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Event Description
Michael Buckley and his band are leading players in the current generation of Irish musicians.
They are well schooled with strong local and international experience and have moved beyond the environment they first developed in. They have formed their own sound and sensibility, composing, and performing at a new level.
Dublin-born, Michael Buckley is regarded as one of the most important and influential musicians on the Irish jazz scene. A second-
generation saxophonist (his father played with guitarist Louis Stewart), flautist and composer, Michael has been playing professionally since childhood, when he worked in theatre, and dueted with US saxophone master George Coleman, aged nine. His virtuosity and musicality have given him “first call” status, performing and touring regularly with major international figures.
Greg Felton is a Dublin-based pianist, composer and educator. His trio, Origin Story’s debut release, GOOD FRIDAY was The Irish Times album of the year in 2020. Other bands include White Rocket, Ronan Guilfoyle’s Always Know, Mappa Mundi and Evidence, Louis Stewart
Quintet and Mike Nielsen Quartet. He also lectures on Dublin City University’s Jazz Studies BA.
Barry Donohue is a Dublin-based, and most in demand, electric bass and double bass player and composer, performing regularly on the Irish scene with Michael Buckley, Chris Guilfoyle, Mary Coughlan, Nigel Mooney, Charlie Moon, Stella Bass, and The Johnny Taylor Trio. Barry also leads ‘Plaza Real,’ a group dedicated to playing the music of Weather Report. He has worked with international acts such as Nelson Veras, Greg Osby, Tal Cohen, John O’Gallagher, Jamie Oehlers, Christian Li, Nils Wogram, Theo Bleckmann. He has an M.A. in Music from Hochschule Lucerne.
Shane O’Donovan is Dublin-based drummer and producer currently very active on the Dublin jazz scene. In addition to Michael Buckley’s Ebb and Flow, Shane works with Hugh Buckley’s Purple Dayz, OKO, Kit Downes and John Moriarty Quartet. He has also collaborated with international musicians such as Tim Berne, Greg Osby, Ernie Watts, Rick Margitza, Guy Barker, John Stowell, Greg Burke, and Jamie Oehlers and more. Shane is also involved in producing electronic music and has amassed a vast repertoire ranging from melodic ambient to abstract experimental beats and soundscapes. His drumming style is an amalgamation of classic jazz, and the complex electronic grooves associated with artists such as Autechre, Squarepusher, Aphex Twin and Venetian Snares.
Kildare Jazz Festival 2026 takes place from Friday 27-Sunday 29 March.
Kildare Jazz Festival is funded by The Arts Council and supported by RTÉ Supporting the Arts, Kildare County Council Arts Service and Riverbank Arts Centre.
Event tickets: from €15
Weekend ticket: €75
(does not include workshops or family events)
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Location of event
Venue Information - Riverbank Arts Centre
Riverbank Arts Centre is a multi-disciplinary venue including theatre and visual arts centre in Newbridge, County Kildare. Riverbank Arts Centre is lively, atmospheric and convenient, a high quality venue which caters for a range of interests and age groups. From theatre, music and comedy to children's events and cinema, Riverbank Arts Centre provides an intimate setting for a broad variety of shows.