Youngsters from the Cork Music Generation joining the New York Brass Band to play Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ on the open-air stage in Emmet Place encapsulated an unofficial theme for this year’s Guinness Cork Jazz festival: The international musical connections the festival has built up over its 40-year history.

The rude health of Irish music is to be celebrated at a new rock ’n roll festival. But Music Cork promises to be more than merely an excuse to let one’s hair down and rock out, writes Ed Power.

Cork stakes its claim as Europe’s jazz capital this weekend, with some of the world’s biggest names in funk, soul and blues in town for the 35th Guinness Jazz Festival.

MUSIC NEWS: While the London Olympics opening ceremony received a generally favourable response, there were a few grumbles about the musical component of the extravaganza.