City of Derry Jazz Festival celebrates 25 years with 400+ performances

The City of Derry Jazz Festival marks its 25th anniversary with over 400 performances across 70 venues, expecting 100,000 visitors over the May bank holiday weekend. Founder Johnny Murray, who first proposed the idea in 2001 after a trip to Cork Jazz Festival, faced skepticism from local bars who said 'jazz will never work in Derry.' The festival deliberately avoided pure jazz to be commercial and accessible, embracing big band, swing, ska, blues, Dixieland and bebop. Starting with 6,000 attendees in its first year, the festival now attracts international stars like Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Billy Ocean, and Soweto Kinch, while also featuring local musicians Gay MacIntyre, Johnny Quigley, Jackie Flavelle, and Jimmy Gilchrist. The event is worth £2m to the local economy and includes free outdoor performances, school and youth ensembles, and a central stage in Guildhall Square named after Gay McIntyre. Organizers Aisling McCallion from Derry City and Strabane District Council highlight the festival's enduring popularity and its role in developing young musicians.