Grab a pizza and a pint and enjoy some live jazz provided by some of Dublin's finest musicians. Expect tunes by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Weather Report and Sun Ra.

Ireland’s best Jazz Festival lights up the Walled City this May Bank Holiday weekend, Thursday 1st – Monday 5th May 2025.

Now in its 24th year, the City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival promises an unforgettable celebration, drawing over 100,000 music lovers to experience world-class performers. This year’s stellar line-up features Grammy winner Billy Ocean headlining, Una Healy with Luke Thomas, The Garage Boys, the electrifying Mr. Wilson’s Second Liners, The Red Stripe Band, Ska Beats, Angela & her NOLA Brass Band and many more international artists.

Kevin Lawlor presents a program of contemporary jazz at this Annual Jazz event that has become a feature of the WAC and CWSM calendar.

New York saxophonist Oded Tzúr has ushered in a new era for his instrument by giving it a whole new voice — one that is described by The Guardian as a "unique tenor sax whisper”. Often recalled by the artist as a 10-year leap of faith, this complete reimagining of the instrument has established him as a torchbearer of Spiritual Jazz. His music is more than a conversation, states the New York City Jazz Record: “It is an interactive prayer".

Trio Sankhara are amongst three of Ireland’s leading musicians in the field of contemporary improvised music. Tipperary-born Joe O’Callaghan is a genuine force in Irish jazz guitar, with extended tasteful lines, contemporary chord shapes and an instinct for rocking out when the need arises. Japanese-born and Irish-based pianist Izumi Kimura performs across classical, contemporary, jazz, and improvised music, with “a combination of feral creativity and technical virtuosity to the stage that belies her calm demeanour,” [Irish Times].

Just like Django Reinhardt’s quintessential gypsy jazz band of the 1930’s, the ‘Quintette du Hot Club de France’, the Tenters are a 5-piece jazz band following in the footsteps of the greats with their lineup of viola, bass and 3 guitars.

The Richie Buckley Quartet return to their Thursday Night Residency Jazz Gig at Frank Ryans Pub in Smithfield.

Chicago native Greg Murphy has been a major contributor to the New York City jazz scene since the 1980s and possibly best known for his twenty-two year association with John Coltrane’s multidirectional drummer, Rashied Ali. Greg began his musical adventures in 1971 when he joined the Ray-Fisk Grammar School Band in Chicago.

Live Jazz Jam Session in the heart of Cork City every Thursday from 9pm. Hosted by a house band of some of Cork’s finest jazzers & humans. All are welcome to participate for a tune or two. If that’s not your bag then simply take in the atmosphere with some food & refreshments served until late.

Now in its 24th year, Bray Jazz Festival returns from May 2nd to May 4th, bringing a stellar lineup of international and homegrown talent to the picturesque seaside town of Bray, Co. Wicklow.

With artists from the US, UK, France, Belgium, Japan, Italy, Finland, Norway, and more, this year’s edition promises a truly global celebration of jazz. Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, Wicklow County Council, and an array of sponsors, Bray Jazz Festival continues to uphold its reputation as one of Ireland’s leading jazz events.

Mieko Miyazaki and Franck Wolf form a rare and original duo, their music blending the elegant charm of the ‘koto,’ a half tube zither that is Japan’s national instrument, with the melodic lines of Wolf’s clarinet and saxophone.

Zoé Basha is a musician, composer and carpenter, of French and American origins.

Based between Ireland and the traveling life for over a decade, Zoé blends traditional singing with jazz and blues. Her original pieces and traditional songs explore the crossover between the sway of Appalachian mountain songs, the fervour and solemn ornamentation of Irish traditional songs, and the pulse of American ragtime through playful, syncopated guitar and a booming voice reminiscent of some old jazz record you can’t quite put your finger on.

Gediminas Karkauskas, a Lithuanian pianist based in Dublin for 20 years, studied at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague and completed his Masters at the Dublin Institute of Technology Conservatory of Music. He has performed at prestigious venues like The National Concert Hall in Dublin and the Archduke in London, as well as at the Kilkenny Arts Festival. His debut album, 'Lost Suite', was a top jazz album of the year and received critical acclaim. Gediminas will perform with drummer Kevin Lawlor and double bassist Florian Kockott, offering a mix of original music, jazz standards, and unexpected pieces.

Saxophonist Xhosa Cole has been blazing a trail since he first emerged on the UK jazz scene as the winner of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year award, in 2018.

A year later he collected the ‘best newcomer’ prize at the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards, and was named Breakthrough Act of the Year by Jazz FM in the UK.

Nubya Garcia (UK)

Nubya Garcia is one of the breakthrough stars of the recent UK urban jazz boom.

A generational talent since long before she released her Mercury Prize nominated debut album in 2021, tenor saxophonist Garcia was named Breakthrough Act of the Year by both Sky Arts and Jazz FM back as far as 2018, and was the Jazz FM’s Jazz Act of the Year, a year later.