People behind the Jazz: Hotel's man Ray tells us why the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is such a hit

Ray has worked in the city’s hotel industry for nine years, and is currently sales and marketing director at Trigon Hotels (who own the Metropole Hotel).

He’s certainly no stranger to the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival - but will be thrust into the frontline this year, overseeing a bumper weekend of events at the Metropole.

Here’s his take on a festival growing and changing with its audience as it prepares for its 40th anniversary celebrations.

1. What does the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival mean to you personally?

‘The jazz’ means a lot to me. In the Cork hotel business, it’s an integral part of what we do - and we put our best foot forward.

We want everyone who comes to feel the atmosphere and enjoy themselves – that’s the most important thing.

2. What message would you have for those who might be thinking about joining the Guinness Cork Jazz festival fun over the October bank holiday weekend?

I think initially a lot of people avoided the city, when the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival came around because it was seen as a huge influx of people. However, over the years the festival itself has really engaged with the local community and there’s so much going on over the weekend.

As well as the ticketed gigs, there is a huge amount of free of charge entertainment taking place in the city. The Guinness music trail brings jazz entertainment to over 70 venues including pubs, hotels, restaurants and clubs. The on-street entertainment is also a big focus this year with the open air concert taking place on Friday 27th at Emmet Place, headlined by Brian Deady and Paddy Casey.

The street parade is one of my highlights of the festival. It takes place on the Saturday 28 and includes vibrant street performers, marching bands and a dedicated jazz bus!

3. What event or act are you looking forward to most at this year's festival?

For me, the inclusion of the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club from London’s Soho over two areas in the Metropole is the highlight.

40 years ago, the legendary band leader, Ronnie Scott, was the first international headliner to play at the inaugural Cork Jazz Festival, it is most appropriate that, as we celebrate its 40th year of the festival, we have created this exclusive partnership with his famous jazz club in London.

The partnership with Ronnie’s Scott’s Jazz Club is a ‘first’ for any jazz festival in Europe.

If that works really well, it’ll become an annual event for Cork, so I’m very excited about that.

4. Do you have a standout Jazz festival memory from years gone by?

I worked in the Clarion (now Clayton) for the last nine years, and so I got to meet some of the headline acts there.

The artists stay all over the city, and from our experience, they’re so warm and welcoming, and have no issues engaging with people.

You see them popping into places all over the city for acts they want to see themselves, they seem to really enjoy and get involved with the festival elements themselves.

5. If you had to highlight one venue that any Jazz festival newbie should experience what would it be?

Well, of course I’m going to say the Metropole and the addition of Ronnie Scott’s this year.

But there are so many acts also in The Oliver Plunkett – they have a fantastic schedule - and Reardens, as well as the more commercial line-ups in the Opera House and The Everyman.

No matter where you go, there’s going to be jazz.

6. How will you spend the Jazz festival?

Because it’s my first year at the Metropole, I’ll be running from gig to gig to sample the atmosphere and see what’s happening.

I’ll be here all day Saturday, probably taking a walk into town to check out the parade as well.

I’ll be the face of the hotel, making sure everybody’s happy.

7. Finally, looking ahead 10 years do you believe the jazz festival will still be going strong?

It’ll be here for years to come, there’s no doubt about it.

Guinness have already said that they really want to commit to the next number of years, so that’s a huge bonus for the festival and Cork.

There’s a huge opportunity to make the festival more social too, and we’ll be doing live feeds on social media over the weekend. 

Full details for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival can be found www.guinnessjazzfestival.com.

Follow the festival social channels for the latest news:

facebook.com/corkjazzfestival

twitter.com/corkjazzfest

instagram.com/guinnesscorkjazz/

Please drink responsibly. Get the facts. Visit drinkaware.ie

READ MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE GUINNESS CORK JAZZ FESTIVAL:

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