Get into the swing with Jazz 2013

Headliners include Soul Rebels (New Orleans), who have been described by Rolling Stones Magazine as ‘utterly uninhibited hip-hop hybrid, not to be missed’ and play The Nerve Centre on the opening night on Thursday.

All male vocal group The Overtones will perform in the Millennium Forum on Friday and Saturday. The handsome quintet have come a long way since their painting and decorating days, and now their unique harmonisations of old and modern day hits have made them a household name.

The Playhouse Theatre will become the weekend home to some of the hottest names on the Irish jazz scene at the moment. From Thursday to next Monday the intimate surroundings of this venue will be filled with the sounds of the Dark Energy Trio, David Lyttle & Jason Rebello, John Leighton, Louis Stewart with Gay McIntyre and the Paul McIntyre Trio with Club Cabaret rounding off their weekend.

Following their recent collaboration with Michael Bublé, globally renowned swing-pop trio, The Puppini Sisters, are coming the festival to headline the Grand Vintage Ball in The Venue on Saturday.

The Grand Vintage Ball will be the culmination of a day long programme of events as part of the Vintage Fair celebrating the cultural past and promises to bring a fantastic night of glamour, great music, dancing and fun right to the heart of the city centre.

Also on Saturday, the Nerve Centre will host UK Jazz Musician of the year – the Neil Cowley Trio. This is not your typical jazz trio and features a dazzling composer – pianist Neil Cowley – who creates engaging and dynamic music that embraces experiences in other genres - the highs of the dance music, the grooves of funk, and the elegiac nature of orchestral music

Sumptuous and classy music at its best will continue when Pink Martini take to the stage of the Millennium Forum as part of their global adventure on Sunday.

Other highlights include the Brass Impact Big Band, Dana Masters Band, Beverley Craven, The Stars from the Commitments, the Foyle Showband, Darryl Hendrix and The Love Hearts, Jerry Fish and his band, James Huish & Michael Buble Tribute and Club Cabaret.

With nearly 300 events, the wealth of international, national and local talent that will descend on the city’s venues over the May Bank Holiday is incredible.

The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is arranged for you by Derry City Council in association with the UK City of Culture 2013 team, with funding from Diageo and support from NITB and Airporter. 

For a full programme of events and a chance to enter a VIP competition check out the website: www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com. Follow us on Derry Jazz Festival Facebook page for all the latest festival updates. Telephone: (028) 7137 6545.