The Old Quay Jazz Weekend returns this Friday after a year off, with 40 free performances spread across pubs, cafés, a church hall and two boats moored in the harbour. Organisers say the festival is smaller than in previous years but has a stronger local line-up, with more than three-quarters of the acts based within an hour of Wrenhaven.
The festival was cancelled last year when its main sponsor withdrew. A group of musicians and venue owners then formed a not-for-profit association to run it, raising around €38,000 from local businesses, a crowdfunding appeal and a small grant from the city council's events fund. Musicians are paid a flat fee, and venues contribute by covering sound equipment.
We decided it was better to do a modest weekend well than to chase big names we could not afford.
So said Marlon Ekwueme, a double bassist who chairs the new association. The headline slot on Saturday night goes to the Tidewater Big Band, a 17-piece group made up largely of music teachers, while the former Saltings ferry Marigold will host trios and duos on short trips around the harbour every afternoon. Places on the boat are free but must be booked in advance.
Room for beginners
A new feature this year is a Sunday morning jam session at the Ropewalk Lane church hall, where young players can sit in with experienced musicians. Ingrid Faulkner, who teaches saxophone at the Wrenhaven Music Centre, said several of her pupils had been practising standards for weeks. "Playing with grown-up professionals for the first time is terrifying and wonderful," she said.
The harbour master has agreed to close part of the quayside to traffic on Saturday evening so that people can move between venues safely. Organisers advise visitors to arrive by tram or bus, as parking near the Old Quay will be limited, and say a full programme is available at the tourist information office and in participating venues.