Step into an intimate evening of soulful music as acclaimed Irish-Greek artist Melina Malone returns to Cork Jazz Festival for her fourth year in a row. Joined by a stellar five-piece band, Melina reimagines her songs with a lush, jazz-infused sound for this one-night-only performance. Expect rich harmonies, improvisation, and the raw emotion that has made her one of Ireland’s most exciting voices in soul and jazz today.

Saxophonist, flautist and producer Chip Wickham casts a formidable shadow across the UK jazz landscape. Originally from Brighton, Chip Wickham first came to prominence in the UK breakbeat scene playing with the likes of Rae & Christian, The Pharcyde, Nightmares On Wax and Graham Massey. But at heart, Chip has always been a jazz musician – he played on Matthew Halsall’s debut album Sending My Love in 2008, beginning a relationship with Gondwana Records that now spans 17 years. Now dividing his time between the UK, Spain and the Middle-East, he has made a name for himself with a series of beautifully crafted solo albums that draw equally on hard swinging spiritual jazz, the classic sounds of 60s British jazz and the more contemporary sounds of artists such as Jazzanova, The Cinematic Orchestra and Nicola Conte.

MAKE IT THE MET THIS JAZZ WEEKEND!

Strictly an Over 23s Event

The original home of jazz in Cork, The Metropole Hotel, returns in 2025 as the beating heart of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival with its iconic Jazz Festival Club.

From Friday 24th to Sunday 26th October, experience an unforgettable weekend filled with rhythm, soul, and style across multiple stages under one roof. Expect a vibrant blend of swing, funk, blues, and groove from top Irish and international artists – all set in the electric atmosphere only The Met can offer.

Karen Underwood returns to the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival in the Cork Opera House Green Room celebrating the men that she has loved from birth until today. To All The Men I’ve Loved Before is a tribute to the men and the music who have shaped her life.

Cymande (sah-man-day) is one of the most influential black British bands of the 1970s, known for blending jazz, funk, soul, and Caribbean rhythms into a sound that was political, spiritual, and ahead of its time.

“Stella Bass is a storyteller.” So wrote Los Angeles’ Musical Memoirs, and at this year’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival she tells the story of the greatest jazz singer of them all: Ella Fitzgerald.

Hailed by Jazziz magazine as “one of Ireland’s leading vocal jazz talents,” Stella has been interpreting the Great American Songbook for nearly 20 years. Her 2024 album Look for the Silver Lining was Grammy-longlisted, cementing her reputation as one of Ireland’s finest jazz voices.

Karen Underwood returns to the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival in the Cork Opera House Green Room celebrating the men that she has loved from birth until today. To All The Men I’ve Loved Before is a tribute to the men and the music who have shaped her life.

Soul Driven- eight piece groove masters, Soul Driven have been kicking down venue doors all over the country with their hard-hitting, brass infused mixture of soul, funk, jazz and blues.

This is all a part of Cork Heritage Pubs City-Wide Jazz Festival Club 2025, Corks Best Venues & Corks Best Free Gigs

A night of swing dance and live music from the Lewis Barfoot Jazz Quintet feat. Julien Silvand on Trumpet. The Swingcopation Samhain Jazz Ball is Cork’s most exciting swing dance social of the year, happening during the legendary Cork Jazz Festival weekend! Join Lewis and her quintet for the Swingcopation Samhain Jazz Ball — a celebration of classic golden age jazz. Danceable, elegant & timeless — with stunning vocals, superb musicianship & a playfully infectious energy that keeps audiences smiling and feet tapping.

The seven sons of jazz great Phil Cohran carry on his musical legacy. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are seven brothers from the south side of Chicago. Together they have toured throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and South America playing with everyone from Prince, Mos Def , Mick Jones (The Clash) and Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz). They’ve performed at Coachella, WOMAD AU, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall.

An influential alternative rap quartet from South Central Los Angeles, the Pharcyde was formed by MCs/producers Tre ‘Slimkid’ Hardson, Derrick ‘Fatlip’ Stewart, Imani Wilcox, and Romye ‘Booty Brown’ Robinson. Hardson, Wilcox, and Robinson were all dancers and choreographers who met on the L.A. underground club circuit in the late ’80s, worked together for a while, and served a stint as dancers on In Living Color. Stewart, meanwhile, performed at local clubs and eventually hooked up with the others in 1990.

On the October Bank Holiday Jazz weekend 2025 in Cork, relax at Hayfield Manor with some gentle live jazz music and delicious food.

Our annual Jazz Brunch will begin at 1.00pm on Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th October, with our musical entertainment creating the perfect atmosphere with timeless jazz classics. Brunch will commence in Hayfield Manor's signature restaurant, Orchids with a glass of bubbles on arrival.

The Kevin O'Shea Quintet pay tribute to the vocal stylings of West Coast jazz icon, Chet Baker. While Chet is rightly renowned for his melodic trumpet playing, this concert will focus on the songs that featured his intimate vocal style. Expect timeless tunes like My Funny Valentine, Let's Get Lost, Everything Happens To Me and more. For fans of The Great American Songbook and classic jazz.

Paul Dunlea (Trombone) is joined by some of the best improvising musicians from UK & Ireland for one of the staples of the Cork JAzz Weekend Calendar. Expect high octane blistering solos from the likes of Ryan Quigley (Trumpet), Paul Booth (Sax), Dereck 'Doc' O'Connor (sax) backed by Michael Janisch (Bass), Scott Flanigan (Keys) and Jamie Murray (Drums).

This is all a part of Cork Heritage Pubs City-Wide Jazz Festival Club 2025, Corks Best Venues & Corks Best Free Gigs

Karen Underwood returns to the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival in the Cork Opera House Green Room celebrating the men that she has loved from birth until today. To All The Men I’ve Loved Before is a tribute to the men and the music who have shaped her life.