LIMERICK JAZZ FESTIVAL 2026 – Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
23–27 September 2026
Welcome to the 2026 Limerick Jazz Festival; another celebration of the richness and depth of the current jazz scene, both here at home; and further afield.
This year’s festival starts on the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Coltrane, a towering giant of jazz, whose work continues to reverberate across the generations. In celebration of Coltrane, we are privileged to start the festival with a unique performance of Coltrane’s A Love Supreme Suite. This music was released in 1965, and to this day is lionised as a profound statement of not only Coltrane’s compositional and improvisational talents in the context of an incredible band; but a deeply personal statement of Coltrane’s spiritual transformation over the previous years. This is a once in a lifetime chance to experience this seminal piece of music performed live, by a great quartet featuring Michael Buckley on tenor and Ronan Guilfoyle on bass.
Following this auspicious start to the festival we have 4 more days of great live music. Guitarist Matthew O’Connell, a finalist in the Limerick Jazz Society’s 2022 Young Irish Jazz Musician of the Year Competition, makes a welcome return to the Treaty City with piano player Tom Maxwell as part of a double bill on Thursday 24th September in Dolans. The second act up that night showcases Swiss drummer Florian Arbenz; US saxophone legend Greg Osby; the amazing Portuguese accordionist Joāo Barradas and French bass-legend François Moutin! Arbenz’s new quartet brings together fellow musicians whose rhythmic concept, harmonic vision and open-minded playing take the listener on a journey which ranges from hard-swinging solos and free improvisations to dreamy soundscapes.
Returning to the duo format we have their first appearance at the festival of ReRoute, Kildare based musicians Rusfina Tishina (vocals) and Emily O’Rourke (guitar) bringing their intimate, lyrical song writing and playing which draws on a rich seam of musical styles and influences; who are opening for the John Donegan Quintet. John’s music and playing is carving out its own space in the festival, as he returns to perform with Irish players including Richie Buckley (sax) and our own John Daly (drums) both of whom featured on Donegan’s 2024 album We Will Meet Again Sometime.
The penultimate day of the festival kicks off around lunchtime, with free gigs around the City Centre featuring players drawn from Limerick’s jazz scene and the Society’s Jazz Workshops; a great chance to hear jazz in against the backdrop of the city’s hustle. That evening, the powerhouse trio of saxophonist Robin Fincker, pianist Kit Downes and vocalist Lauren Kinsella don the collective cowl of Shadowlands, through the blending of traditional Irish song with contemporary improvisation and original compositions shaped by folk and European jazz; bring their 2026 album Two Minds to the festival.
The final day of the festival features two great acts in our now traditional Sunday afternoon closer. We kick off with Tommy Halferty’s Whirlpool, a quartet formed to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Miles Davis, whose sacking of Coltrane because of his drug problems in 1957 was instrumental in setting him on the path that would lead to A Love Supreme. This group performs Davis’ 1969 album In A Silent Way, another landmark recording which marked the start of Davis’ electric period and was foundational for the emerging fusion scene. Again a rare chance to hear this album performed in the moment.
We close off the festival with UK based vocalist Zoe Gilby and her band. Zoe, winner of the 2019 Parliamentary Jazz Vocalist of the Year award; is a storied artist – a singer and composer who covers the gamut of great songs from Pink Floyd and Kate Bush to jazz standards. Her album Aurora was bravura performance of songs inspired by the great American trumpeter Tom Harrell; and we know that Zoe will bring a great show to close out the festival.
Now a fixture in Limerick’s culture calendar, we are looking forward to welcoming these great musicians to the City, and look forward to seeing!