The recently-launched Laois Tourism Strategy Plan has suggested that the renowned Portlaoise Jazz Festival be revived, alongside other major events and marketed as a ‘Jazz Picnic’.
Under the Event Innovation part of the Strategic Review, the report calls for an audit of local events that could be scaled up, the enhancement of larger festivals and to devise a programme of sport tourism activity that is focussed on walking cycling and angling events.
But it is the suggestion for a renewed Jazz Festival that could generate the most interest.
“Examine the re-creation of the jazz festival for Portlaoise,” says the report, “combined with a craft, food and drink theme that builds on the county’s association with other major events marketed as Jazz Picnic with the objective of becoming a national event in the shoulder season.”
The Portlaoise Jazz Festival started in the late 1980s and ran for nine years in the town, initially at Easter and later on the June Bank Holiday weekend.
“He played with a band called Peter Chilton’s Feetwarmers. Melly as well as being a performer was a renowned art critic. He was presented with a Hall of Fame Award in Portlaoise – a sculpting by Gemma Guihan – which he cherished and it took pride of place on his bedside locker right up until the time of his death a few years ago.
“Some of the top Irish acts to perform in Portlaoise then were Ian Richards and the Soulmasters, Some Like it Hot (a fantastic husband and wife duo), Joe Mac (of Dixies fame) who fronted The Dukes of Jazz, Miss Brown to You, an all girl harmony trio, Paddy Cole and his Band
“The festival even gave birth to our very own and hugely popular The Trad Dads, featuring many members from the Ballyroan Brass Band and fronted by Tom Cooney.
“This format was later taken on in Cork and also spawned the Monaghan Jazz and Blues Festival which is still going strong to this day.
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