Over the Bank Holiday weekend, October 23rd to October 27th, over 500 musicians from Ireland and around the world will perform across more than 70 venues in the city, and in Douglas and Kinsale, for the 47th iteration of the jazz festival.
With acts like The Pharcyde, Lee Fields and The Expressions, Tolü Makay, Rejjie Snow, Winnie Ama, Khakikid and plenty others, the festival is shaping up to be one of the best yet – here are some must-see acts over the weekend.
Chip Wickham
UK saxophonist, flautist, and producer Chip Wickham dropped his eighth album, The Eternal Now, on Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana Records last month (trumpeter Halsall, who previously took to the stage at the jazz fest, co-produced the record), quite possibly one of the most expansive and immersive journeys released on the label this year. Chip will play the Triskel Arts Centre on Thursday at 8:15pm.
Tolü Makay
Nigerian-Irish alternative pop soul artist Tolü Makay is celebrated for her commanding voice and emotionally charged performances.
Tolü dropped her six-track EP People Still Cry in Summer last month, one of her most powerful releases to date. A commanding performer, Tolü has played on stages across Europe and the US – and now a power Cork Jazz show. Tolü will play an early show at St. Luke’s on Saturday, October 25, at 1:30pm.
Jeff Mills presents ‘Tomorrow Comes The Harvest feat. Jean Phi Dary and Prabhu Edouard’
Tomorrow Comes The Harvest is a show “exploring the unknown, transcending by the way of intersecting sounds and rhythm through an array of improvisational movements”.
The performance was put into action by late Afrobeat creator and Nigerian drummer Tony Allen and Detroit techno’s Jeff Mills, who toured for years with keyboardist Jean Phi Dary until Allen’s passing in 2020.
For this Cork show, Mills will be joined by Jean, a French keyboard player and singer with Guyanese roots, and Prabhu Edouard, a highly praised tabla player, regarded as one of the best of his generation. Support on the night comes from Fish Go Deep’s Shane Johnson. The show kicks off in the Cork Opera House on Sunday, October 26 at 11:30pm.
Toshín
Blending soul, R&B, Afro-pop, and theatrical storytelling, Nigerian-born, Irish-raised Toshín has captivated audiences at Electric Picnic and All Together Now, sharing the stage with iconic artists such as Macy Gray, Gregory Porter, and Madness.
Toshín’s powerhouse vocals and electrifying stage presence is well known at Cork Jazz, where she has performed plenty of times.
Toshín will be supporting soul legend Lee Fields and The Expressions on Saturday at the Cork Opera House.
The Pharcyde
The South Central LA hip-hop legends are the main headliners for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. The ’90s rap pioneers are no strangers to the annual jazz get together, previously blowing the roof of the Opera House with Souls of Mischief back in 2023. The Passin’ Me By hitmakers will be on stage at around 11:30pm on Friday night at the Cork Opera House. Support on the night comes from DJ Tu-Ki.
Cymande
An insane billing for the festival, Cymande are regarded as one of the most influential funk bands to emerge from the UK in the 70s, blending jazz, funk, soul, and Caribbean rhythms into political and spiritual tunes.
The group dropped Renascence, their first record in four decades, back in January, but if you haven’t listened, you might know some of their music through samples by hip-hop legends like De La Soul and The Fugees. Play Cork Opera House on Friday at 6pm, support on the night comes from Winnie Ama.
The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival takes place from 23-27 October. Tickets and full program details are available here.
Cathal Ryan is a music journalist based in Limerick. With Nialler9, he writes gig guides, occasionally covers releases, and has interviewed bands, including the Lambrini Girls and Gossip’s Beth Ditto, for the site.
Outside of Nialler9, he has covered festivals and interviewed the likes of Joel Gion, DIIV, Biffy Clyro, The Murder Capital, Pretty Happy, alongside others. He has played drums all around the place too.
