Brewing up a storm with a heady feed of cool jazz at Cork's buzzy festival

The old standard Stormy Weather got more than one outing at this year’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, but despite Storm Boelo, there was no sign of “gloom and misery everywhere”.

On the contrary, the city centre was swinging despite the weather, with record crowds taking to the streets and bars to celebrate the 48th edition of Ireland’s oldest single-site music festival.

The population of the city almost doubled for the weekend, with 100,000 jazz revellers flocking to Leeside.

The pavements were thronged, even if some of those footpaths also had to accommodate the odd car left in what the guards from d’Unbelievables might have called “a state of complete and utter abandonmentness”.

On Sunday afternoon in town, it was easy to believe the statistic touted by organisers, that the festival is now worth almost €1m per operating hour to the greater Cork economy during its five-day run.

Purists might still raise an eyebrow at the notion that the likes of Boney M or the Boomtown Rats could be crow-barred into the definition of jazz, but that fight was lost a long time ago.

Besides, any lingering purists who were outside the old Ulster Bank on Patrick’s St would not have begrudged the rapping presence of Cork superstars The Buskin’ Boys, who are part of the Kabin Crew, as they belted out one banging 'choon' after the other.

And if it was a more traditional sound you craved, the Mardi Gras sounds of the brass band outside the City Library could have transported you to New Orleans in a joyous minute.

For councillor Damian Boylan, his first jazz festival as the city's mayor, was a real triumph.

“The buzz around town was amazing,” he said. “People have dressed up, queued to get into venues and danced until the early hours.

“To me it looks like this could be the best Guinness Jazz Festival ever. Credit to all of those involved in such a wonderful event, especially festival chair Fiona Collins.” 

In the Long Valley pub, the sandwiches and the pints were going down well, and proprietor Peadar Moynihan said the weekend had been one of the best festivals yet.

“Despite the bad weather on Saturday, everyone made the most of it, there was no hassle, and a brilliant turn-out,” he said.

Paul Montgomery, owner of Clancy’s Bar, said the festival had been “an amazing success” this year.

“There were long lines of queues outside every single bar in the city, and as far as I’m aware, there was no trouble at all, just everyone out having a good time,” he said.

“It’s been a huge boost to the city, and it’s just such a positive thing to see.”

At the Bó’s Burgers stand on Patrick St, Casey felt the weekend was a little quieter than previous festivals, but she felt there was “still a good buzz and a good atmosphere around”.

In Koto on Carey’s Lane, proprietor Jeff Safar agreed about the buzz and said his restaurant had been very busy all weekend.

“It’s been a good jazz festival, even if the weather did put a bit of a dampener on it on Saturday evening. But it definitely picked up after that, and it’s always a very positive weekend in town,” he said.

Despite the Stormy Weather, this year's Cork Jazz Festival got to walk in the sun once more.