The Boutique Festival In The Back Of Beyond Packing A Bombastic Artistic Punch
The Ballydehob Jazz Festival takes place across the village of Ballydehob, gateway to the Mizen Peninsula in West Cork, Ireland, on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Since its inception in 2007, the Ballydehob Jazz Festival has grown in size and stature. Shortlisted for best West Cork Festival in 2019, each May Bank Holiday weekend the village hosts over 40 live music and dance performances that range from big name concerts to small workshops; from lively pub gigs to intimate side shows and a healthy dose of fringe attractions to compliment.
Ballydehob Jazz Festival recent headliners have included bands from New Orleans (Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns) (Stephanie Niles), Paris (Jack & Jills Swing Band) USA (Lake Street Dive) & Berlin (The Good Night Circus). Each year Ballydehob welcomes thousands of visitors to join the infamous Ballydehob New Orleans Jazz Funeral Parade, as well as hosting an international swing dance program.
It is perhaps no wonder that such an amazing event emerged out of this improbable corner of the world. Ballydehob, in West Cork has long been a mecca for artists from all over the world. This ambitious music event is run entirely by volunteers – an eclectic gang of music lovers and festival buffs who share a vision to promote the arts and entertain the masses.
Ballydehob Jazz Festival has against all the odds this year rolled out another outstanding festival programme featuring some of Irelands finest contemporary Jazz artists .
2024 Festival
Ballydehob Jazz Festival is a community and volunteer run Music & Art Festival which takes place May Bank holiday Weekend
(03 to 06 May 2024 )in Ballydehob Village, West Cork attracting musicians from all over the world and thousands of visitors
The 2024 Festival has rolled out another outstanding programme featuring musicians, spoken word artists, street performers, dancers from across the globe.
The village will host a free Live Music Trail across the village featuring over 30 performances from Irish and International acts – The Bonk, Donal Dineen, The Lava Birds, Tacla, Becca Ruane, Boolaboom.There will Jazz, New Orleans Punk & Funk,Piano prodigies, Swing, Beats & more
Last year BJF, which has been running since 2007, welcomed thousands of visitors to the streets, & village venues. Over 80% of the festival events, art exhibitions, music trail, street performances, poetry slam, food & craft market, parade all have free entry.
In the Main Festival Hall (The Ballydehob Community Hall) the festival will host a concert with New Orleans Jazz Punk Pianist Stephanie Nilles, on the Saturday The Canibal Dandies, Djs & Dancers take over for the Bootleggers Ball. Our Professional Dancers from Argentina & Ireland will run swing works shops throughout the weekend and will lead the audiences at The Bootleggers Ball.
Tickets for the 3 nights are available on BJAZZ24TICKETS
And making its debut this year is PIRATE TAXI an Outdoor Circus Show suitable for All Ages. An extraordinary aerial show, original live music, humour, a mechanically ingenious set built on an old school London Taxi, all taking place in the Ballydehob Playground on Saturday and Sunday – free entry.
Other family friendly events include the Sunday Jazz Festival Food & Craft Market, complete with children’s circus school (free) out front, and pop up day time live music and poetry gigs.
The village’s vibrant community pulls together to channel Ballydehob’s energy though the legendary New Orleans-style Sunday funeral parade, which is themed the “Carnival Of Creatures” and led by Modh Coinníollach (the Good Mood) muppet, a physical manifestation of the village’s sunny predisposition. Joining the Ballydehob Puppet Family this year are The Three Jazz Kitties ! These playful creatures are inspired by a local story …when a man at the bar heard rolling his eyes and saying ” fecckksss If a Cat had kittens in Ballydehob, that village would have a Festival “.
The Ballydehob Jazz Festival, which is supported by Cork County Council, The Arts Council of Ireland, and local business, runs free community and school workshops all through April in Levis’ Corner House , offering skills in puppet/ mask/prop making, and putting together performance pieces such as dance and drumming. Lead Artist is Elaine McClague ( Loosy Smokes, working with Robert Rowe (Ballydehob Puppet Making Company), and Artist & Workshop Volunteer Co-Ordinator Kathy Crockett, as well as Visual Artist Millie Egan leading the School Workshops. Creative Director of the Ballydehob Jazz Festival is Joseph O’Leary ( Fred , Levis Corner House) Participating schools are Scoil Bhride NS, St Matthias & Lisheen NS
THE BALLYDEHOB JAZZ FESTIVAL COMMITTEE.
Contact | Artistic Director | Joseph O’Leary | ballydehobjazz@gmail.com
BJF was the inspiration and work of local resident John Fagan and a small community group. The event grew in size over the first two years however John decided to step down in 2010 and a new committee was formed. John sadly passed away in 2017 and we are eternally grateful for his vision, passion for developing and promoting what is now an annually anticipated event.
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