Cymande, JP Cooper and The Pharcyde Lead First Wave of Acts for 2025 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival

• The five-day October festival reveals its first stellar lineup with tickets going on sale this Friday, as Cork prepares to welcome over 100,000 music fans for its 47th jazz celebration.

Cork's autumn calendar gets its biggest boost with the announcement of the first acts for the 2025 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, featuring an eclectic mix of funk pioneers, contemporary soul voices and hip-hop legends. The festival returns from Thursday, 23rd to Monday, 27th October, with tickets going on sale this Friday, 15th August at guinnesscorkjazz.com.

Leading the charge are British funk legends Cymande, making their first ever visit to Cork. The pioneering group, whose infectious blend of funk, soul, reggae and Afrobeat helped shape the modern music landscape, will celebrate their first album in ten years, Renascence. Their rare live appearance promises to be one of the festival's standout moments.

Contemporary British soul voice JP Cooper brings his crossover hits to the Rebel County, whilst legendary Senegalese band Orchestra Baobab will grace the Cork Opera House stage with their signature West African and Afro-Cuban brass arrangements that have defined their 50-year legacy.

Hip-hop fans are in for a treat as The Pharcyde mark 30 years of their seminal album Labcabincalifornia. The influential Los Angeles group will revisit their jazz-soaked second album, produced in part by the late J Dilla, in what promises to be a nostalgic celebration of golden-era lyricism.

The lineup ventures boldly across genres with Jeff Mills presenting Tomorrow Comes the Harvest, an exploration where techno meets jazz improvisation. Ross From Friends brings his Bubble Love set, blending lo-fi electronics with soulful textures, joined by Norway's Dublon, tipped as the next big thing in the Jazz House wave.

Cork's own talent features prominently with appearances from rapper Khakikid, God Knows, Zaska, Winnie Ama, Toshín, and Melina Malone. Local favourites Le Boom return with their high-energy matinees, whilst Wexford-raised rapper Maverick Sabre adds to the strong Irish contingent alongside TBL8 Brass, Projective, Syano, Smithereens, and Lavery.

Festival Director Mark Murphy:

"The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is more than an event; it's a legacy and a culture. We're thrilled to bring another great lineup to Cork this October. And with even more exciting announcements still to come, we can't wait to share what's in store!"

Rory Sheridan, Head of Partnerships for Diageo:

"Guinness has proudly supported the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival for decades, and we're delighted to continue this partnership in 2025. This iconic festival brings people together through incredible music, culture, and community spirit; values that are at the heart of Guinness. We look forward to another unforgettable October weekend in Cork."

Beyond the ticketed shows at venues including Cork Opera House, Live At St. Luke's, The Kino, The Everyman, Cyprus Avenue, and Triskel Arts Centre, the city will come alive with the free Guinness Music Trail across nearly 80 pubs and venues. The festival atmosphere spills onto the streets with surprise pop-up gigs and brass bands bringing rhythm directly to the people through The Big Fringe.

The festival has grown significantly over its 47-year history, now attracting over 100,000 visitors and featuring 500 musicians across 100 events. Previous years have seen performances from jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald alongside contemporary artists including Damon Albarn, Macy Gray, and Kamasi Washington.

Colin Hindle, Head of Festivals & Events, Fáilte Ireland:

"Fáilte Ireland is pleased to support this year's Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. Festivals and events present an excellent opportunity to showcase the rich heritage and unique culture that Ireland has to offer. They are also important drivers of tourism revenue across the country."

Additional acts announced include poet and activist Saul Williams performing with Andre 3000 producer Carlos Niño, the Adrian Younge Orchestra bringing cinematic soul, vintage soul revivalists Annie & The Caldwells, and the ever-popular Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Roots reggae legends The Congos, Malian guitar virtuoso Vieux Farka Touré, and exploratory duo James Holden & Wacław Zimpel broaden the festival's global scope.

The festival promises a diverse range of musical styles that transcend traditional jazz definitions, encompassing swing, bebop, fusion, hip-hop, R&B, and dance music. With more headline acts to be revealed in coming weeks, Cork's biggest music celebration looks set to deliver another memorable October weekend.

Bookings open this Thursday, 14th August at 10am on www.guinnesscorkjazz.com. The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is supported by Diageo, Fáilte Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork Airport.