The Boyne Music Festival is thrilled to return to the beautiful expanse of Boann Distillery for an evening fusing chamber music and jazz. The festival is grateful to the Cooney family, founders of Boann Distillery, for opening its doors once again to give guests the opportunity to hear great music in a truly unique space.

Sligo Jazz Project Guest of Honour 2025

Jazz bass royalty — from Gillespie to Getz — takes centre stage, leading a thrilling collaboration and closing with a big band showcase of his iconic works.

Rufus Reid: bass
Kush Abadey: drums
Freddie Hendrix: trumpet
Pablo Held: piano and special guests

Pizza Jazz are a new four-piece comprising some of Dublin’s most exciting jazz players. Expect the music of Sun-Ra, Charlie Mingus, Hermeto Pascoal and Ornette Coleman alongside traditional and modern standards from the quartet, who cut their teeth playing a lively residency at ‘Luckie’s on Meath Street in the city.

10pm (After Show) Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby

Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.

Grammy-winning “musical alchemist” Francesco Turrisi joins SJP in genre-defying collaborations. Plus, Australian trombone powerhouse Shannon Barnett (now Cologne based) delivers soul-stirring brass mastery.

A revolving roster of jazz and blues acts featuring some of Ireland's finest musicians from Richie Buckley and Chris Comhaill to Ben Prevo and Karl Clews. Expect fabulous music as the perfect backdrop to your Saturday afternoon.

A showcase of local jazz talent from the northwest

The Lillies Session in partnership with The White Hag

4:30pm Lillies Cocktail Bar

Welcome to our daily 4:30 session where you can catch some of Ireland and Europe’s finest jazz musicians in an informal setting.

5pm – 7pm Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby

Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.

Don’t miss the 2025 SJP All Stars concert — a electrifying revue showcasing the phenomenal talent of the amazing 2025 Sligo Jazz project faculty, led by Guest of Honour Rufus Reid and Artist in Residence Melissa Aldana.

The Dirty Jazz club have been a massive part of the Dublin Jazz scene for around 15 years. Their focus is on the exploration and deconstruction of songs and an emphasis on creating a depth and textural soundscape on the melody, form and feel of the tunes.

10pm (After Show) Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby

Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.

12 noon Hawk’s Well Theatre

Witness the explosive finale of our summer school—a non-stop jazz marathon showcasing dazzling global talent, honed all week!

The Lounge Quartet have built up a strong following in their Sunday tenure at Walters. Delivering swinging standards from the Great American Songbook, this jazz band is sure to provide the ideal soundtrack to your chill out Sunday.

Organ Freeman – Irish jazz organ trio

Organ Freeman specialises in the music of the bebop and hard bop idioms of the early 1950s and 60s. Playing standards by composers such as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, and many more in the classic organ trio format.

Join Stella Bass, Felim Gormley and the band for a weekly jazz session at Searsons of Baggot St, the perfect way to ease you back after the weekend.