Guinness Cork Jazz Festival Launches 2025 programme

The 47th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival takes place this October Bank Holiday weekend

One of Europe’s most celebrated music events, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, has launched its 2025 programme, which takes place this October Bank Holiday weekend (23–27 October).

Now in its 47th year, the festival will feature a world-class line-up that spans jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, and electronic innovation, with global icons and cutting-edge new talent. Headliners already announced include Cymande, JP Cooper, Orchestra Baobab, techno pioneer Jeff Mills, legendary hip-hop collective The Pharcyde, and the soulful voice of Sienna Spiro.

More acts were revealed at the official launch this evening:

Tickets for these newly announced shows go on sale this Friday, 5 September at 10am on guinnesscorkjazz.com.   Organisers say they have more surprises in the bag to announce in the coming weeks.

• Lee Fields & The Expressions  – the legendary American soul singer, whose career began back in 1969, has drawn comparisons to James Brown and Otis Redding, but with a nuanced originality. Lee returns to Irish shores for the first time in 5 years.
• Nubya Garcia – a British jazz musician, saxophonist, composer and bandleader – one of the leading names in the new wave of UK jazz.
• Jape – Rituals – an exclusive tribute to Richie Egan’s early, groundbreaking work.
• Summer Pearl – soulful rising star destined to captivate audiences.
• Norma Winstone & Glauco Venier: Distances and Beyond
• Vallon-Michel-Rossy – Pianist Colin Vallon joins focus with two of Europe’s most prominent and original musicians – Matthieu Michel on trumpet and Jorge Ross on drums.
• Elina Duni & Rob Luft Quartet: A Time To Remember – connecting music from different parts of the world. Supported by Swiss Flugehorn player Matthieu Michel and one of the great contemporary British jazz drummers, Corrie Dick.
• Yankari Afrobeat Collective –  carrying the fire of Afrobeat forward, pushing the genre beyond its roots while staying true to its soul.
• Mås Exödus – a modern contemporary jazz band that emerged in 2021, conceived by festival director Mark Murphy (ChoiceCuts) and guitarist Max Zaska.
• Stella Performs Ella – Stella Bass Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald
• And more local additions including Smithereens, Yankari, Estratos, and Tu-Ki.

“Guinness Cork Jazz is Ireland’s largest jazz festival and a cultural institution.  Every year, Cork becomes the beating heart of jazz, but the festival has grown into so much more – a celebration of musical innovation and cultural energy,” said Mark Murphy, Festival Director.   

Over five days, the festival will feature more than 500 musicians across 100 events in nearly 80 venues, from headline venues for ticketed shows to a free Guinness Music Trail.   The festival also spills into the streets with surprise pop-up gigs, and brass bands with The Big Fringe.  The reach of the festival also extends beyond the city to surrounding areas such as Douglas and Kinsale, making it a key cultural draw for both domestic and international visitors.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has attracted more than 100,000 attendees in recent years, establishing itself as Ireland’s premier jazz event and the biggest city-based music festival.

Already announced highlights include:

• Cymande – the influential British funk and soul collective, celebrating their first album in a decade.
• JP Cooper – with his soulful vocals and crossover hits.
• Orchestra Baobab – Senegalese legends blending Afro-Cuban rhythms and West African sounds.
• The Pharcyde – revisiting Labcabincalifornia on its 30th anniversary.
• Jeff Mills – presenting Tomorrow Comes the Harvest, a fusion of techno and jazz improvisation.
• Sienna Spiro -19-year old singer-songwriter whose soulful voice and raw lyricism has gained her widespread acclaim.
• Returning favourites Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Le Boom.
• Saul Williams & Carlos Niño, Ross From Friends, Adrian Younge Orchestra, Annie & The Caldwells, The Congos, Khakikid, Vieux Farka Touré, James Holden & Wacław Zimpel, Tolü Makay, and a wide range of emerging Irish talent including God Knows, Zaska, Winnie Ama, and Toshín.

With its mix of jazz greats, global innovators, and breakthrough Irish talent, it’s set to be another incredible weekend of music with a great festival vibe across the city.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival takes place from 23-27 October. Tickets and full programme details are available at guinnesscorkjazz.com