What's going on in the Irish jazz scene
Regular Gigs
- Mondays at Harry Byrnes, Clontarf, from 8pm
- Tuesdays at O'Regans, Fade street, from 8pmTuesdays at The Morris Bar, Talbot street, from 8:30pm
- Pizza Jazz, Wednesdays at Lucky's, Meath street from 8:30pm
- The Essential Big Band, Wednesdays at The Goblet, Malahide Road from 9:30pm
- Kaleidoscope Night, first Wednesday of the month, Bello Bar from 8pm
- Bi-weekly Thursdays, The Dublin Jazz Jam at the Bohemian Bar, from 8:30pm
- Thursdays at Frank Ryan's, Smithfield, from 8:30pm
- Redline Jazz, Thursdays at The Circular, Rialto, from 8:30pm
- Pay Day at O'Regans, every Thursday from 8pm
- Every Sunday, Dock Street Jazz Club, Belfast from 8pm
- First Thursday of every month, Accidental Theatre, Belfast, from 8pm
- Fridays at Scott’s Jazz Club, Belfast, from 8:30pm
- The Lounge Quintet, Sundays at Walter's of Dún Laoghaire, 4–6pm
- Sundays at Il Vicolo, Galway from 7pm
- Sundays at Big Romance, Parnell street, 6–8:30pm
- Sundays at Noon: Hugh Lane Gallery, 12pm
- Monthly Sundays, The Dublin Jazz Jam at the International Bar, from 3:30pm
- Monthly Sundays, The Dublin Jazz Jam at Noosh Cafe Bar, Sandymount
- Various dates and times: The Dublin Jazz Co-Op at Cobblestone
- Various days: The Blind Pig, Suffolk St
- First Weds of the month: Irish Women in Jazz at The Vintage Room, Workmans
Please send your jazz and improvised music listings to comms@improvisedmusic.ie
So here we are now, falling face-first into a new year. Well at least there’s still gigs. Tasty, delicious, gigs…
BAN BAM is a biennial commission for female and gender-minority artists from the island-of-Ireland, presented by IMC (Dublin) and Moving on Music Belfast). Saturday, Jan 20th will see the premiere live performances of new works by the 2023 BAN BAM composers: Meliana Gillard, Bianca Gannon and Carole Nelson. 7:30pm at The Smock Alley Theatre.
The Dublin Jazz Co-op present the debut show for new outfit Collider featuring Chris Guilfoyle on guitar, Darragh O’Kelly on synths, Steve Welsh on more synths and Shane O’Donovan on drums. The lads intend to play live drum and bass, house music and IDM. Expect “a unique night in The Vintage Room with a convergence of analog and digital, where the improvisational spirit of jazz meets the innovative beats of electronic music.” Jan 28th at The Vintage Room, Workmans.
Long-standing Puerto Rican reggae band Cultura Profética hit Dublin for the second time. Founding members Willy Rodríguez (bass guitar, vocals), Eliut González (guitar), Omar Silva (guitar, bass guitar) will be onstage along with some newbies. Feb 5th at Opium.
Those seeking an alternative cello festival will have their needs met at SPIKE, Alternative Cello Festival. On the agenda: live performances by two new groups led by leading cellists Gay-yee Westerhoff and Naomi Berrill. FIRL, featuring Gay-yee Westerhoff (cello, keyboards) and Eos Counsell (violins, electronics) will present a collection of cinematic, nature-inspired compositions for cello, violin, piano, and birdsong. While the Naomi Berrill Trio featuring, you guessed it, Naomi Berrill (cello, vocals), Lorenzo Pellegrini (guitar, synth and vocals), and Andrea Beninati (drums, cello) will present their recently released album “Inish”, a jazz-based rumination on islands and island-life. Feb 9th at the Sugar Club.
Mario Bakuna and Roberto Manzin invite the good people of Dublin to celebrate the American saxophonist Stan Getz and Brazilian guitarist João Gilberto in a tribute to the iconic 1964 album ‘Getz/Gilberto’. This record popularised bossa nova worldwide and is one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. Feb 10th at Arthurs.
River Daughter are three recent graduates of DCU’s jazzer course, Rufina Tishina (vocals), Rory Fleming (baritone sax) and Emily O'Rourke (guitar). They have plans to perform a variety of jazz standards and compositions from artists such as Bill Evans, Ornette Coleman, Emily Remler and more on Feb 11th at Arthurs. Tip!
Zoé Basha and French musician Aina Tulier will soon be touring Ireland with works they have been developing which explore the links between Appalachian, Irish and Occitan traditional music. Zoé will release her debut album in 2024: a mix of traditional ballads and original pieces blending traditional singing, jazz and blues music. Aina is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist (nyckelharpa, fiddle, Gascon bagpipes) specialising in both playing and teaching a variety of traditional music styles. Expect “bold vocal harmonies, fiddles, and nyckelharpa”. Feb 16th at The Cobblestone. Big tip!
If you fancy a spin up north, SOULTRANE festival promises “an unforgettable day filled with the best soul and jazz music that Northern Ireland has ever seen!”. The lineup features British soul icon Omar, Beyond the Blue, Manukahunney and fast rising sensation August Charles. Not bad hai. Feb 17th, Mandela Hall, Belfast. Tickets on Eventbrite.
This Afro-Brazilian Carnival celebration will feature Yankari, Elikya, Zeembass, Edi Cavaco, Will Kanela and more and the evening will culminate with a supergroup performance of Jorge Ben Jor’s 1976 masterpiece LP ‘Africa Brazil.’ Sounds amazing. Feb 17th at The Sugar Club.
Irish jazzer-supergroup The Workshop hit Thomas street for their rescheduled date after their original show got pulled due to ‘the riots’. Expect to find Bill Blackmore trumpeting, Chris Engel saxophoning, Matthew Jacobson drumming, Cormac O’Brien bassing and Darragh O’Kelly keyboarding. Feb 18th at Arthurs.
About The Goo
The Goo is Dublin’s newest print magazine dedicated to music and clubbing and provides a comprehensive What’s On listings guide along with an exciting array of features, interviews, reviews, previews and human interest stories illuminating the vibrant entertainment scene in Dublin. The monthly publication offers an enjoyable mix of gig & club previews & reviews, album & single reviews, features, Q&A’s and a few quirky columns by some amazing writers, musicians and industry folk in a style that’s punchy, light hearted and informative.
Read the digital edition of The Goo at HKM Publishing, or pick it up around Dublin for free.
Follow The Goo on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to keep up to date.
Loads on over the Christmas, not a lot in January. You know the drill. But hey let’s look after ourselves & each other this holiday period yea? Just sayin’...
Ongoing series ‘Irish Women in Jazz’ returns to Arthurs this December 20th for ‘A Cosy Christmas’ with originals & Christmas music from IWIJ founder, vocalist, songwriter, producer and performer Jennifer McMahon. As usual the night will begin with a live podcast recording from 8pm, hosted by guitarist Emily O’Rourke, followed by music from 9pm. ‘Irish Women in Jazz’ launched in January 2022 and has since hosted 20+ gigs featuring female-led groups. Expect to find Cormac Kenny on piano, Baz Rycraft on bass and Sebastian Jezzi on drums. Doors are 7.30pm & tickets are €10-15 on Eventbrite or €18 OTD.
Islam Ireland’s Winter Bazaar takes place on Friday & Saturday December 22/23 at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, Dublin 14. Expect stalls selling “clothing, hijabs, perfumes, bukhoor, oud, jewellery, crafts, henna, books, games, toys, art pieces, cakes & savoury finger foods.” 2–6pm on the Friday & 12–6 on the Saturday. As-salamu alaykum!
Two long-standing heavyweights of the Irish jazz scene, Lee Meehan & Hugh Buckley, celebrate the birth of Christ at Arthurs of Thomas street, Dublin 8, Saturday December 23rd. Expect Lee Meehan on vocals & guitar, Hugh Buckley also on guitar, Scott Flannigan on keys, Doc O’Connor on sax & Shane O’Drumovan on drums. Doors 8:30pm, tickets on Eventbrite.
The Fun Lovin' Criminals – minus Huey Morgan, cos he bailed in 2021 – begin their UK and Ireland tour on Dec 23rd at Opium of Aungier street. The lads are celebrating two milestone achievements; bringing pizza to Ireland in the ‘90s, and the 25th anniversary of their second album, '100% Colombian'. Expect the record to be played in its entirety, alongside their greatest hits, and, I’m told, a slice of DiFontaine’s for everyone in the audience.
Cooks But We're Chefs Christmas party at the Grand Social – what’s not to love? For the uninitiated, the Cooks emerged around 5 or 6 years ago and were among the first jazz-funk-neo-soul bands in Ireland pushing that sound, ala their UK counterparts. They quickly hit the festival circuit entertaining the masses and having a jolly good time for themselves. They’ve been quiet-ish the past couple of years so this is a good opportunity to catch up with them. Expect a great high-energy, good-vibes party band (in the best possible way). 7pm–1am, December 28th at the Grand Social. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Kasia Eliasz’s 9-piece band roll into Arthurs this December 28th for a night of “pulsating Brazilian & African rhythms”. Big tip. Tickets on EB.
The Ethiopian Community of Ireland are having a get-together on Dec 29th from 6pm at the Grand Central Hotel. London’s DJ Sami will spin “the best of Ethiopian dance music” and there’ll be Ethiopian food and drinks (not free) on the go too. Search ‘Ethiopian Community Party 2023’ on FB for more. Twenty quid in.
The Dirty Jazz Club returns to Arthurs this Dec 30th with Conor Murray on drums, Derek Whyte on bass, Colm O’Hara on trombone, Bill Blackmore on trumpet, Darragh O' Kelly on keys & Cathal Roche on sax. Dress to impress.
Father Peter Conefrey was the leader of the Leitrim anti-jazz movement of 1934. Now, 90 years later, the campaign is commemorated with a live jazz band, dancers, refreshments, scat singing, dressing up and prizes. “Learn to dance the Lindy Hop and the Charleston with Edwina Guckian”. All this and more at the ‘Down with Jazz 90th Commemoration’ on NYD afternoon in Leitrim. Interested? Look it up on Eventbrite. Sponsored by the Leitrim Enterprise Office no less!
And last but not least, a load of heads are planning to strip off to celebrate Blue Monday – considered the most depressing day of the year – on Jan 15th at White Rock Beach, Killiney. From the blurb “White Rock Beach provides the perfect backdrop for this unforgettable party. With its stunning coastline, golden sand, and crystal-clear waters, you'll feel like you're in paradise. Join us for a day filled with laughter, music, and good vibes.” Search FB for more.
About The Goo
The Goo is Dublin’s newest print magazine dedicated to music and clubbing and provides a comprehensive What’s On listings guide along with an exciting array of features, interviews, reviews, previews and human interest stories illuminating the vibrant entertainment scene in Dublin. The monthly publication offers an enjoyable mix of gig & club previews & reviews, album & single reviews, features, Q&A’s and a few quirky columns by some amazing writers, musicians and industry folk in a style that’s punchy, light hearted and informative.
Read the digital edition of The Goo at HKM Publishing, or pick it up around Dublin for free.
Follow The Goo on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to keep up to date.
Just a few more sleeps ‘til Christmas folks. Plenty of gigs to be had this Silly Season too. So, without further ado:
The Irish Women in Jazz series returns to Arthurs for their monthly podcast & gig series. This month’s edition features Cork vocalist Laoise Leahy with her band – the Johnny Taylor Trio. Expect original compositions alongside interpretations of Esperanza Spalding, Cécile Mc Lorin Salvant, Aretha Franklin & more. Nov 15th at Arthurs.
U.S. pianist Bill Carrothers has performed with luminaries such as Gary Peacock, Billy Higgins and Dave Douglas and held residencies at the prestigious NYC jazz club The Village Vanguard. This November 15th he darkens the doors of Newpark Academy of Music to share his approach to improvisation, composition, and performance for a very special, one off masterclass. The following night, Nov 16th, he plays Arthurs with the Kevin Brady Trio.
Visual artist & professional rapper Kojaque graces the Vicar street stage this November 16th for a winter gig on home turf. Soft Boys take note.
Neil Ó Lochlainn (Ensemble Ériu, Cuar) is one of the leading figures of the trad-not-trad scene in Ireland. His most ambitious work to date, Emain Ablach will be presented live for the first time in Dublin at the Smock Alley Theatre on Saturday, Nov 18th. If his previous output is anything to go by, this is sure to be an amazing gig.
Magical Dog is a new quartet dedicated to the classic jazz fusion period. Expect raw driving grooves, collective improvisation, and tunes from the likes of John Mclaughlin, Jan Hammer and Steve Grossman. With Darragh O’Kelly on keys, Derek Whyte on bass, Joe O’ Callaghan on guitar and Shane O’Donovan on drums, you know you’re in for a good time. Nov 18th at Arthurs.
If you fancy making a night of it after Magical Dog, and have the stamina to do so, Sally Cinnamon & DJ Ellefunk join longstanding disc-jockey Donal Dineen at the Commercial Rowing Club (over by the Phoeno) for a spot of late night dancing (and disc-jockeying). Nov 18th, 10pm – 3am.
‘Filipa sings Monk’ entails Portuguese singer Filipa Quintino singing hits from the vast Thelonious Monk repertoire, accompanied by Irish jazz luminaries Paul Dunlea (trombone), Scott Flannigan (piano), Cormac O’Brien (double bass) and Shane O’Donovan (drums). Nov 19th at Arthurs.
Prolific & eclectic Dublin musician / producer Sunken Foal releases his latest album ‘Reveal in Finder’ at The Workmans Cellar this Nov 19th. Thirteen quid otd or seventeen with a digital download. Ambient, drone & modern classical artist Zvuku on support. Noice.
The Workshop is a supergroup composed of South African saxophonist Chris Engel and a host of celebrated Irish jazz-lads: Bill Blackmore (trumpet), Matthew Jacobson (drums), Cormac O’Brien (bass) and Darragh O’Kelly (keys). Their May 2023 album can be found at cormacobrien.bandcamp.com. Nov 23rd, Arthurs.
Legendary group Huun Huur Tu celebrate 30 years at the forefront of the Throat Singing scene. Nov 28th at The Sugar Club. You can thank me later hun.
Dublin stalwarts Patrick Stefan & Jennifer McMahon perform material written & produced during IMC’s Incubator project. Nov 26th at The Cooler. More info at improvisedmusic.ie
Brazilian singer-songwriter Maria Gadù visits Dublin to present her latest album ‘Quem Sabe Isso Quer Dizer Amor’. Dec 06th at the Button Factory.
Dublin-born saxophonist and composer Matthew Halpin, normally found working as a freelance musician in Germany & Austria, returns to Ireland and joins IMC at The Cooler for a night of original music and new spins on standards. Tickets & info: improvisedmusic.ie
Dun Laoghaire Choral Society presents Messiah for All. Monkstown Church of Ireland, Dec 10th. Lit AF. Tickets on Eventbrite. Fun for all the family.
About The Goo
The Goo is Dublin’s newest print magazine dedicated to music and clubbing and provides a comprehensive What’s On listings guide along with an exciting array of features, interviews, reviews, previews and human interest stories illuminating the vibrant entertainment scene in Dublin. The monthly publication offers an enjoyable mix of gig & club previews & reviews, album & single reviews, features, Q&A’s and a few quirky columns by some amazing writers, musicians and industry folk in a style that’s punchy, light hearted and informative.
Read the digital edition of The Goo at HKM Publishing, or pick it up around Dublin for free.
Follow The Goo on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to keep up to date.
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If you have a gig, release, or anything relevant you’d like us to feature or share on our channels, please send details over to Comms and we’ll push it out there.