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Sligo Jazz Festival at Hawk's Well!

A collage of photographs of six jazz performers

Get ready for an electrifying week of music as Hawk’s Well Theatre hosts an incredible lineup of performances for the Sligo Jazz Festival, from July 23 to July 28!

For all 'pay-in' Jazz Festival events, Hawk's Well are offering a SEASON PASS of €140 for the following:


July 23 - 27: Festival Jam Session - featuring a host of international jazz stars

July 23: Fergus McCreadie

July 24: Eleonora Strino Trio

July 24: Double Bill - Sun Mi Hong Trio + Gareth Lockrane & Julian Siegel

July 25: Elio Villafranca's Sligo Afro-Latin & Jazz Orchestra

July 26: The Power of the Voice

July 27: Tom Ollendorff & Friends plus Gareth Lockrane & Friends

July 27: SJP All Stars

July 28: SJP Big Bash

July 28: SJP WRAP PARTY - with the SJP Little Big Band & Final Jam

Now in their 19th year, the event known to many as the Sligo Jazz Project (SJP) has grown to become the biggest and most inclusive jazz education event in Europe. What makes Sligo Jazz Festival so unique is the combination of Irish and international jazz musicians who are teaching for the week and also performing on the various live events each day.

Each show at Hawk’s Well Theatre will be preceded by daily EARLY JAM SESSIONS (5-7pm) from Tuesday 23rd July to Saturday 27th July, and followed by a LATE-NIGHT FESTIVAL JAM SESSION, featuring an array of international talent. At these FESTIVAL CLUB JAM SESSIONS 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 out on the full details below...

On Tuesday 23rd July Sligo Jazz Project Young Artist in Residence 2024, Fergus McCreadie, with special guests Tom Ollendorff, Sun-Mi Hong, Conor Murray and Micheal Murray, will perform a richly varied repertoire of self-penned material. Later you can catch the FESTIVAL CLUB JAM SESSION in the Hawk’s Well foyer at 10pm.

On Wednesday 24th July, enjoy some Jazz at lunch time with a performance from Eleonora Strino Trio who is recognized by critics as one of the most promising young talents in the international jazz scene. There will be an EARLY FESTIVAL CLUB JAM SESSION from 5pm - 7pm that same day, and at 8pm a double-bill kicks off with performances by the Sun Mi Hong Trio and Gareth Lockrane & Julian Siegel, joined by special guests Phil Robson and Christine Tobin. This will be followed by another FESTIVAL CLUB JAM SESSION in the theatre foyer at 10pm.

Thursday 25th July sees Sligo Jazz Project 2024 Artist in Residence Elio Villafranca lead an all-star ten-piece group with an emphasis on afro-Cuban and swing styles. Stick around for the FESTIVAL CLUB JAM SESSION at 10pm to keep the energy going. Celebrate the female voice in jazz with Emilia Martensson, Christine Tobin, Veronica Morscher & Friends on Friday 26th July before the FESTIVAL CLUB JAM SESSION at 10pm.

On Saturday, 27th July, kicking off at 1.30pm don’t miss performances by Tom Ollendorff & Friends, followed by Gareth Lockrane & Friends. One of the most exciting young guitarists to emerge on the UK and international jazz scenes Tom Ollendorff is known for his highly distinctive sound which blends virtuosic guitar playing with sophisticated harmonic and melodic ideas. Gareth Lockrane is the UK’s premier jazz flautist, a prolific and versatile musician who makes regular sideman appearances as well as leading his own small groups plus his acclaimed contemporary big band. An EARLY CLUB JAM SESSION kicks off in the foyer from 5-7pm.

Also on Saturday 27th July, always a highlight of Sligo Jazz Festival, SJP’s All-Star night features the entire 30-strong summer school faculty in various formats, small and large, featuring many familiar faces as well as many international artists – followed by the FESTIVAL CLUB JAM SESSION kicking off once again at 10pm.

On Sunday, July 28th, experience the SJP Big Bash - the Sligo Jazz Marathon, showcasing over 130 musicians of all ages and nationalities. All of our participants have been practicing and fine tuning their performances all week and now get the chance to showcase them in front of an audience. This is officially the biggest Sligo Jazz summer school ever, and it’s also the first SJP Big Bash ever held in the auditorium of the Hawks Well Theatre.

The amazing week will draw to a close with a sensational big band set featuring our stellar 2024 faculty followed by a jam session featuring a host of international talent. So don’t miss the Sligo Jazz Festival Wrap Party - The Final SJP JAM SESSION PARTY; two stages of music with a host of international stars.

And finally, the incredible week will culminate at 6pm Sunday in a sensational big band set featuring our stellar 2024 faculty, followed by a jam session showcasing a myriad of international talent. Don’t miss the Sligo Jazz Festival Wrap Party - The Final SJP JAM SESSION PARTY where you can enjoy two stages of music with an array of international stars.

Full details of all Hawk’s Well events are available online, and in the new brochure. For ticketing, visit the website or call the box office on 071 916 1518.