Cork city is synonymous with having so many cultural facets - from a vibrant food and drink scene, to theatre, comedy and, lest we forget, jazz!
Founded in 1978, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has become one of the most prominent and prestigious jazz events in the world, attracting enthusiasts from around the globe and top-tier legends.
Over its 45-years so far, the festival has welcomed incredible artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, BB King, Dizzy Gillespie, Ronnie Scott, George Melly, Cleo Laine, and Sonny Rollins.
The festival is not only an annual pilgrimage for thousands of music fans descending upon Cork City for the October bank holiday weekend (26-30 October), it is also a huge boost to the local economy, worth over €45 million.
Last year attracted more than 100,000 people to the city. This year’s expanded programme features an extra date, with more than 100 ticketed shows, 500 musicians from over 40 countries and an extended music trail in 73 pubs, theatres, clubs and hotel venues across Cork city, Douglas and Kinsale.
Corinne Bailey Rae will play the Cork Opera House on October 29.
Line-up
This year’s line-up is once again a stellar collection of mixed talent, including headliners Macy Gray, Morcheeba and The Pharcyde x Souls of Mischief, and acts at Cork City Hall, curated by Tom Keating, featuring Jenny Greene, Mack Fleetwood, Tony Hadley and The Scratch.
The Metropole Hotel, the original home of the festival, hosts the popular Metropole Festival Club with an extended programme of performances, and The Big Fringe – a favourite for many – will see jazz spill onto the streets of the city and beyond over the weekend featuring brass bands, the big jazz bus, Jazz jamboree jam session, and the Kinsale fringe.
With lots of venues taking part in the Guinness Music Trail, you could find anything from ska to swing and jazz on your way around. Half the fun is not knowing what to expect!
With this year marking such a significant milestone, festival director Mark Murphy is ready to celebrate with a bigger festival than ever before, but he also believes that it is a building block for the future.
“I feel that since COVID and reopening there is more of an appreciation for the event in people’s eyes and I’m glad to be involved in helping to produce and grow the festival with the wider festival team.
“We are really just taking the view that we want to build this into something bigger and better than it has ever been. It is a huge privilege to reach 45 years and I’m focused on making sure we have another 45 years with new ideas, events, partnerships and patrons. We look forward to what is achievable and we have to thank Diageo for the resolute support in making it all happen.”
What to attend?
To run a festival for this length of time is no mean feat, but what really makes it that magical few days? “Many ingredients,” comments Mark.
“Cork city and all the fantastic pubs on the trail – this is where some of the best moments take place away from the stage. Then, of course, the performances – this is what we plan for each day, making sure the programme has some of the best new jazz (Matthew Halsall, Brandee Younger), old jazz (Fred Wesley, ECM), and international and local talent, like Hailu Mergia Bixiga 70 or Amaro Freitas.
“We also understand that the city and weekend are huge on scale and have a very contemporary line-up (Macy Gray, Morcheeba) across hip hop, soul or pop, that may not be jazz per se, but widens the festival’s visibility outside of its jazz roots and can hopefully bring in more fans of jazz via the portal of the contemporary acts.”
While international acts draw in a large number of fans, it is also the Irish talent that keeps fans wildly entertained. “It [Irish talent] is always important and is always something I like to champion, for example, Kevin Brady, Moondiver, Mas Exodus, Toshin, plus many more, are all part of a rich local scene and it is only right that we showcase across the board,” says Mark.
The New Power Generation, Celebrating Prince at Guinness Jazz Festival Cork 2022.
“Guinness Cork Jazz is renowned for giving a platform to established local talent like Cork Opera House Jazz artist-in-residence Laoise Leahy and jazz stalwart and soul woman Karen Underwood, but this year we also wanted to put a focus on up-and-coming local talent. We have partnered with well-known Cork DJ Stevie G to produce a Sunday matinee show at The Everyman featuring Qbanaa, Projective and Sam Healy.”
With so much on the programme for this celebratory year of the festival, Cork City will be buzzing with sick beats and dulcet tones and there’s definitely enough ‘to beat the band’!
For more information and a full line-up visit: https://guinnesscorkjazz.com
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Cork city is synonymous with having so many cultural facets - from a vibrant food and drink scene, to theatre, comedy and, lest we forget, jazz!
Founded in 1978, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has become one of the most prominent and prestigious jazz events in the world, attracting enthusiasts from around the globe and top-tier legends.
Over its 45-years so far, the festival has welcomed incredible artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, BB King, Dizzy Gillespie, Ronnie Scott, George Melly, Cleo Laine, and Sonny Rollins.
The festival is not only an annual pilgrimage for thousands of music fans descending upon Cork City for the October bank holiday weekend (26-30 October), it is also a huge boost to the local economy, worth over €45 million.
Last year attracted more than 100,000 people to the city. This year’s expanded programme features an extra date, with more than 100 ticketed shows, 500 musicians from over 40 countries and an extended music trail in 73 pubs, theatres, clubs and hotel venues across Cork city, Douglas and Kinsale.
Corinne Bailey Rae will play the Cork Opera House on October 29.
Line-up
This year’s line-up is once again a stellar collection of mixed talent, including headliners Macy Gray, Morcheeba and The Pharcyde x Souls of Mischief, and acts at Cork City Hall, curated by Tom Keating, featuring Jenny Greene, Mack Fleetwood, Tony Hadley and The Scratch.
The Metropole Hotel, the original home of the festival, hosts the popular Metropole Festival Club with an extended programme of performances, and The Big Fringe – a favourite for many – will see jazz spill onto the streets of the city and beyond over the weekend featuring brass bands, the big jazz bus, Jazz jamboree jam session, and the Kinsale fringe.
With lots of venues taking part in the Guinness Music Trail, you could find anything from ska to swing and jazz on your way around. Half the fun is not knowing what to expect!
With this year marking such a significant milestone, festival director Mark Murphy is ready to celebrate with a bigger festival than ever before, but he also believes that it is a building block for the future.
“I feel that since COVID and reopening there is more of an appreciation for the event in people’s eyes and I’m glad to be involved in helping to produce and grow the festival with the wider festival team.
“We are really just taking the view that we want to build this into something bigger and better than it has ever been. It is a huge privilege to reach 45 years and I’m focused on making sure we have another 45 years with new ideas, events, partnerships and patrons. We look forward to what is achievable and we have to thank Diageo for the resolute support in making it all happen.”
What to attend?
To run a festival for this length of time is no mean feat, but what really makes it that magical few days? “Many ingredients,” comments Mark.
“Cork city and all the fantastic pubs on the trail – this is where some of the best moments take place away from the stage. Then, of course, the performances – this is what we plan for each day, making sure the programme has some of the best new jazz (Matthew Halsall, Brandee Younger), old jazz (Fred Wesley, ECM), and international and local talent, like Hailu Mergia Bixiga 70 or Amaro Freitas.
“We also understand that the city and weekend are huge on scale and have a very contemporary line-up (Macy Gray, Morcheeba) across hip hop, soul or pop, that may not be jazz per se, but widens the festival’s visibility outside of its jazz roots and can hopefully bring in more fans of jazz via the portal of the contemporary acts.”
While international acts draw in a large number of fans, it is also the Irish talent that keeps fans wildly entertained. “It [Irish talent] is always important and is always something I like to champion, for example, Kevin Brady, Moondiver, Mas Exodus, Toshin, plus many more, are all part of a rich local scene and it is only right that we showcase across the board,” says Mark.
The New Power Generation, Celebrating Prince at Guinness Jazz Festival Cork 2022.
“Guinness Cork Jazz is renowned for giving a platform to established local talent like Cork Opera House Jazz artist-in-residence Laoise Leahy and jazz stalwart and soul woman Karen Underwood, but this year we also wanted to put a focus on up-and-coming local talent. We have partnered with well-known Cork DJ Stevie G to produce a Sunday matinee show at The Everyman featuring Qbanaa, Projective and Sam Healy.”
With so much on the programme for this celebratory year of the festival, Cork City will be buzzing with sick beats and dulcet tones and there’s definitely enough ‘to beat the band’!
For more information and a full line-up visit: https://guinnesscorkjazz.com
Read more
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Edwina Guckian: from sean nós to the Save Leitrim campaign
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