The organisers of this year’s 10th Ballydehob Jazz Festival are pulling out all the stops to celebrate this milestone.
THE organisers of this year’s 10th Ballydehob Jazz Festival are pulling out all the stops to celebrate this milestone.
Since its inception, the festival’s programme has grown in standard and stature and every May Bank Holiday Weekend, the village has hosted a string of extraordinary musicians and eclectic events. This year is no different.
Running over four days, from Friday April 29th to Monday May 2nd, the organisers have launched their most ambitious programme to date.
‘This festival is run entirely by volunteers, a mad bunch of music lovers and festival buffs who share a vision to promote the arts and bring people to the remarkable and unique corner of the world that is Ballydehob, West Cork,’ said Joseph O’Leary, artistic director of the festival.
Some of the highlights this year include a New Orleans funeral parade; an artisan food and craft market; a full weekend of jazz dance workshops, as well as a swinging ‘moonshine party’ on the final night. A free jazz trail with over 40 performances will also take place throughout the village.
One of this year’s headliners include Lake Street Dive, a New York-based quartet that will play only two Irish dates as part of their European tour and they are renowned for their live shows.
The other headliner, New Orleans outfit, Meschiya Lake & The Lil, will deliver the rhythm and sounds of the ‘Big Easy’ era in the village hall on the final night of the festival.
The Ballydehob Jazz Festival will be holding its official launch on Thursday March 31st in The Woodford in Cork city, and everyone is welcome. A bus will be leaving Ballydehob at 8pm to bring people to Cork and back and The Darktown Strutters will be providing the swinging tunes at the launch. See www.ballydehobjazzfestival.org for more information.
