Freddie Hendrix & Friends
Freddie Hendrix
Trumpet & Bandleader
Lineup
- Freddie Hendrix — Trumpet
- Gareth Lockrane — Flute
- Paul Dunlea — Trombone
- And others TBA
New York trumpeter and bandleader Freddie Hendrix — a member of Dizzy's All Stars, the Christian McBride Big Band and a fixture at the very top of the contemporary jazz scene — officially launches the 2026 Sligo Jazz Festival in the style of hard hitting bebop.
Joining him for this opening evening are two of the festival's own: star flautist Gareth Lockrane and trombonist Paul Dunlea, making for a truly special line-up to kick off what promises to be an unforgettable week.
Presented in partnership with The White Hag Brewing Company, and set against the intimate atmosphere of Lillies Cocktail Bar, this is the perfect way to ease into Sligo Jazz Festival — cold drink in hand, world-class jazz in the air. Space is limited, so come early.
Where musicians of all ages and backgrounds — Irish and international — take the stage together.
Sun Mi Hong
Sun Mi Hong
Drums & Bandleader
Elina Duni & Rob Luft
Elina Duni & Rob Luft
Voice & Guitar
Sun Mi Hong — Lineup
- Sun-Mi Hong — Drums
- Aaron Parks — Piano
- Lucia Cadotsch — Voice
- Jasper Høiby — Double Bass
Sun-Mi Hong, an acclaimed South Korean drummer based in Amsterdam, is a rising star known for her boundless creativity and infectious energy. Winner of prestigious awards including the Edison Award and the SENA Dutch Jazz Competition, Sun-Mi's music blends rooted grooves with exhilarating outbursts. Sun will appear with guests Aaron Parks, Jasper Høiby and Lucia Cadotsch.
Watch Sun Mi Hong on YouTubeElina Duni & Rob Luft
Lineup
- Elina Duni — Voice
- Rob Luft — Guitar
"Few contemporary jazz-influenced singers manage to sound so intensely like themselves while drawing on such a variety of genres, languages, and cultural backstories as the Albania-born vocalist Elina Duni." — The Guardian
Her third recording with UK guitarist Rob Luft features a programme that begins with Irving Berlin's title song and ends with Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman". Along the way we hear Duni and Luft originals, traditional music from Kosovo, a lullaby penned by Persian singer Mahsa Vahdat, a ballad from Italian singer-songwriter Pino Daniele, French composer Gabriel Fauré's art song "Les Berceaux", themes for film written by Japan's Shigeru Umebayashi and Poland's Krzysztof Komeda, and more.
"Our duo, our project, is a musical journey — different styles and different languages to bridge the gap between people." — Elina Duni
Duni's resourcefulness as a singer is well-matched by Luft's instrumental skills, the guitarist drifting mellifluously between idioms, gently enveloping melodies, underlining emotional expression in the song texts, and enhancing atmospheres.
Watch Elina Duni & Rob Luft on YouTubeOr by phone: Hawks Well Theatre Box Office 071 916 1518
Where musicians of all ages and backgrounds — Irish and international — take the stage together.