YolanDa set to swing by festival

MORE than 1,000 artists will perform in some 80 venues as Cork swings to the beat of one of Europe’s biggest jazz festivals later this month.

Joining the Fun Loving Criminals and Imelda May at the annual Guinness Cork Jazz Festival will be sax player and MOBO urban music award-winner YolanDa Brown.

The 26-year-old helped launch the full artist line-up yesterday which includes legendary sax player Pharoah Sanders, drummer Jack DeJohnette and stunning vocalist Kurt Elling.

“Having just won the Best Jazz category at the MOBO Awards for the second year in a row, I’m really excited to be coming to Ireland and performing at the amazing Guinness Cork Jazz Festival,” Brown said.

“Performing alongside such a mix of musical talent such as Imelda May and The Fun Loving Criminals, as well as some legendary jazz musicians, such as my family friend Monty Alexander… the festival will be so special this year.

“It is my first time coming to Cork for the jazz festival, the atmosphere I have heard is always amazing everywhere you go, whether you’re in a venue, having a pint in a pub or just taking it all in, in the city centre... I can’t wait to experience it all for myself.”

In addition to the ticketed venues, pubs across the city will offer free live music as part of the Guinness Music Trail. It will feature top artists like The Coronas, Director, Don Baker, Honor Heffernan as well as live performances from great tribute bands such as Stone Roses Experience, Na Doirse (The Doors) Tom Waits, The Early Years, and Those Charming Men (The Smiths).

lTickets for all shows, including the much-in-demand Guinness Festival Club, are available online at www.corkjazzfestival.com, or from the Everyman Palace Theatre box office 021-450 1673.