This year’s festival was up 12% on 2023!
The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has once again been a phenomenal success, with businesses reporting a 12% increase in sales compared to last year.
The festival, which saw over 100,000 jazz fanatics and music lovers pack out the stages and streets of Cork City and beyond over the weekend, brings a €45 million injection to the local economy.
With more sold out shows than ever before, Festival Director Mark Murphy said “This year’s festival has definitely been the biggest success, with the most amount of ticketed events and huge international interest. We’re now attracting some of the biggest names in jazz and music, and the future looks bright for the festival.”
Some of the weekend highlights included Gregory Porter, Buena Vista All-Stars, De La Soul, Todd Terje, Marilyn Mazur, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Amadou & Mariam, Brian Jackson and Theo Parrish. The Guinness Music Trail, has also been a massive success, with huge numbers turning out to party, filling every venue to capacity. The Big Fringe also drew record crowds over the weekend, with brass bands and more bringing vibrant energy to the streets.
The festival has also been getting rave reviews from the 500 + artists who took over the city over the weekend. Commenting on this year’s festival, headline act Gregory Porter said, “Cork is already a fantastic place. Add to that some wonderful jazz and I love the musical village that Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has created.”
Chief Executive of Cork City Council Valerie O Sullivan said, “Hotels, restaurants, bars and local businesses have yet again seen an incredible surge in business over the weekend with visitors travelling from all over Ireland and the world, bringing a welcome economic boost to Cork. And the hospitality sector in turn never fails to deliver the goods for all our festival goers.”