Another year and another Big Band and Jazz Festival has come to a close and we are leaving the friendly city once more, sad to be going but very happy after another great festival.

There must have been more acts than ever coming to Derry from all over the place and they will go home to tell their friends what a great place and what a fun festival it is.

We practically wore out our yellow suits playing nine gigs in the four days!

We did a couple of new shows this year including our unofficial opening to the festival at the Playtrail to around 250 kids who danced their socks off.

Then going on to perform at all our usual haunts and ending off with the big finale at Da Vinci's where our Jive Aces' yellow was complimented nicely by the blue suits of the Biscuit Boys, especially at the end when we all hit the stage for a wild version of Jump, Jive and Wail.

Mainly, we want to say 'thank you' again.

We always look forward to this festival and we are always made to feel very welcome, and I'm sure the other bands feel the same.

Unlike many other jazz and music festivals it is about the people and has a community spirit and that must also come from the way it is organised.

So thank you to Derry City Council and all those who work behind and in front of the scenes, especially Johnny Murray and Mark Patterson.

Here's to many more years of crowded rooms and dancing in the streets!

Cheers!

Love, Ian and the Jive Aces.