THE village of Ballydehob will once again burst into life this May bank holiday weekend as the Ballydehob Jazz Festival returns for its 20th edition, welcoming an estimated 8,000 visitors to the tiny seaside village of only 345 residents.

From April 30th to May 4th, Ballydehob will fill with music, street performances, dance, circus, puppetry and creativity, welcoming visitors from across Ireland and beyond to experience what has become one of the most colourful and joyful festivals on the Irish cultural calendar.

Run largely by a passionate team of volunteers and rooted firmly in the local community, the festival has grown over two decades into what many affectionately call the biggest small jazz and arts festival in the world.

Festival director Joseph O’Leary said the anniversary edition is both a celebration and a homecoming. ‘It’s all about the friendships formed in this artistic and creative community. Over 20 festivals we’ve seen musicians, artists and audiences come together in Ballydehob to create something very special.

‘This year is a gathering of the best of what has come before - a celebration of the music, the creativity and the people who made it all happen.’

The Festival Hall will host five special concerts across the weekend, including The Paul Dunlea Quintet who will present the long-awaited Loch Trasna Suite, an original commission which will receive its full live airing. The evening will open with Catalan singer-songwriter Lau Noah.

Olivier Award-winning composer Benji Bower will premiere a newly commissioned work created especially for the 20th festival, titled Trasnaíocht.

The piece explores migration, crossing, and the meaning of home through a genre-crossing performance blending jazz, chamber music, spoken word, aerial movement, and dance.

The much-loved Stephanie Nilles returns with Tom Deakin (USA) bringing their signature wit, virtuosity and irresistible stage chemistry.

Late-night club sessions will swing into the small hours with festival favourites Canibal Dandies (France) and The Blue Mockingbirds (Belgium), Donal Dineen (Ire), and guest DJs, where audiences can dance the night away in the festival club.

A cornerstone of the festival, the village-wide music trail will feature over 40 free live performances across pubs, cafés and outdoor spaces throughout Ballydehob.

From jazz and blues to folk, experimental sounds and spontaneous collaborations, the trail brings music into every corner of the village.

Beyond the concert stage, the festival spills out into the streets with a vibrant programme of circus, street theatre, dance and visual spectacle including a children’s circus school, giant puppets, the Jazz Funeral Parade and the Sunday Market.

Full programme and ticket information: www.ballydehobjazz.org