Thursday 24 JULY

Gareth Lockrane Quintet featuring Michael Buckley

The Lillies Sessions in partnership with The White Hag
Welcome to our daily 4:30 session where you can catch some of Ireland and Europe’s finest jazz musicians in an informal setting.


Gareth Lockrane: flutes
Michael Buckley: saxophones
Oli Hayhurst: bass
Sun Mi Hong: drums
Scott Flanigan: piano
& surprise guests

Gareth Lockrane is a virtuoso flutist whose dynamic career spans jazz, film scoring, and education. He has collaborated with icons like Quincy Jones, Bheki Mseleku, and the James Taylor Quartet. A prolific bandleader, his groups Grooveyard (MOJO’s "Jazz Album of the Year") and his acclaimed big band showcase his cinematic, groove-driven compositions. Saxophonist/flautist Michael Buckley, hailed as a child prodigy and now a cornerstone of Ireland's jazz scene, has performed with legends like Charles Mingus Dynasty, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Glen Hansard, while also earning acclaim as a producer and composer.

Latin Jazz and Rumba

5pm Ósta

Felip Carbonell: guitar, voice
Eddie McFarlane: guitar
Thursday evenings at Osta are a regular Sligo treat. Regulars Felip Carbonell and Eddie McFarlane are joined by a special surprise guest Fine food served.

Early Jam Session

5pm – 7pm Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby

Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.

MELISSA ALDANA QUARTET

8pm Hawk’s Well Theatre €25/€12.50 u18s

SLIGO JAZZ PROJECT ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2025 Melissa Aldana: Composer, Saxophone
Kush Abadey: drums
Pablo Held, piano
John Goldsby, bass

Sligo Jazz Project 2025 Artist in Residence, Chilean-born, Brooklyn-based saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana, delivers a thrilling blend of fiery improvisation and lyrical depth, drawing from jazz, South American folk, and contemporary experimentation. A rising star praised for her ‘bold, expressive sound’ (DownBeat) and ‘adventurous yet accessible’ compositions (JazzTimes), Aldana leads a dynamic quartet through original works and reimagined classics. Don’t miss this electrifying performance that bridges tradition and innovation with ‘technical brilliance and raw emotion’ (The New York City Jazz Record). " Melissa is joined at the Hawks Well Theatre by bandmates, the extraordinary NYC-based drummer, Kush Abadey, German pianist Pablo Held, with John Goldsby on bass and expect a surprise guest or two from our stellar 2025 summer school faculty. melissaaldana.net

Book Tickets

Lee Meehan Trio

9:30pm Fureys

Lee Meehan: guitar,
Scott Flanigan: keys
Paul Clarvis: drums

Lee Meehan is a Dublin-based jazz/blues guitarist and vocalist who has been a dynamic force on Ireland’s music scene for over 20 years. A Newpark Music Centre/DCU graduate, he has shared stages with top Irish and international artists at major venues and festivals, including Sligo Jazz, Cork Jazz, and Electric Picnic. His acclaimed 2023 debut album, Some Of Us Are Looking At The Stars, blends soulful originals with a fresh take on Tadd Dameron’s "On a Misty Night, " featuring an all-star Irish lineup. Praised by critics like Scott Yanow and named one of 2024’s best jazz releases (All About Jazz), Meehan’s star continues to rise as a performer, composer, and bandleader.

Festival Club Jam Session

10pm (After Show) Hawk’s Well Theatre Lobby

Catch some spontaneous performances featuring the 150 or so summer school participants who flock to Sligo each year for the love of jazz! You’d never know who might show up to join in.