With the Foyle Maritime Festival 2018 just around the corner, this is a very exciting new addition this year. Jazz on a sail boat!
Jazz band sail from Azores to Ireland for Foyle Maritime Festival
The unmistakable sight and sound of an international jazz crew who have sailed from the Azores to perform at Ireland’s biggest maritime festival will literally be music to the ears of visitors attending the nine-day summer event which opens in Derry next weekend.Honky Tonk Sail, a 42ft catamaran hosting a full jazz band, will be one of the most unique musical attractions during the Foyle Maritime Festival when Derry is host port for the LegenDerry Finale Leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from July 14th-22nd.
The nautical jazz ensemble which is visiting Northern Ireland for the first time will be making rhythm and blues style waves during nine days of maritime magic organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Event co-ordinator Helena Hasson said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming the Honky Tonk Sail to Derry for the first time ever and when better than during our Foyle Maritime Festival! The music from the catamaran will really add to the atmosphere as the quay will be thronged with visitors and crews from the Clipper 2017-18 Race fleet.”Tom Beeckman, captain of the Honky Tonk Sail better known as Bots, is certainly excited about making his first visit to Derry and the opportunity to meet the Clipper 2017-2018 Race crews en route to the jazz band’s next big international gig in France.
Beeckham, who plays trumpet and tuba, has previously been to Ireland to perform in Cork and Dublin but is really looking forward to sailing the whole west coast and finally getting the opportunity to visit the historic Walled City where the Wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal Route.
Odhran Dunne, General Manager of Visit Derry, said it was great to see the international jazz boat taking part in the Foyle Maritime Festival which is aptly themed “Voyages” this year focusing on Derry’s rich maritime history.He added: “International jazz has become synonymous with the city through the success of our annual City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival and we are expecting record numbers of visitors arriving from around the world to experience the sights, sounds and sails of our unique international maritime festival on the Foyle.
“This is one of Ireland’s top festivals this summer; it has something for all the family, and added to this the LegenDerry welcome, it’s an event not to be missed.”
(For the full Foyle Maritime Festival programme taking place from July 14th-22nd including a spectacular riverfront Voyages showcase event on Friday July 20th(9pm-11pm), and to book overnight accommodation visit http://www.foylemaritimefestival.com and www.visitderry.com)
GMcC
North West Culture Gal 