Wind down to the wondrous sounds of smooth jazz.
Ever wondered what it’s like to immerse yourself in the sounds of jazz legends like Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin? Well, now’s your chance, because Jazz by Candlelight is coming to Dublin – with some incredible tributes to some of the best musicians in history.
These concerts by candlelight are taking place at EPIC, Dublin’s museum of emigration. EPIC sits in the CHQ building by the River Liffey in a historic location initially built to store tobacco, tea and spirits in the 19th century. Now home to EPIC, it remains a cultural landmark, providing us with tales of how Irish men and woman shaped the world, after the emigration of over ten million citizens in the early 1900s.
A landmark of such significance is surely the perfect place to hold a concert boasting such esteemed music. The dulcet tones of both Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin are certain to sound that extra bit memorable when paired with a venue this special. Let’s make it a night of EPIC proportions, shall we?
Taking place on May 3, May 20, and June 2 is a show dedicated to the fantastic Nina Simone, giving fans the opportunity to hear her incredible compositions brought back to life. Initially aspiring to be a concert pianist, Simone started playing piano for a living at a nightclub in Atlantic City, going by the stage name ‘Nina Simone’ to disguise herself from family members for playing “the devil’s music”. She went on to record more than 40 albums between 1958 and 1974 with a musical style that fused gospel and pop with classical music.
Guests can enjoy some of Nina Simone’s best selling songs such as ‘I Put a Spell on You’, ‘Four Women’, ‘Mississippi Goddam’, ‘Young, Gifted and Black’, and of course, ‘Feeling Good’, which has been used in multiple movie soundtracks and adverts. Plus, the tribute concert will be bathed in candlelight, so jazz fans old and new alike can expect the concert to be a real treat for the senses. You can pick up tickets to the show here.
Not only that, but there’ll also be a wonderful tribute to the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin on May 11, with some of Ireland’s finest musicians teaming up for an evening of beautiful music with stunning candlelit surrounds. They’ll be performing some of the tracks which made her the queen we know and love today. Aretha Franklin received numerous honours throughout her career, and in 2019 was awarded a posthumous special citation “for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades”. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a history lesson on one of the most influential and acclaimed figures in the world of jazz.
You’ll enjoy a spectacular tribute concert to Aretha Franklin, featuring top talent who’ll be performing some of the beloved artist and civil rights activist’s back catalogue in a very special, intimate setting. Expect to hear covers of ‘Natural Woman’, ‘Respect’, ‘I Say a Little Prayer’, ‘Think’ and ‘Rock Steady’, plus more of Franklin’s greatest hits which you may struggle to resist swaying in your seat to. The event will transform a gorgeous, yet-to-be-revealed Dublin venue, so expect an evening filled with decadence all round. Find your tickets here.
These bestselling tribute concerts from the Jazz by Candlelight series will be coming to Dublin EPIC in May and June 2021. The venue will be decorated to the nines with candles, providing an unbeatable ambience where you’ll be treated to gorgeous jazz compositions, prosecco, and an all round relaxing evening.