Newbridge in County Kildare is the March time setting for the Riverbank Arts Centre hosted Kildare Jazz Festival to take place from 27-29 March headlined by the astonishing Michael Buckley Quartet.
Events are also hosted at Maynooth University and in Straffan at Barista Bike.
Highlights also include an appearance by Origin Story and the quintet of Venezuelan guitarist Orlando Molina.
Festival curator Kasia Eliasz says: “The third edition of Kildare Jazz Festival marks our most exciting leap yet – a celebration of national and international voices, new collaborations, and a festival that now spills into a second weekend and four new venues. From solos to full ensembles, from workshops for children and adults to the meeting of jazz and visual arts, 2026 invites our community to experience jazz in more vibrant, expansive ways than ever before.”
Dubliner Buckley is also, playing baritone, on the Sam Cooke loving James Hunter 6’s beaut of a thing ‘Ain’t That a Trip’ from the Van Morrison featuring Off the Fence.
Kavanagh is an alumna of Dublin City University. She also doubles on flute – her sound reminds me of Meilana Gillard a little.
In the same lineage as Gillard – who also shares the same inspiration in Joe Hen – she is directly influenced by Joe Henderson to whom she has paid tribute gigging around.
Kildare Jazz Festival is funded by An Chomhairle Ealaíon (The Arts Council of Ireland), and supported by Riverbank Arts Centre and Kildare County Council Arts Service.
For more information see the Kildare jazz festival web page.
