The City of Derry Jazz Festival runs over the May bank holiday weekend with more than 400 performances scheduled across 70 venues in Londonderry. Organisers expect about 100,000 visitors to attend.

Johnny Murray and Gerard McColgan founded the event in 2001 after attending a jazz festival in Cork. Murray managed the Rialto Theatre in the city. Initial bar owners doubted the idea would succeed.

Murray convinced venues to book one act each in the first year. Attendance reached 6,000 people then. Venues increased bookings annually, building attendance.

The festival includes big band, swing, ska, blues, Dixieland and bebop. Many performances occur outdoors, with free events in streets, the Craft Village and Guildhall Square.

Past performers include Jools Holland, Ruby Turner, Van Morrison, Billy Ocean, Bill Wyman, Soweto Kinch, Bobo Stenson and Dame Cleo Laine. Local musicians Gay MacIntyre, Johnny Quigley, Jackie Flavelle and Jimmy Gilchrist participated from the start.

This year's artists feature Leo Richardson, Guy Davis and Sylvie Noble. Curtis Stigers and Muireann Bradley performed earlier in the week. Venues include the Millennium Forum, New Gates Arts Centre and The Playhouse.

Schools and youth ensembles now join the programme. Aisling McCallion of Derry City and Strabane District Council noted opportunities for young musicians to develop skills in professional settings.

The festival generates around £2m for the local economy.