Full Lineup
The Limerick Jazz Festival brings together international headliners, Irish jazz talent, and emerging artists. Performances take place across Dolan's Pub & Warehouse, Belltable Arts Centre, Lime Tree Theatre, and other partner venues in Limerick city.
Sunday performances at Dolan's have become a festival highlight. The 2020 Sunday gig at Dolan's was noted as sold out. Past Sunday lineups have featured a mix of established names and rising stars in an intimate setting.
Sankhara
An evocative ensemble blending contemporary jazz textures with meditative depth.
Linley Hamilton Quartet
Trumpeter Linley Hamilton leads a tight quartet through lyrical, swinging jazz.
Tomasso Square
Modern jazz with European sensibilities and a groove-forward approach.
The festival has featured online-streamed performances, bringing jazz to audiences beyond Limerick. These digital sets showcase both Irish and international musicians.
Oxygen Thief ft. Aleka
Electronic-infused jazz with layered vocals and immersive soundscapes.
ZBDOW
Bold, experimental jazz pushing boundaries with raw energy.
Browse past festival editions and archived performances. The 2014 festival ran from September 25–28 and featured David Sanborn, Van Morrison, Nigel Mooney Septet, Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, and the Richie Buckley/Julian Siegel Sextet.
| Date | Time | Artist | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 27 Sep 2019 | 22:30 | Sarah Gillespie Quintet | Dolan's Upstairs |
| Sat 28 Sep 2019 | 10:30 | Music Workshop for Children — Chelsey Zimmerman | Limerick Youth Theatre |
| Fri 27 Sep 2013 | — | Steve Hanks + Joe O'Callaghan (Jazz Pub Trail) | Dr. John's |
| Sat 28 Sep 2013 | — | Tuxedo Jazz (Jazz Pub Trail) | Flannery's |
| 25–28 Sep 2014 | — | David Sanborn, Van Morrison, Nigel Mooney Septet, Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, Richie Buckley/Julian Siegel Sextet | Multiple venues |
Additional archived performances include Ant Law Quartet and Beats And Pieces. The festival's Performance Archive, Photo Gallery, and Video Gallery offer further highlights from past editions.
The Limerick Jazz Festival transforms the city each September into a vibrant hub of live music and creative exchange. Performances unfold across several distinct venues, from intimate pub settings to larger theatre spaces, each offering its own atmosphere and acoustic character. The festival curates a programme that balances international headliners with the best of Irish jazz talent, creating a dynamic where seasoned performers and emerging artists share the same stages. This blend of experience and fresh energy gives the weekend a distinctive pulse, drawing audiences who appreciate both established names and the thrill of discovery. The city itself becomes part of the experience, with venues nestled within walking distance of one another.
The Sunday programme at Dolan's has become a cornerstone of the festival experience, known for its intimate and electric atmosphere. These performances bring together a carefully selected mix of established musicians and rising talents in a setting that feels both relaxed and charged with creative energy. Past editions have seen sold-out crowds gather for afternoon and evening sets that showcase the breadth of contemporary jazz. The venue's warm, wood-panelled rooms create a natural acoustic that suits both solo performances and larger ensembles, making each Sunday session a memorable chapter in the festival's ongoing story.
Beyond the main stage performances, the festival places a strong emphasis on education and community engagement. Workshops led by visiting and local musicians offer participants the chance to explore improvisation, ensemble playing, and the technical aspects of jazz in a supportive environment. These sessions cater to a range of experience levels, from students taking their first steps in jazz to seasoned players looking to refine their craft. The festival also maintains resources for teachers and educators, ensuring that the educational dimension extends beyond the weekend and into classrooms and practice rooms throughout the year.
The festival's archive of past performances, photographs, and video documentation provides a rich record of its evolution over the years. This collection captures not only the music but also the atmosphere, the audiences, and the community that has grown around the event. Testimonials from past attendees and participating artists speak to the festival's welcoming character and its role in shaping the local jazz scene. The archive serves as both a historical resource and a source of inspiration for future programming, preserving the moments that have defined each edition while pointing toward what comes next.
The visual identity of the festival reflects its warm and approachable character, with a palette of earthy tones and clean sans-serif typography that feels both modern and inviting. Deep slate blues, muted sage greens, and burnt orange accents appear across the festival's materials, from digital platforms to printed programmes. This consistent design language creates a cohesive experience for audiences navigating the weekend's events, whether they are browsing the lineup online or holding a physical schedule. Soft rounded corners, generous spacing, and thoughtful use of imagery give the festival's presentation a friendly, polished feel that matches the music itself.
Festival Venues
Performances are staged across several distinctive venues in Limerick city.
- Dolan's Pub & Warehouse — Upstairs and Warehouse spaces, the heart of the festival's live programme.
- Belltable Arts Centre — An intimate theatre setting for seated concerts.
- Lime Tree Theatre — A larger performance space on the Mary Immaculate College campus.
- Best Western Pery's Hotel — Hosts select festival events and workshops.
- Limerick City Gallery of Art — A unique backdrop for jazz and visual arts crossover events.
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