Jazzydehob

The Ballydehob Jazz Festival is back on the streets this May bank holiday weekend with more than 30 acts ready to sax it to the max for Cork.

This year’s festival comes in the form of a free live music trail featuring performances from Irish and international acts like Fixity, Donal Dineen, Goodnight Circus, Paul Dunlea, and Cormac McCarthy.

Headline concerts include a Ballydehob debut from Chicago-born (but Cork to the soul) Karen Underwood, who will combine stories of her Chicago roots with the timeless music of Nina Simone, Quincy Jones, Etta James and many more. Karen plays the Jazz Festival Hall at 7.30pm on 29 April.

Saturday’s headliner, Tatiana Eva-Marie & The Avalon Jazz Band come all the way from Brooklyn, New York. Tatiana explores her love for jazz through a wide range of musical styles, from 1930s pop to modern jazz, to a love for the Parisian art scene of the 1920s through ‘60s, to a fascination for New Orleans jazz, and a deep connection to the Great American Songbook. Tatiana and her crew play the Jazz Festival Hall at 8pm on 30 April.

Later on Saturday, Ballydehob Jazz Festival’s signature late night jazz club Moonshine Shindig returns with old time blues delivered with the groovy modern twist of the Canibal Dandies followed by jazz DJs and dancing until late.

Moonshine Shindig takes place on Saturday and Sunday night in the Jazz Festival Hall from 9pm on both nights.

On Sunday, jazz fans will be delighted to see the always mind-blowing Jazz Parade return to Main Street. Starring Ballydehob’s Jazz Giant Puppet Family, the parade is inspired by New Orleans style street funerals and promises pageantry on another level.

This year also launches the first Ballydehob Jazz Poetry Slam, in partnership with the Working Artist Studio, with some of Ireland's finest young poets and spoken words artists including David Jackson, Katie Mathúna, Julie Goo, and Pól O Cólmáin.

As part of the festival, a brand new series of small murals under the theme ‘The Rising Tide’ will be unveiled. Each artwork will be created in unassuming areas within the village to be sought out by the audience. The series is coordinated by muralist Shane O’Driscoll of Ardú Street Art Project.

And if that wasn’t enough, there will be swing dance classes available throughout the long weekend led by international dance instructor Peter Loggins and his dance partner Katja Završnik.

The Jazz Food & Crafts Market will also make an appearance, offering original artwork for sale, crafts, and delicious food on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by live music and pop-up circus performances.