Pre-sales are up 14% on last year, with some events having already sold out and many others expected to sell out on the night. However, despite the continued success of the festival, which regularly draws crowds in excess of 40,000, organisers say their focus is now firmly fixed on the future of the event, specifically the musical content.

The Cork Jazz Festival, widely regarded as one of the biggest and most successful of it’s kind in Europe, has garnered a sterling reputation over its 30 year existence by playing host to some of the greats, including, among many others, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, John McLaughlin and Chick Corea,

Programme Director Jack McGouran says, however, that attendees to next years festival can expect some surprises. “We’re looking at the musical content, specifically new strains of jazz. The Blue Note legends are dying out and this will be the last year they will be appearing at the festival.

“We’re taking a quantum leap with the music next year. We’ve tipped on it already, but next year expect to see more Nordic and ethnic jazz, from Polish to Arabic. We’ll still have the big names, but we’ll be targeting a new demographic. There are a lot more young, well travelled people in Munster now and we’re building for those new markets over the next five years so as to sustain the lifespan of the Cork Jazz Festival.”

The festival kicks off on Friday, October 26.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment