settings of WB Yeats, a
‘Herald Angel Award’ at the Edinburgh
Fringe and ‘Jazz Vocalist of the Year’ at the
Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
George Colligan
George Colligan is not only one of the
great jazz pianists of his generation, but
he has earned an international reputation
as a multi-instrumentalist( drums,
trumpet, organ, keyboards), composer,
accompanist, teacher, and bandleader.
Winner of the 2015 DownBeat magazine
Critics Poll (Keyboard), he has had a long
association with living jazz legend Jack
DeJohnette. With over 130 albums to date
as an accompanist, Colligan has worked
with a long list of jazz greats, including
Buster Williams, Cassandra Wilson, Don
Byron, Ravi Coltrane, and many others. HIs
latest album, “Nation Divided“(Whirlwind
Records) is his 30th as a bandleader.
Colligan, a New York resident for 15 years,
now resides in Portland, Oregon where he
is an Associate Professor at Portland State
University.
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SPOTLIGHT ON JAZZ
Julian Siegel
Julian is an in-demand saxophonist on
the UK and European Jazz scene who
has worked with many of the top figures
in music. He was awarded the 2007 BBC
Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist and
is currently touring with the Julian Siegel
Quartet, featuring pianist Liam Noble,
bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer Gene
Calderazzo. The Quartet’s first CD ‘Urban
Theme Park’ was awarded the 2011 London
Jazz Award and in February 2018 the
Quartet released their new album ‘VISTA’
on Whirlwind Recordings. Since the
release of ‘VISTA’, the band has performed
internationally at festivals including Inntöne
Jazz Festival in Austria, Made in The UK at
the Rochester International Jazz Festival,
NY, Jazz Standard NYC, JazzFestival
Göttingen, Germany, Limerick Jazz Festival
Ireland, UK’s Love Supreme Festival,
Bristol and Manchester International Jazz
Festivals and an extensive 2018/19 Arts
Council England UK Tour.
The John Donegan Sextet
UK based, but originally from Cork, John
is a modern jazz pianist and composer. His
music has been featured on the BBC, Jazz
FM, RTE and independent radio stations in
the UK and Ireland. He has performed with
International artists such as Art Blakey, Art
Farmer, Barney Kessel, Greg Abate, Louis
Stewart and many more. John’s major
influences are Bill Evans, Kenny Barron,
Chic Corea and Keith Jarrett and he has
performed in France, Spain and Portugal
and at Birdland in New York. His 2019
album, ‘A Kite for Kate’ was dedicated to
his youngest daughter and comprised of
totally original pieces has already been
featured on RTE, BBC, K 107FM and other
independent radio stations. A 4* review
from ‘The Jazz Mann’ says “an impressive
offering in which he demonstrates his
command of a variety of styles, as both
pianist and composer. As a writer, he also
demonstrates an unfailing gift for melody.”
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OPENING EVENT
Thursday 2 May • Guildhall
City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival presents
‘The Live Launch’ ~ Classic Jazz at the Guildhall
6pm Free
The Mayor, Cllr Patricia Logue, will officially open this year’s Jazz Festival. Enjoy
performances from the best local jazz talent, live at the Guildhall. The Paul McIntyre
Quartet, John and Fiona Trotter, Jim Whiteside, Joe Quigley, Victoria Geelan and Joseph
Leighton will perform. Everyone is welcome to enjoy classic Jazz in stunning surroundings!
No booking required. Donations are welcome at the event, in aid of the Mayor’s Charity,
Foyle Hospice and The Ryan McBride Foundation. Donations to can be made online at
investmycommunity.com or by scanning the QR code.
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JAZZ HUB AT THE GUILDHALL
Friday 3 May • Guildhall, Main Hall
An Afternoon with the Mayor & The Jive Aces
2pm - 4pm £5 • JiveAcesMayoralEvent.eventbrite.co.uk
Come along and enjoy the big band sound of the Jive
Aces hosted by the Mayor, Cllr. Patricia Logue. Tickets
available at cityofderryjazzfestival.com. All proceeds in aid
of the Mayor’s Charities (Ryan McBride Foundation &
Foyle Hospice).
T: 028 7137 6508 E: mayor@derrystrabane.com
Saturday 4 May • Guildhall, Main Hall
Martin John & The Fellas
2pm - 4pm Free
The Roaring Forties
5pm - 7pm Free
The Swing Commanders
8pm - 10pm Free
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JAZZ HUB AT THE GUILDHALL
Sunday 5 May • Guildhall, Main Hall
Ursula In Company
8pm £15
Eventbrite: ursulaincompany.eventbrite.co.uk/
A theatre style ‘chat show’ celebrating
leading women in jazz who have wowed
and entertained audiences throughout the
last two decades of the City of Derry Jazz
& Big Band Festival. In their own inimitable
style, each has paid homage to some of
the greatest Jazz performers of all time;
from Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, to Anita
O’Day.
Hosted by Ursula McHugh
With Dee Doherty
Victoria Geelan
Jude Murphy
Joan Talbot
Anne Tracey
Fiona Trotter
Directed by Kieran Griffiths
A unique blend of music, song and
conversation.
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JAZZ WORKSHOPS & DANCE CLASSES
Friday 3 May • Foyle College
The Gay McIntyre Woodwind & Brass
Masterclass Series
1pm Free
The Gay McIntyre Woodwind & Brass
Masterclass Series focusing on saxophone
skills and other woodwind and brass
instruments is hosted by Hyde Park Brass
Band. This popular masterclass returns this
year, hosted by Foyle College.
Saturday 4 May • Millennium Forum Piazza
Swing Dance Workshop
North West Swing with music by
The Swing Commanders
1pm - 3pm Free
Get your dancing shoes at the ready
and come along to for a fun Jazz Dance
Workshop in the iconic location of
Millennium Forum Piazza. No experience
required, it’s one not to be missed!
Friday 3 - Monday 6 May
Vintage Star Boutique, 7 Pump St.
La Belle Bombshell Vintage Hair &
Fashion Styling Workshops
with hair stylists Sara & Meredith & vintage fashion
stylist Elaine Duffy
£10 per styling session. Eventbrite link
Fri 3: 3pm - 4pm • Sat 4: 11am - 2.30pm
Sun 5: 11am – 12.30pm • Mon 6: 11am - 12noon
For more info visit
www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com
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EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Live Music Now
Musicians from Live Music Now will deliver the
magic of jazz to over 1200 young people, with
a programme of fun and funky workshops in 8
local schools ahead of this year’s City of Derry
Jazz Festival. Between March and May, pupils at
post primary schools across Derry and Strabane
will take part in ‘Jazz labs’ – workshop-style
performances in their school hall, delivered by
renowned jazz pianist John Leighton and singer/
saxophonist Meilana Gillard as well as acclaimed
local singer Victoria Geelan and pianist Neil Burns.
In an exciting first, pupils who are part of
established School Jazz Bands at Lumen Christi
and Lisneal College will have an exclusive
opportunity to work closely with acclaimed
jazz musicians through a 4 week series of
masterclasses. Professional musicians will work
with the young jazz musicians, developing their
skills, and exploring improvisation techniques.
These will culminate in a ‘mini jazz festival in
school’ with performances from students and Live
Music Now musicians.
Since 2017 Live Music Now has reached over
10,000 children through the festival’s outreach
programme, with a rapturous response from pupils
and teachers alike. Live Music Now is the leading
outreach and musicians’ development charity,
which places musicians in a range of education,
community and healthcare settings. For more
information or for your school to register interest
please email alice.lewis@livemusicnow.org.uk.
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JAZZ AL FRESCO
Enjoy some great music and beats on the streets during this year’s festival. Featuring an
array of bands and musicians from far and wide, they are sure to bring the city’s streets to
life with their wonderful talents.
GAY McINTYRE STAGE Guildhall Square
Saturday 4 May
Calgach Singers 11am
Ardnashee School Choir & Band 12noon
St. Cecilia’s Jazz Band 1pm
Lumen Christi Jazz Band 1.45pm
Foyle College, Lisneal, EA Jazz Ensembles 3pm
Sunday 5 May
Jim McDermott & Friends 12noon
Palais Swing Band 2pm
Bobby Mc & the Dukes 4pm
Mission Impossible 6pm
CRAFT VILLAGE STAGE
Saturday 4 May
Renegade Zoo 11am
Harriet Rose 12noon
Harry Connolly Band 1pm
Limavady Big Band 3pm
Special Brew 5pm
Sunday 5 May
Jazz Lads & Their Dads 12noon
Odd Meter Fairy & The Jazzys 1pm
Martin John & The Fellas 3pm
Pure Fresh 5pm
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JAZZ AL FRESCO
Jaydee Brass Band
Thurs 2 May • Guildhall Square 5.45pm
Fri 3 May • Millennium Forum Steps 7.15pm
Sat 4 May • Millennium Forum Steps 3.45pm
Sun 5 May • Cathedral Quarter 2pm
Hyde Park Brass Band
Fri 3 May • Shipquay St., Waterloo St., Waterloo Pl.
7pm
Sat 4 May • Cathedral Quarter 2pm
Sun 5 May • Shipquay St., Waterloo St., Waterloo Pl.
Sun 5 May • Cathedral Quarter 2pm
Sun 5 May • Richmond Centre Steps 4.30pm
1pm
Mr. Wilson’s Second Liners
Fri 3 May • Shipquay St., Waterloo St., Waterloo Pl.
New York Brass Band
Sat 4 May • Shipquay St., Waterloo St., Waterloo Pl.
Legenderry Pop Up Market
Sat 4 May • Guildhall Square
Sun 5 May • Guildhall Square
11am - 5pm
12noon - 7.30pm
5pm
3pm
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JAZZ ALFRESCO
Saturday 4 May • Ebrington Square
The Bear Run 74
9am - 11am
The Bear Run will see up to
70 Super Cars and American
Muscle Cars take to the street
and give car lovers the exciting
opportunity to get up close
and personal and get their
pictures with them. The cars
will then take off and travel
around the Causeway Coastal
Route in aid of Angel Wishes
helping children smile again
charity.
Saturday 4 May • Shipquay Street
‘Rock the Boat’ World Record Challenge
11.30am - 1pm
An exciting world record attempt in the form of ‘Rock the
Boat’ is set to take place in Derry this year, all in aid of the
Mayor’s Charities Foyle Hospice and the Ryan McBride
Foundation. Local people of all ages are being urged
to come along to Shipquay Street to participate in the
attempting to set a new world record for the number of
people to row to the popular song that gets everybody
on the floor…literally!
Link to sign up:
https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/ROCKTHEBOATWORLDRECORDATTEMPT
To donate to the Mayor’s charities please scan the QR
Code below.
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JAZZ IN THE COMMUNITY
Friday 3 May • Ardnashee School
Red Stripe Band
2pm
Red Stripe Band returns to
Ardnashee School again this
year for their long-standing
collaboration, making the
school swing to Jazz vibes
to kick off the festival in
style.
Saturday 4 May
DLD Second Line Parade
Stepping off at 12noon sharp
Meeting Point: Castle Street • Ending Point: Waterloo Place
Calling all musicians, dancers, hip shakers and jazz
makers! Second Line NI is back this year with our annual
DLD Second Line Jazz Parade! We’re kicking the heels up
with a beautiful core of amazing bands joining us from all
over. Bring your instruments, umbrellas and fancy threads
to join us in celebrating how much jazz means to us all.
This year we’re starting in a new spot for a stretch of the
legs. Meet us at the Diamond so we can strut it down
Shipquay in style! All ages and instruments are welcome.
If you fancy joining in for the tunes, contact Amanda
Koser-Gillespie at ajkgillespie@gmail.com for music and
further details.
15

LATE NIGHT JAZZ CLUB
MUSIC CAPITAL
Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 May
The St. Columb’s Hall
Jazz Festival Club
11pm £15
The St Columb’s Hall Jazz Festival Club’
returns again this year and is staging Jam
Sessions hosted by the Paul McIntyre
‘house band’. The Cinema in St. Columb’s
Hall holds a wealth of musical history
nested in what can only be described
as an idyllic setting. What a venue and
ambience for creating the perfect musical
late-night atmosphere for the The Jazz
Festival Club Jam Sessions.
Book tickets here.
Friday 3 & Saturday 4 May • St. Augustine’s Church
Duke Special & Special Guests
3 May 7.30pm (doors 6.45pm)
£22.50 + booking fee
4 May 2pm (doors 1.15pm)
£15.50 + booking fee
www.musiccapital.org
Saturday 4 May • Carlisle Rd. Methodist Church
LAU
7.30pm (doors 6.45pm) £26.50 + booking fee
www.musiccapital.org
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JAZZ AT NERVE CENTRE
JAZZ AT JIKA JIKA
Saturday 4 May
Nerve Centre & Stendhal Festival present
An evening with Simon & Oscar
from Ocean Colour Scene
8pm £25 plus booking fee
Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison
present an evening of intimate acoustic
performances of all their hits including ‘The
Riverboat Song’, ‘The Circle’, ‘Traveller’s
Tune’, ‘Hundred Mile High City’ and
‘The Day We Caught The Train’. Simon
describes the acoustic shows as “a real
tonic - a great chance to look the audience
in the eye and interact with them on a
more personal basis than ever before”.
Ocean Colour Scene released their Moseley
Shoals album in 1996 which became a
major commercial success and a mainstay
on the British music scene. They return to
the Nerve Centre 22 years after their sellout
show at Nerve Centre in October 2002.
Book tickets here
Saturday 4 May • Unit 8 Warehouse, Pennyburn
Kerri Chandler
Doors 4pm – 2am £15 - £35
American House DJ and producer, Kerri
Chandler will make his Derry debut with a
massive block party set for Jika at the Unit
8 Warehouse in Pennyburn on Saturday
4th May. Australian duo X-Club will join
a jam packed lineup for what will be one
of the biggest parties of the year at the
venue. As if that wasn’t enough, award
winning DJ and producer Tom Middleton
will also join the bill alongside Bent’s Simon
Mills.
For ticket information please check
www.facebook.com/jikajikaevents
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JAZZ FESTIVAL MAP
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JAZZ FESTIVAL MAP
1 19th Hole, Bridgend
2 Alley Theatre
3 AOH
4 Ardnashee School
5 The Argyle Bar
6 Badgers Bar
7 Bennigan’s
8 The Bentley
9 Bishop’s Gate Hotel
10 Blackbird
11 Brickwork
12 Brass Neck
13 Carlisle Road Methodist Church
14 The Cathedral Quarter
15 The Cellar @ Silver Street
16 City Hotel Ballroom
17 City Hotel Lobby
18 Collon Bar
19 The Cosh Bar & Grill
20 Craft Village
21 Derby Bar
22 DLD Second Line Parade
23 The Dungloe Bar Beer Garden
24 Ebrington Hotel
25 Ebrington Square
Full listings can be found at www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com
26 El Tapas Gra
27 The Embankment Bar & Grill
28 Foyle College
29 The Gate Bistro
30 Gay McIntyre Stage, Guildhall Sq.
31 The Guildhall, Main Hall
32 Guildhall Taphouse
33 Gweedore Bar
34 Jack’s Bar
35 Legenderry Pop-Up Market
36 Link 47
37 Link 48
38 Lizzie O’Farrells
39 The Magnet
40 Maldron Hotel
41 The Metro
42 Millennium Forum & Piazza
43 Millennium Forum Steps
44 Nacional de Cuba
45 Nerve Centre
46 New Gate Arts & Culture Centre
47 The Park Bar
48 Peace Bridge
49 The Phoenix Bar
50 The Playhouse
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Richmond Centre Steps
Rock Road Social
The Ritz Bar
Rocking Chair
Sandinos
The Sandwich Co.
Shiquay Street
Silver Street
Spaghetti Junction
St. Augustine’s Church
St. Columb’s Hall
The Thirsty Goat
Tracy’s Bar
Unit 8 Warehouse, Pennyburn
Vintage Star
Visit Derry
Walled City Brewery
Waterfoot Hotel
Waterloo Place
Motorhome Parking
Fri 3 – Sun 5 May (3 days inclusive)
£20 per night per van.
Eventbrite: MotorhomeParking.eventbrite.co.uk
NB: facilities will be provided however
access to fresh water, waste water and
toilet disposal is available at Foyle Valley
Railway Car Park. Touring caravans and
tents are not permitted.
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