The beautiful island of Islay is set to reverberate this Autumn with the rich sounds of jazz. Running from 20th–22nd September 2024, the island will play host to one of Scotland’s most iconic jazz festivals – the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival. The popular event, now in its 26th year, will showcase the talents of performers from Scotland and the UK, Europe, and North America in a setting renowned the world over for its natural beauty. With Lagavulin as a main sponsor, notes and tones from both the whisky and the music will come together, providing a stimulating weekend for all the senses. Held in venues ranging from whisky distilleries to village halls, churches to cultural centres, audiences can travel the island listening to soul-filling music and sampling Islay’s finest malts.

The Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival is widely known as a creative hot-house where top-class musicians meet and collaborate in new and exciting ways. This festival builds on that reputation as some of Scotland’s leading musicians such as Helena Kay, Paul Towndrow, Laura MacDonald, Seonaid Aitken, and Matt Carmichael perform in various combinations with such international players as celebrated Norwegian pianist Kjetil Mulelid, Slovakian Vibraphone player Miro Herak, French guitarist Sébastien Giniaux, and US trumpeter Chad McCullough. 

Together these musicians, and many others, will take audiences on a journey through classic jazz standard repertoire to Manouche and gypsy jazz styles to more contemporary genres to original and innovative blends of folk music, neo-soul, and jazz. For fans of the traditional canon, audiences will find enjoyment in Laura McDonald’s fresh take on the music of Cole Porter and Burt Bacharach, and Seonaid Aitken’s tribute to the legendary violinist Stéphane Grappelli.

There will also be new-age sounds and original compositions in abundance at concerts by the inventive Glasgow-based group Azamiah, touring international superband Atlantic Road Trip, and solo shows featuring original music by French guitarist Sébastien Giniaux and Norwegian pianist Kjetil Mulelid. Festival-goers who prefer high-powered contemporary jazz can find what they need in the offerings of Pete Johnstone’s ‘Timepiece’, the band of award-winning saxophonist Helena Kay, and Paul Towndrow’s alto sax-driven trio. 

As a crowning piece, the final night will feature a festival exclusive concert - Islay Impressions - showcasing a set of music exclusively crafted for the festival. Produced by a collaboration featuring Scottish-based musicians: cellist Julliette Lemione, fiddle player Charlie Stewart, and rising star saxophonist Matt Carmichael, and two visiting musicians, Kjetil Mulelid (Norway) and Sébastien Giniaux (France), the dialogue and interplay between these trailblazing musicians will delight and surprise.

Visitors to the island can enjoy all of this inspirational and creative music, as part of the friendly community who immerse themselves in the festival annually while appreciating the virtues of Islay: the warmth of welcome, the timeless natural beauty, the deep cultural heritage, and, of course, the whisky. Financially, the longstanding festival is supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and Diageo, and is produced by Jazz Scotland in partnership with the Islay Arts Association.

Coralie Usmani, CEO of Jazz Scotland, said of the festival, “I’m delighted to see the programme published for the 26th Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival. I am especially excited to hear what the combination of local Scottish artists and international guests will produce together. As an important annual meeting point for artists, the festival consistently inspires a warmth, creativity, and spontaneity from visiting musicians that injects additional life into an already-vibrant national scene. The island atmosphere and landscape seems to lend creative magic to the many new collaborations that take shape as part of the weekend programme, all further encouraged and amplified by a community of dedicated festival audiences and supporters. This year is no exception. An uplifting weekend awaits!”

Stuart Todd from the Islay Arts Association said, 

"We are thoroughly looking forward to welcoming once again to Islay a stellar line-up of world-class musicians. Presented in a selection of characterful island venues, this year's programme, which features artists from seven nations and boasts an impressive range of musical styles, promises a rich experience for local and visiting audiences.”

Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland said, “The unique setting of Islay’s seascapes and distilleries provide a beautiful backdrop for one of Scotland’s most distinctive jazz festivals. The island location allows Scottish musicians to spend a few days in close proximity to international artists, listening and learning from each other, sharing their music with eager audiences. This festival is renowned for its collaborative projects, and so it’s great to see the programme close with an exciting premiere that pushes Scotland’s traditional heritage towards a jazz horizon that stretches far beyond our own borders.”

Eleanor Gillies, Lagavulin Brand Home Manager, said: “The Lagavulin Islay Jazz festival is a calendar highlight every year, and 2024 promises to be no different. It’s a pleasure to be able to host such a wealth of talent at our distillery, with so much for our guests to discover across three days of incredible music. As ever, our team has put together a seriously impressive selection of tastings to complement the music, which include some long-sold-out Lagavulin gems from festivals past. Each whisky has been paired with a music track to match the flavour and help whet appetites for the live acts. We’ll also have another incredible festival bottling available, the details of which we’ll be sharing very soon.” 

Notes 

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot.

• The Festival is promoted by specialist jazz promoters, Jazz Scotland, and The Islay Arts Association, and receives funding from Creative Scotland.
  
  
• The Festival has been running since 1999. Since then the Festival has promoted musicians from over 25 countries, but has a special place for Scottish jazz musicians and audiences
  
  
•  Islay Jazz Festival’s website is www.lagavulinislayjazz.com
  
  
• Diageo’s famous Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Lagavulin™ first sponsored the Festival in 2010.
  
  
• Tickets are available online