The quartet are made up of pianist Luke Howard, bassist Diarmuid Lally, drummer Dylan Lynch, and saxophonist Denis Scully.

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With a few notable exceptions (Alice Coltrane historically and Brandee Younger today), the harp is not an instrument that’s commonly associated with jazz music.

Monaghan born Sorcha McCague initially studied classical and Irish harp at both the Royal Irish Academy and TU Dublin, and was recipient of numerous awards and scholarships from an early age.  

She received a scholarship from the International Jazz Harp Foundation to travel to Rio deJanairo in 2018, and there she developed and refined her performance within jazz and improvised music.

Last year she featured in an Improvised Music Company programme for emerging Irish jazz musicians, and undertook an artist in residence programme at Tinahely Courthouse Centre in Wicklow.

Sorcha McCague’s band include three great talents in contemporary Irish jazz, percussionist Hugh Denham, bassist Eoin O’Halloran and Yuzuha O Halloran on alto saxophonist and flute.

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Jenny Hallahan is an Irish bassist and composer originally from Kildare, now based between Bundoran and Sligo. Her work focuses on original music that blends groove-based forms, strong melodic writing, and open structures for improvisation and ensemble interaction.

She studied performance and composition at the Waterford Institute of Technology and later at Newpark Music Centre in Dublin. Over the years, Jenny has performed extensively throughout Ireland across a wide range of musical settings, developing a broad and flexible musical voice.

In 2020, she released her debut EP This Life with her first quartet. The release appeared on the US jazz charts for nine consecutive weeks and was described by Linley Hamilton (BBC Ulster) as “compositional jazz in Ireland at its very best.”

Jenny currently leads the Jenny Hallahan Quartet, a contemporary jazz ensemble performing her original compositions, featuring Cathal Roche on saxophone, Conor Bastible on piano, and Chad Murphy on drums. Recent performances include appearances at The Model, Sligo (Informal Music Afternoon) and the Hawkswell Theatre (Lunchtime at the Well). She continues to develop new work with a view to national and international performance.

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Shy Mascot are a Dublin based quintet that combines funk, jazz, and hip-hop styles to create a uniquely provocative sound.

Drawing influence from artists such as The Fugees, Weather Report, and Lianne LaHavas Shy Mascot’s music lives in a realm where complex jazz harmony, free flowing melody and interlocking grooves meet.

Varying between boisterous, fast-paced songs to minimalist, spaced-out jams, the band has performed at a range of venues around Ireland. From the intimate setting of the curated sofa sessions in Kilkenny to the rowdy, rain-soaked grounds of Knockanstockan, Shy Mascot are notorious for their ability to impress audiences in any setting. They’ve also knocked it out of the park at Bray Jazz at The Harbour Bar in the past, and we’re delighted to have them back for our 25th anniversary weekend!

The rhythm section, led by Keith Tobin, act as dynamic improvisational trio, and lay the perfect foundation for both Jamel’s fast-paced, hypnotic raps, and Fiadh Rua Gregg’s soulful vocals. The end result is an versatile quintet that weaves between melodious, ethereal spaces, and deep, filthy grooves guaranteed to get you moving!

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The group – pianist Greg Felton, Cormac O’Brien (bass) and Matthew Jacobson (drums) are well known players on the Irish jazz scene – alumni of Newpark Music Centre and involved in some of the most exciting and forward looking jazz projects that Ireland has produced over the past 20 years.

Origin Story’s music is informed by all of these shared experiences and results in provocative and interactive writing and playing, influenced by the origins of the jazz tradition and by the music’s contemporary innovations. 

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Italy-born Luisa Annibali is one of the leading lights in the new generation of jazz musicians on the Dublin jazz scene. Having moved from Rome to Dublin in 2016, she has quickly established herself as a singer and songwriter of repute.

She blends music from her native Italy with Brazilian tinges and contemporary jazz, allowing ample room for her distinctive voice to shine through.

Luisa released her latest album, ‘Libera’ last November. The result of five years of songwriter, the songs on ‘Libera’ reflect Luisa Annibali’sl take on jazz music, mixing feminist themes with contemporary jazz, her songwriting are reminiscent of artists such as Esperanza Spalding and Gretchen Parlato.

The music feels fresh and cutting edge while never losing sight of its roots in the jazz standard repertoire.

Luisa is inspired in her music by artists including The Fugees, Weather Report and Lianna LaHavas.

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Faster Shorter Louder is a Dublin-based trio featuring Matthias Winkler (guitar), Derek Whyte (double bass) and Hugh Denman (drums). The group takes familiar songs and reshapes them through improvisation, uncovering new rhythmic and harmonic possibilities while keeping the directness of the original material intact.

Drawing on Winkler’s expansive work with post-rock-influenced quartet ÄTSCH, Whyte’s long-standing role in ensembles such as ReDiviDeR and the Dirty Jazz Club, and Denman’s range from atmospheric soundscapes to free improvisation, the trio’s sound is both contemporary and rooted in the jazz tradition.

Like the classic trios of the 1950s and ’60s—or more recently The Bad Plus—Faster Shorter Louder approach popular music as raw material for exploration. The result is a set that feels accessible yet adventurous, appealing equally to jazz audiences and listeners from further afield.

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As Organ Freeman, guitarist/vocalist Charlie Moon, organist Darragh Hennessy and drummer Dominic Mullan have been a hugely popular fixture with a long-running residency at Dublin’s music bar, The Big Romance, on Parnell Street.

Drawing inspiration from the jazz organ trios’ golden era of the ’50s and ’60s, their music is a mix of timeless classics and original material, spanning blues, swing, funk and ballads. Charlie Moon’s vocal stylings reflect his influences, such jazz icons as Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra.

‘The group were joined by saxophonist Michael Buckley on their debut album ‘Busywork’, which attracted across the board positive reviews, when it was released, last year.

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Dublin-based guitar and drums duo featuring two of the capital’s best known players, MACH2 blend high-octane math-rock with contemporary jazz grooves.

Guitarist Chris Guilfoyle and drummer Matthew Jacobson’s newest project is inspired by groups such as Hella, Animals as Leaders and AlasNoAxis, producing filthy grooves and big sounds for a small band.

After years spent existing only in the murky underworld of Dublin parties – as well as busily touring and recording with the plethora of other projects they are involved in: UMBRA, ReDiviDeR, Aleka, Anna Mieke, Ydivide, Roamer – Guilfoyle and Jacobson are re-emerging as MACH2.

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