A stunning announcement

One of the first acts has been announced for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival 2026 and ‘90s Irish rock fans are going wild.

Returning to Cork City Hall on 23 October for the first time in 35 years are Galway alt rock sensations The Stunning who took Ireland by storm in the ‘90s.

At their peak, The Stunning were one of the biggest bands in the country with tracks such as ‘Brewing up a Storm’, ‘Heads are Gonna Roll’, and ‘Half Past Two’ leaving a permanent mark in the Irish music scene.

Formed in Galway in 1987 by brothers Steve and Joe Wall, The Stunning became one of Ireland’s most acclaimed and best-loved bands. From the beginning, they carved out a distinctive sound - a vibrant mix of rock’n’roll energy, twangy guitars, and touches of alt-country-soul-rock that resonated with audiences across the country. Their commitment to songwriting and electrifying live performances quickly set them apart. Their debut album, ‘Paradise in the Picturehouse’ (1990), reached No. 1 in the charts and stayed there for five weeks, followed by a second No. 1 album, ‘Once Around the World’ (1992).

A new wave of international recognition arrived in 2025 when ‘Brewing Up A Storm’ featured prominently in the hit Netflix series ‘House of Guinness’. Already regarded by many as an alternative Irish anthem, the song exploded into global prominence. Thirty-six years after its release, it surged to No. 5 on the Shazam UK Viral Chart and reached No. 15 on the UK Top 200 as listeners around the world discovered the band for the first time.