Cork Jazz Festival hit by withdrawal of headline star Kamasi Washington

The American star was due to play at Cork Opera House on the Friday of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival 

Kamasi Washington has had to postpone appearances in Cork and Dublin. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty)

Just a day after announcing its programme for the 2024 event, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has been hit with the withdrawal of one of its headline stars.

Kamasi Washington, the American saxophonist due to play Cork Opera House on Friday, October 25, has had to postpone his entire European tour due to a medical issue. The Californian musician and his band were also scheduled to play the Olympia in Dublin the previous Wednesday, and numerous dates across the UK and mainland Europe.

On Thursday, Cork Jazz Festival organisers issued a statement from Washington’s representatives: “Due to a serious back injury, Kamasi Washington regrets to announce the postponement of his shows in Europe this Fall to Spring of 2025. All tickets will be honored and we apologize for any inconvenience. Kamasi very much looks forward to performing his new album for his European fans next year.”

No details were given of how the injury occurred.

Another date for the much-anticipated Cork gig has been set for April 9 2025, and organisers say ticket holders have the option of transferring their tickets to the new slot or availing of a refund.

Festival director Mark Murphy lamented the loss of Washington to the annual event. “It’s unfortunate that Kamasi is unable to perform during the festival, but we look forward to welcoming him next April,” said Murphy.

The Opera House gig was to have been Washington’s first appearance in the southern city, having played in Dublin on two previous occasions. A leading figure of the contemporary jazz scene, the 43-year-old has also broken beyond the genre through collaborations with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and St Vincent.

Despite being shorn of one of its headliners, the Cork festival still has one of its strongest lineups in many years for an event that runs October 23-27. Both of Gregory Porter’s concerts have sold out already, and an eclectic mix of other artists on the bill includes Buena Vista Allstars, Moodyman, De La Soul, and Amadou & Mariam.

Recently-cancelled gigs in Ireland have included two that were withdrawn on the day of the respective concerts. Daniel O’Donnell was struck by a chest infection in advance of his Cork Opera House gig on August 31, while Welsh band Catfish & The Bottlemen had to scrap their 3Arena appearance at very short notice on the same evening due to “artist illness”.

In July, American star Megan Thee Stallion gave two weeks notification of the postponement of her appearance at 3Arena in Dublin, after the qualification of basketball team Dallas Mavericks for the NBA Finals forced a rescheduling of dates on her US tour.