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Breaking stories
New Orleans fever to banish the blues
Cork is set to go a little bit New Orleans this weekend as the best jazz musicians from home and abroad descend for a Cork City carnival.
By Conall Ó Fátharta
Now in its 35th year, the three-day festival will pack in as much music and partying as is physically possible to fit into a bank holiday weekend. Featuring more than 1,000 musicians from 22 countries performing more than 400 shows in more than 50 venues, this year’s festival is one of the largest-ever hosted.
Estimated to be worth more than €6.5m to the local economy each year, next year’s festival is already being lined up as one of the key elements of The Gathering 2013.
Despite the straitened economic times, this year’s jazz festival is managing to buck the trend, with organisers confirming that most events have sold out and that interest appears to be at its highest for a number of years. A large contingent of European and British press is also flying in for the event, which is a mainstay on the Irish cultural calendar.
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is De La Soul, the jazz hip-hop trio from Long Island, New York, who will take to the stage of Cork Opera House tomorrow. Also performing over the weekend, and adding to the eclectic mix of performers at the festival, are Natalie Williams, Roy Hargrove, Beach House, Gregory Porter, Prince Fatty, and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.
Music fans can also look out for hundreds of sessions on the famous Guinness Music Trail — featuring more than 50 venues citywide with a range of music styles on show, including jazz, blues, funk, dixieland, boogie woogie, and rock ’n’ roll. Top names appearing on the trail include an array of Irish and international talent including The James Taylor Quartet, Lee Hedley Band, and The Mary Stokes Band.
As always, the main venues will include the Metropole Hotel, the Cork Opera House, the Imperial Hotel, and the Triskel. More than 90% of the music is free of entry charges.
As well as a huge array of music and pub gigs, there will also be plenty of opportunities to be a part of the action, with swing dance classes, samba school, and a chance to learn to sing gospel and jazz music during the weekend.
Speaking at the opening event yesterday, John O’Keeffe of Diageo Ireland said people are getting ready to let their hair down for a weekend of music.
“The pubs and venues are set to welcome a host of talented musicians from all over the world for the 35th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival weekend,” he said. “The line-up reflects a fresh, fantastic cross-section of musicians, all with one thing in common — a true passion for great music.”
Street beats
The Cork Jazz Fringe Festival highlights
Today:
* Family Jazz Big Band Concerts at Curtis Auditorium, CIT School of Music, 10.30am and 1pm
Today and tomorrow:
* Beats on The Street: A festival favourite, with jazz from Europe’s best marching bands as they parade the streets (Beat ’n’ Blow, Germany, and the Dixieland Crackerjacks, Holland)
* Jazz on the Plaza: Emmet Place, 2pm-5pm, every day
* Jazz Food Fair: Patrick’s St and Emmet Place, all day
* A Touch of Blarney: In Daunt’s Square, the Blarney Concert Band play popular and light music, 2pm to 4pm
* Jazz at the Hayfield Manor from 6pm-8pm and brunch Sunday, 12pm-2pm
Tomorrow
* Jazz at the Gaol: The Cork Gaol, Convent Avenue, Cork, at 4pm
* Mercy Hospital Raffle: Opera House at 10.30pm at the Musicians’ Club
Monday
* Crane Lane Theatre: 3pm — Jam Session
* Jazz at Shandon: St John’s Gospel Choir and Dixieland Crackerjacks at 10.30am. Tickets available free from St Anne’s Church or committee
* Jazz Gospel Service: — St Anne’s Church, Shandon, at 1pm
Weather
For once, the festival may pass without the usual incessant downpour.
As always with Irish weather, nothing is certain, but Met Éireann said Cork is likely to see the best of the weather this weekend.
“There will be a drop of rain on Sunday but, overall, it won’t be a lot over the weekend. It looks like Cork will get the best of the weather,” said a forecaster.
Today is expected to be pleasant with light winds. Sunday will see some rain in the evening but Monday is expected to be largely dry.
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