Jazz it up this year with a visit to Cork’s Guinness Jazz Festival! Be part of this spectacular four-day festival celebrating some of the world’s very best jazz music. Featuring over 120 acts appearing on 28 stages throughout the vibrant city of Cork, this is a festival not to miss. For further details please read on…

Taking place over the October Bank Holiday weekend from: Friday 23rd October to Monday 26th October, Cork City located in the southwest corner of Ireland will come to life yet again with it annual Jazz Festival. Sponsored by Guinness, this festival has proved very popular over the years and again promises an even bigger and better festival this October.

During the festival there are many events taking place throughout Cork City so you are sure to get a taste of ‘all that jazz’. The main concert venue are as follows: The Everyman Palace Theatre, The Cork Opera House and The Triskel Arts Centre.

The Guinness Festival Club will be located at The Gresham Metropole Hotel and offers jazz on five different stages. There is also a ‘Guinness Jazz Trail‘ which offers entertainment in over 40 pubs and clubs, most which are free of charge! Many of Cork’s city hotels, restaurants and fringe venues also offer jazz on the menu and there are many workshops and exhibitions to avail of during your visit.

In the past The Guinness Jazz Festival has welcomed major acts like Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakely to name but a few. This years festival promises an even bigger line up with acts that are sure to wet your appetite which include: Delorentos, Theo Parrish, Route 66 Big Band, The Tuxedo Junction, The Coronas, Yolanda Brown, Imelda May, and many more. For a full listing on this years festival headliners check out the official Guinness Jazz Festival website for further details.

During the festival you will have the opportunity to attend many workshop events. Learn all about jazz, the importance and roll of each instrument, developing ‘one’s inner pulse’ and much more. As admission is free it is advisable to get there early as possible as spaces are very limited. Check out The Master Classes and Workshop Events page for further details.

Jazz is hard to define as it spans from: jazz waltzes, swing, dixieland revival, bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, free jazz, Latin jazz, post pop, soul jazz, jazz fusion, modern jazz and many more. Cork will play host to most forms of jazz during the festival and no matter what form of jazz you hear it is sure to get your feet tapping!

Tickets went on sale on 1st August and are very limited at this stage. For further details please check out the official Guinness Jazz Festival 2009 website.

Cork is a wonderful city steeped in culture and history with much to see and do. Discover the city’s many sights, wonderful architecture, colourful shops, cosy restaurants, pubs, and of course it’s people. No matter what time of year you visit Cork you are sure to experience its legendary hospitality.

Need accommodation? Check out our Cork hotels page and book a Cork hotel securely online today. Receive instant confirmations when you book online now.

Have you visited Cork before? Perhaps you have been to The Guinness Jazz Festival? As always we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave your comments in the comment box below. Thank you.