Headline acts announced for Cork Jazz Festival

THE headline acts for the 2024 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival have been announced, with the organisers promising that this year will be the best yet.

Now in its 46th year, the jazz festival, which runs over the October bank holiday weekend, is worth millions to Cork’s economy, with more than 150,000 people visiting the city for last year’s events.

Gregory Porter, Kamasi Washington, Seun Kuti, and Buena Vista All Stars Presents: One Night In Havana are among the headline acts announced to perform at this year’s Jazz Festival.

Other acts confirmed for the festival include West African dance band Orchestra Baobab, musical duo Amadou and Mariam from Mali who will debut their new single Mogolu, and hip harpist Alina Bzhezhinska’s tribute to Alice Coltrane, featuring Gil Scott-Heron collaborator Brian Jackson.

Also taking to the stage will be new jazz trumpeter Takuya Kuroda, Les Amazones D’Afrique, the Staples Jr. Singers, and Mary Coughlan.

Tom Keating will present Jenny Greene and special guests, and Mack Fleetwood at Cork City Hall.

Commenting on the 2024 programme, festival director Mark Murphy said the line-up would put Cork on par with the greatest jazz festivals internationally.

“Gregory Porter sold out two shows at the Cork Opera House pre-Christmas and is the biggest voice of jazz internationally.

“Kamasi Washington is an American jazz superstar, and the high-end Afro-Cuban jazz of the Buena Vista All Stars is as good as it gets for a spectacle. And we have more to announce,” said Mr Murphy.

Rory Sheridan, head of partnerships for Diageo, said the aim was to be the best jazz festival in the world.

“We expect the festival will once again attract jazz enthusiasts and festival fans from far and near, especially given the fantastic line-up,” she said.

Tickets are on sale from Friday morning on guinnesscorkjazz.com.