Cork Jazz Festival draws young crowds and international acts

The Cork Jazz Festival this weekend attracted thousands of visitors, including a noticeable surge of younger attendees who turned the city’s streets into a fashion‑forward catwalk.

While top‑class musicians performed across venues, the influx of late‑teens and early‑twenties dressed up for the event, filling Oliver Plunkett Street with glammed‑up girls and besuited blokes. Many queued in the rain on Sunday evening, paying a tenner to enter bars, adding to the city’s buzz and economy.

Family‑friendly performances were also highlighted, such as a packed Cork School of Music auditorium where Cormac McCarthy directed the school’s big band, and pianist Tom O’Donovan from Castletownbere impressed brunch‑goers at Good Day Deli.

The festival’s fringe stage moved to Elizabeth Fort on a sunny Sunday, extending the programme onto Barrack Street and providing a historic backdrop for the music.

International acts featured prominently, with UK group Kokoroko blending afrobeat and highlife at the Everyman, and Joe Armon‑Jones accompanied by Mutale Chashi at St Luke’s. Yussef Dayes performed on the Opera House main stage, showcasing innovative drum work.

Piano performances included Jason Moran’s Duke Ellington set at Triskel and Bill Laurance of Snarky Puppy delivering a solo concert, emphasizing artistic freedom.

Bob Geldof also appeared at City Hall, acknowledging his Cork roots while his band played classic hits, drawing a strong response from the crowd.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Brett Sayles / Pexels.