It's the Jazz Weekend and here's our guide to free gigs across the city and county

While the headline and ticketed acts of the Guinness Cork Jazz festival are a huge part of the weekend, there are also so many gems to be found along the pub trail around the city. Here we’ve put together a possible schedule to see live music all over the city at many different times. But do note this list covers many styles of music and each venue mentioned has a whole programme over the next five days, so check out their social media to see what else they have on. And every band I mention are playing several times too. In a bid to help the wallets, every one of these gigs is also a free event.

Starting on Thursday, we start by spotlighting 115 on Oliver Plunkett Street at 8pm, where there will be an open Jazz Jam session. They will be drawing from the regulars at their popular weekly event as well as guests in for the weekend, so there will be great interplay, camaraderie and jazz chops to enjoy. (They will be hosting extra sessions on Friday and Sat at 10pm)

Elsewhere at the same time, Glass Onions will be playing with a full band in Henchys Bar in Saint Lukes, playing a wide array of songs with great guitar interplay and harmonies. Usually a trio, the fuller sound they’ll have with drums and slide guitar will be a real treat for the ears. (They also play same venue on Sunday at 2pm)

At 9pm in Charlies on Union Quay, the legendary Hank & Ray session, which has been held every Monday for over 30 years, will be opening proceedings for their long weekend there. Their huge repertoire of bluegrass, rock classics, and ‘curveballs’ always show the brilliance of live gigs, where anything can happen.

If you still have a thirst for music, I suggest The Tan Jackets in Crane Lane, they perform covers of song by bands often referred to as punk rock and 60s psychedelia, from Them, The Sonics, MC5 and a few more, or are as they succinctly put it ‘Dirty Dancing for Dirty Dancers!’

Starting early on the Friday, at 1pm, Dunnes Stores Food Hall on Patrick Street will have a pop-up concert by Laoise Leahy and special guests. While the musicians will be jamming, you can have a scone with some Jam in!

Over in the Imperial Hotel at 2.30pm, Emily Donoghue and Sarah Rosalita will be playing acoustic versions of uptempo swing and jazz standards with some fun pop songs in. There will be vocal harmonies throughout and Emily’s famous trumpet playing might make an appearance too.

And to highlight O’Sho on Barrack Street, one of the most creatively ambitious pubs in the city, they have several combinations of jazz music throughout weekend, but here we pick out the trio of Hayley Kavanagh, Neil O’Loclainn and Dan Walsh playing at 4pm and 9pm, as ones to make a point of seeing.

Hightown Crows will be setting the tone in the Rising Sons Brewery at 5pm. The band are beloved for their high-energy live performances and a versatile style that incorporates punk rockabilly, country trash, and garage rock. They have been building up quite a following over the last few Jazz Festivals they have come over for.

Relatively early in the evening at 7.30pm in The Hyde Out on Douglas Street, The Ivy Sisters, a vintage close harmony trio, will be delighting with a concert of jazz and swing to get the whole bar in the mood.

At 9pm in Counihans, The Lynch Mob fronted by the legend that is Ricky Lynch will be bringing their rocking set of music by the top shelf of music. Expect The Beatles, Bob Dylan and maybe even some of Ricky’s own original songs.

One of the godfathers of the Cork Jazz Festival Trail over the years is George Patterson and his group, The Roaring Forties, and they will be bringing their energetic swing rock stylings to The Woodford at 10pm.

Our Saturday starts early in The Old Town Whiskey Bar at midday with Fire Tides, a Cork-based jazz quintet drawing from classic hard bop jazz and Ireland’s rich musical landscape. Named as a nod to the River Lee, which their band leader credits as an inspiration while while practicing and composing new music.

At 1pm, Fiona Kennedy will be playing guitar and singing in the Clayton Hotel on Lapps Quay (also there on Sunday at the same time). Her storytelling-led style will be well received by people starting to prepare for a long day of music!

The Fringe Festival of Cork Jazz Festival’s incredibly popular open air jazz stage, has a new location this year in Elizabeth Fort (1pm to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday). MCed by yours truly it features any combination of the many of the top-class Jazz bands who roam around the city. It is always brilliant fun and a break away from the pubs for some and a great introduction to the festival for younger ears.

Saturday afternoon contains so many options, so it will be hard to go wrong wherever you go, but here we specifically want to flag Ophelia at 4.30pm in The Pavilion, whose blend of underground hip-hop and emotive lyrical flow makes every show of hers a memorable one.

One of Ireland’s leading Motown era bands will be appearing in The Old Oak when The Papa Zitas (also playing there Sunday at 5pm and 8pm) play their set of beloved dancefloor fillers, one after another.

One of Cork’s biggest musical heroes, Rory Gallagher, will be the main focus in Fred Zeppelins at 6pm, when Tres Hombres will play plenty of blues classics with a lean towards the material of Rory’s career. (Also playing same venue on Sunday at 11pm)

Also influenced partly by the blues, Blutack and the Greenhorns will be playing nearby at 7.30pm in An Bróg, they describe their music as a melting pot of rock, blues, jazz, EDM, techno, soul, and swing, even on a music trail packed with high energy bands, they promise to stand out.

A little bit out from the city centre, The Kerryman’s Bar on Ballyhooley Road will have the music group ‘The Engineers’, full of the bank holiday spirit, they will be more like a live jukebox than a concert. The perfect setting for the Saturday evening of a bank holiday.

As you head out again on Sunday, The Alibi on Patrick Street is a good place to start at 3pm when Ciaran Quigley, who takes his inspiration from people like Sam Fender, Dermot Kennedy and Noah Kahan. Ciaran is playing there four times over the weeked, so that is one endorsement of how much they like him there!

One of the stand-out bands on TG4’s Buille series, Grooveline, are going to be appearing in Seventy Seven on Patrick Street at 5.30pm. Fusing so many genres of music such as funk, groove, hip-hop, rock, jazz and trad as well as singing in both Irish and English. They have shared the stage with Kneecap in recent years, which is a sign of how energetic they can get.

Later on at 7pm in The Crane Lane, Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers will be bringing their unparalleled fix of ska and punk. They always put the positive messages of the songs front and centre, but never at the expense of the thrill of live music. This is their only gig on the Jazz Trail this year so definitely worth setting a reminder in your phone for this one.

El Fenix on Union Quay will be hosting Zurito at 9pm, a ‘rumba rock’ duo who blend traditional Spanish roots with a ‘riotous explosion of global influences’, the power and excitement the duo generate is something that has to be seen to believe.

As we hit the final day of the very long weekend, Monday still presents many options. Over in Cantys on Pembroke St, Joe Mac, will be holding court from 6pm. One of the performers with the most longevity in the country, his legendary wit and showmanship never fails to turn his gigs into some of the best fun you will have in the city.

At the same time, a slightly more sedate but equally brilliant concert will take place in Coughlans, when Rory McCarthy and Hugh Dillon perform their original compositions and jazz-infused contemporary pieces on keyboards and guitar respectively. They could prove to be the perfect wind-down for any remaining jazz aficionados.

For anyone who wants to keep the partying going, The Kates are a brilliant five-piece based in West Cork, who play all manner of original and cover songs covering many genres, but always performing brilliant shows and are constantly showcasing female songwriters and acts. They have just released their debut album ‘Between Takes’ but also this show in The Crane Lane at 9pm will be their last ever Cork City gig, as they recently announced they will be finishing up after eight years gigging together.

And finally, to close the loop of five days of great live music, our recommendation is Charlies Bar for Hank & Ray’s legendary weekly session. While the two of them are all you need to have a brilliant night of music and craic, you can never even guess who they might have joining them for a song or two.

Please note times are subject to change, check each venue’ social media.