This year, the festival will feature four headline concerts, including the Benny Lackner Trio (US), Roberto Magris (Italy), Richie Buckley (Ireland), and the Ladies of Irish Jazz Honor Heffernan and Aoife Doyle (Ireland).

The Roberto Magris Quintet

The festival kicks off on Friday 14 September at 8.30pm in the Hotel Meyrick with the Roberto Magris Quintet. Constantly looking for ways to express his artistry, Roberto recently recorded and performed with jazz legend Art Davis (John Coltrane's bassist), jazz icon Phillip Catherine and West Coast legend, Herb Geller.

Known for a supple left hand and rich harmonies, Roberto conveys confidence and authority in his playing, no matter what context he chooses! He will be joined by the stellar rhythm section of Dan Bodwell and David Lyttle, together with artist-in-residence Richie Buckley.

On Saturday 15 September the Benny Lackner Trio in concert will take place in the Hotel Meyrick at 8.30pm. Lackner and his trio fashion music not oriented to demonstrating fancy soloist skills (though these are far from lacking), but a music imparting a sense of the performers truly sharing the concert experience with the audience. Based in Brooklyn, these fine musicians utilise subtle electronics to produce an unclassifiable, uncontained sound with an appeal that reaches beyond the jazz arena

"Benny Lackner may be the first established pianist to come out of the Mehldau School. With a contemporary approach, he helps give the piano trio a much-needed facelift,” said John Kelman, from All About Jazz NYC.

Richie Buckley

Richie Buckley is one of the most recognisable names in Irish jazz, even more so after his musical family were the subject of a recent RTE Documentary 'The Living Bridge'.

Not only has he recorded his own album ‘Your Love is Here’, which received critical acclaim, but he has also scored three documentary films ‘Luke’ (Luke Kelly, directed by Sinead O'Brien), ‘Friel’ (Brian Friel), ‘Lee Marvin’ (Directed by John Boorman) and the film ‘The General’ also directed by John Boorman.