Laois set for some bebop and boogie woogie as Portlaoise Jazz Festival revived

Laois locals can look forward to a swinging start to 2026 with news that the Portlaoise Jazz Festival is set for a revival.

Last staged in the early 1990s, the festival proved a big community hit with locals in the Laois county town some 30 years ago. 

Now, a new committee has formed with the intention of rekindling that success and restoring the event to the Laois calendar of entertainment events in 2026.

The Laois Chamber Alliance issued a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live which outlined some of the plans put in place by a committee chaired by John Tynan.

"We are a small committee of four with a vision to bring back the Jazz Festival to Portlaoise. We will run the festival January 30 to February 1 2026, St Brigid's bank holiday weekend.

"We are asking for your support to market the weekend. Funds generated will be spent on a website, posters, flyers, street signage, and social media advertising. We are looking to raise a small amount, as we will carry out all the design work at committee level, so expenses will be kept to a minimum. All expenditures will be receipted and transparently available for viewing on our accounts," say the organisers. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Street entertainment during the Portlaoise Jazz Festival in 1989 on Portlaoise's Main Street. Photo: Alf Harvey.

They say the headline performance will be held in the Dunamaise Arts Centre. A Jazz Pub Trail is also featued with Bergin's Bar, Delaney's & Shelly's, Jeremiah Grant's, Kavanagh's Bar & Venue, Liam Casey's, Maggie May's, O'Gormans (Kilminchy), Ramsbottom's, Sally Gardens, Square Bar, The Mixer/Coppers Music Venue, The Welcome Inn & Vibe Bar all lined up to hosts performers.

Artists lined up for the event are 

• 8-bit Funk
• Anita & The Village Trio
• Annette Joy
• Blue Moon
• Chalumeau Quartet
• Dobrzanski Group
• Eric Doyle Quartet
• Jazzabelles
• LAW Trio
• No.gmojazz
• PowerNap
• Sam Martin Trio
• Sketches
• The Old Market Street Swing Band
• The Still Organ Trio
• Zrazy

Workshops will be held during on Saturday, January 31 in the Laois Music Centre in co-operation with Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music. These workshops will be free to attend and will be focused on giving younger musicians a chance to meet the musicians performing over the weekend and gain some tips and ideas on playing jazz music.

While the plans are in place, the organisers hope local business can make donations as they belive the festival that the additional footfall in the town during this traditionally quiet period.

Donations can be made at via gofundme.

The Committee has also launched a website where the public and potential sponsors can find out more.

"We would be delighted if any businesses would like to sponsor the event. All sponsors will be listed here. If anybody has any other nice ideas for the weekend to tie in with the jazz theme please let us know and we will support in any way possible.

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Chairperson Tynan is joined on the festival committee by Bob Batty, Secretary, Rós O'Meara, Treasurer, Eamonn Dunne, Music Coordinator.

"Your support is very much appreciated and we hope it can be beneficial to the town this coming year and into the following years as we grow the festival," concluded the committee's appeal.