What’s New in 2011
One of the secrets of the festival’s longevity is to continually blend exciting new sounds with established favourites. This special tenth celebration is no exception!
Scottish outfit Brass Jaw, who headline the Playhouse on April 29th, have taken the jazz festival circuit by storm with their imaginative compositions and superb playing. Linley Hamilton on narration, vocals and trumpet, along with an internationally acclaimed band, takes you through the rollercoaster life of the incomparable King of Cool in the amazing Chet Baker Story on April 30th at the Playhouse.
Vocalist with the million selling Celtic Thunder, Keith Harkin brings his energetic band the Durty Dropouts to Sandinos (April 28th), Café Del Mondo (April 29th) and Tinny’s Bar (May 1st) with the exhilarating fusion of Irish and American musical influences that wowed the Glasgowbury Festival. They will be supported by Tsunami Rising (Philadelphia).
Vocalist Victoria Geelan, supported by a sextet of talented young musicians, pays tribute to the peerless Nina Simone at Sandinos, while the delightful Crazy Crow take their homage of to jazz/folk legend Joni Mitchell to the Nerve Centre on April 29th. With more and more artists, and visitors, from around the world the festival is delighted to host a magnificent night of international music with World Music NI’s presentation of three great acts at the Global Village in the Historic Craft Village. Festival circuit favourite Zimbabwean Rassie Ai, who’ll take you on a journey through African roots, London’s Greggi G & The Crazy Gang and the Mindbenders, who’ll have you up on your feet with their great dance music.
Capture the magic of ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ as Stephen Triffitt performs Sinatra ‘Live at the Sands’, along with a magical big band of top musicians and special guest Kim Dickenson at the Millennium Forum on April 30th. In Milestones, Irish jazz legend Gay McIntyre (April 29th) and Paris-based singer, songwriter and trombonist Paddy Sherlock (April 30th) share insights with Radio Ulster’s Marie-Louise Muir at the Verbal Arts Centre.
As always the Festival Closing Concert is something special, when James Huish and his ten-man Michael Buble Tribute Band bring all the great man’s hits to life, as well as the classics from the original Rat Pack, at the Waterside Theatre on May 1st.
But that’s just a taste of the Derry debutants to look out for this year. Party with the Jiveoholics, check out ace trumpeter Jason Palmer, saxophone legend Lol Coxhill and don’t miss ‘the future of Irish jazz guitar’, Mark McKnight and his talented quartet.
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