Galway Jazz Festival forecasts rain with spells of general grooviness

Wellingtons may be de rigueur, but the hosts of Galway’s jazz festival are confident that a potential flood warning for the city will not deter music enthusiasts.

A special tribute to Louis Stewart is one of the highlights of the five-night festival, which kicks-off this evening in the Mick Lally theatre, Druid Lane, with free performances by the Headford Youth Jazz Ensemble and Galway Swing's all female dance troupe, the Dipsy Doodles.

Flood warning

Galway City Council

has issued a warning for potential flooding, but expects it will be confined to the Spanish Arch area and along the Salthill promenade during high tide periods from 5am to 7am and 5pm to 7pm between today and Friday.

The jazz festival venues should not be affected, but motorists are advised to allow for extra travel time through Salthill and the city centre.

Frank Vignola, who has played with guitar legend Les Paul, and with Beatle Ringo Starr, Madonna and others, will perform tonight with his long time touring companion, Vinny Raniolo, at Nun's Island Theatre.

The 16-year-old guitar prodigy Andreas Varady plays the Hotel Meyrick's ballroom tomorrow night, while the septet Ensemble Ériú is booked for the Campbell's Tavern Cloughanover music venue near Headford, Co Galway.

Guitarist and double bass duo Pierre Durand and Guido Zorn, cellist and singer Naomi Berrill, the Frank Kilkelly and Rick Harris trios are also participating, while Louis Stewart's quartet takes to the Taibhdhearc theatre stage on Saturday night, after a tribute from Carl Corcoran of Lyric FM's Blue of the Night.

RTÉ’s National Symphony Orchestra performs at Salthill’s Leisureland tomorrow night as part of the separate Music for Galway season. galwayjazzfest.com