Ballydehob Jazz Festival Takes Place This Weekend

Ballydehob, the village of festivals, is now ready for another swinging weekend! The Jazz Festival is back bigger and even bolder this year hosting over 45 events.

All events are popping up in unusual venues around the village, throughout the May Bank Holiday weekend 28th April – 1st May.

The 2017 Ballydehob Jazz festival features artist and performers from three continents - Europe, Africa and the Americas and includes: -  Dance workshops, Art, Cabaret, Live Music & Street spectacle.

This year’s headline acts are HOME JAZZ BAND and FREEDOMS TRIO. HOME JAZZ BAND are an innovative and playful traditional jazz and swing band from one of the most important places in the Jazz revival: Vilnius, Lithuania. This band rediscover old jazz songs and spices them up with a hopping New Orleans flavour and the Swinging Style of the Golden Era Jazz. – A ‘must see’ for anyone who loves a Hot Jazz party.  FREEDOMS TRIO are a remarkable international collaboration of Norwegian  guitarist  Steinar Aadnekvam ,Mocambiquen drummer and singer Deodato Siquir and Brazilian bass virtuoso Rubem Farias .These three extremely gifted musicians have performed at most prestigious Jazz Festivals across Europe and the Americas  and we’re delighted to have them perform at Ballydehob jazz.

One of the festival family entertainment highlights is the New Orleans Jazz Funeral  spectacle, it is back again this year on both the Saturday and Sunday evenings. Last year it was led by a Giant Puppet Katrina but rumour has it this Mexican beauty will not be alone in the skies over Ballydehob this year.

This ambitious music event is run entirely by volunteers- led by creative director Joe O’Leary, and an eclectic gang of music lovers and festival buffs who share a vision to promote the arts and entertain the masses in one of the last outposts

A very hard working Ballydehob Jazz Committee led by creative director Joe O'Leary, are excited to announce the epic programme. Its been a busy year ! Bands booked, Bands cancelled (Thanks Mr. Trump), New Bands booked...Ballydehob, the village of festivals, is now ready for another swinging weekend!

“Its been a big year building up to The Jazz Fest Holiday  weekend.The excitement is brewing ….where else on earth can you have over 30 nationalities;revellers  and musicians mingling together , 20 times the population of the village  coming in and all to celebrate the unique power of music ,dance,spectacle  and community?..its very special...shur half of Vilnius is coming to Ballydehob this year….”

“Anything can happen here ,Last year we had Lake street Dive headline in the Festival Hall and the following week they were visiting Mr Obama in the White House.Basically from one centre of the universe to another !”

“In our thoughts this year will be the founding father of the Ballydehob Jazz festival;John Fagan who very recently passed away.We are eternally grateful for his vision, passion and perseverance when back in 2007 he decided to step up and put on a jazz festival in the back of beyond  in Ballydehob.May the Blow in Blow on”