Good morning, Cork! Jazz Weekend is finally here, and Cork is buzzing! 100,000 people, 70 venues, and one city absolutely ready to party. We’ve rounded up the highlights, plus a few other things happening around town this week.

In today’s Cork Current:

Let’s get to it!

Grab your hat and your dancing shoes, Cork - the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is officially here! From today until Monday, October 27th, the city will be buzzing with brass bands, late-night jams, and the kind of energy that only Jazz Weekend can bring.

Now in its 47th year, the festival is expected to draw more than 100,000 music lovers and generate a whopping €50 million boost for the local economy - not bad for a weekend of fun!

There’s so much happening that it’s hard to know where to start: over 500 musicians will perform across more than 70 venues around Cork, Douglas, Blarney, and Kinsale. Expect everything from soulful legends like Lee Fields & The Expressions, to contemporary artists like Rejjie Snow, Maverick Sabre, and Cymande.

If you’re after a proper festival experience, swing by the Metropole Hotel’s Jazz Festival Club, where the party carries on late into the night. And don’t miss the Big Fringe, bringing free gigs, brass bands, and impromptu jam sessions to the streets - turning Cork into one giant open-air stage.

There’s also a brand-new festival mural at the Kino, and of course, the Guinness Jazz Trail, which fills more than 70 pubs with live music all weekend long.

You’ll find our handpicked highlights in the Events section below, but to see the full lineup (and plan your perfect weekend), check out the official Jazz Festival schedule here.

SpaceFest is back from November 8th to 15th, bringing a week of cosmic creativity to our city! This unique festival, organised by Greywood Arts and backed by Taighde Éireann, celebrates the beauty of space through art, science, and imagination.

The centrepiece is Lunar Distance, a free exhibition at the Marina Market (Nov 8–12) that lets you explore satellites, hear messages from space, and even record your own. Beyond that, there are loads of other stellar events: make your own rocket at UCC, or grab a telescope (and a cocktail!) at Blackrock Castle Observatory’s celestial evening.

It’s space, science, and storytelling all rolled into one! (Learn More)

As the evenings grow darker and the city takes on its winter glow, the Quiet Lights Festival is back to bring light and warmth through music. Running November 20th–23rd, this beautiful Cork festival celebrates the best in folk, traditional, and experimental sounds from Ireland and beyond.

You’ll find performances in Cork’s most atmospheric venues - Live at St Luke’s, Triskel Arts Centre, and Coughlan’s. The lineup features a mix of artists, including Múm, Lisa O’Neill, Rich(ard) Dawson, Iarla Ó Lionáird, and Mary Lattimore

See the full lineup and book your tickets at quietlights.net

Irish Rail is in the middle of a huge €1 billion upgrade to Cork’s rail network!

New platforms at Kent Station are underway, and the Midleton Line twin-tracking project is on track for completion by mid-2026. The upgrades will eventually bring 10-minute train frequencies, network electrification, and eight new commuter stations (including Blarney and Tivoli).

There may be some minor delays along the way, but brighter, faster days are coming for Cork’s rail users! (Read More)

This is Kimberly, and she’s got the kind of soulful eyes that tell a story. At around four years old, she came into the CSPCA scared and bearing scars from a rough life as a stray. But make no mistake: this gal is a fighter, a survivor, and now, a sweetheart ready for a fresh start!

Kimberly is a Patterdale cross who’s got a heart full of play, a tail that’s always ready to wag, and a love for life that’s contagious.

If you’re interested in adopting Kimberly, please email [email protected] for an application form, or you can apply via the adoption application form on their website at the end of Kimberly’s profile.

Today: 🌧️ 9°/8°
Friday: 🌤️ 11°/6°
Saturday: 🌦️ 12°/6°
Sunday: ☁️ 11°/11°

🎃 Leap Scarecrow Festival
Leap
Multiple Dates | More Info


🔥 Bandon Banshee Festival
Bandon
Multiple Dates | More Info


😂 An Spailpin Comedy: Jokes before Jazz
An Spailpín Fánach
Thursday 23rd Oct | 00:00 | More Info


🎡 Funderland Halloween
Tedcastles
Fri 24th Oct, 17:00 | More Info


🚜 Douglas Village Farmers Market
Douglas Village Shopping Centre
Every Saturday | 10AM - 2PM | More Info


🎸 Rory Gallagher: 'The Continental Op' - The Global Musician
Cork Public Museum, Fitzgeralds Park
Multiple Dates | More Info


🎨 Ava Hayes: Residency
Triskel Arts Centre
Multiple Dates | More Info

🎷 Cork Jazz Festival
Multiple Venues
All Weekend | Full Schedule Here (There’s a lot folks!)


🎤 Karen Underwood – To All The Men I've Loved Before (Over 18's)
Cork Opera House
Multiple Shows | More Info


🍻 Oktoberfest
Franciscan Well Brew Pub
Fri 24th Oct, 16:00 | More Info


🎷 Busquitos
The Woodford
Fri 24th Oct, 17:00 | More Info


🎺 New York Brass Band
Old Oak
Fri 24th Oct, 14:00 | More Info


🎸 The Hightown Crows
Rising Sons
Fri 24th Oct, 15:00 | More Info


🎷 Code Of Behaviour
Dwyers Of Cork
Fri 24th Oct, 22:30 | More Info


🎺 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Cyprus Avenue
Fri 24th Oct, 23:00 | More Info


🎤 Sienna Spiro
The Everyman
Fri 24th Oct, 19:30 | More Info


🎶 Annie & The Caldwells
Live At St. Lukes
Fri 24th Oct, 19:30 | More Info


🎤 The Pharcyde: 30 Years of Labcabincalifornia
Cork Opera House
Fri 24th Oct, 23:00 | More Info


🎤 Tolü Makay
Live At St. Lukes
Sat 25th Oct, 13:00 | More Info


🎷 Kat Eaton
Coughlan's
Sat 25th Oct, 19:00 | More Info


🎺 Daniel Herskedal Trio
Triskel Arts Centre
Sat 25th Oct, 14:30 | More Info


🎸 String Fellows
The Blue Haven
Sat 25th Oct, 13:00 | More Info


🥁 Green Room Jazz – Estratos
Cork Opera House
Sat 25th Oct, 23:00 | More Info


🎤 Rejjie Snow
Cork Opera House
Sat 25th Oct, 23:55 | More Info


🎤 JP Cooper
The Everyman
Sat 25th Oct, 22:00 | More Info


🎷 Lee Fields and The Expressions
Cork Opera House
Sat 25th Oct, 19:00 | More Info


🎸 The Leon Stax Equation
Coughlan's
Sat 25th Oct, 19:00 | More Info


🥁 BoolaBoom
The Pavillion
Sat 25th Oct, 17:00 | More Info


🎤 Saul Williams Meets Carlos Niño & Friends
Live At St. Lukes
Sun 26th Oct, 13:30 | More Info


🌍 Orchestra Baobab
Cork Opera House
Sun 26th Oct, 19:00 | More Info


🎸 Adrian Younge Orchestra
The Everyman
Sun 26th Oct, 18:00 | More Info


🎷 Cork Jazz Festival: Soul Driven
Coughlan's
Sun 26th Oct, 17:00 | More Info

That's it for today Cork, thanks for reading! Enjoy the Jazz and let’s chat again on Tuesday!

Thanks!

- Ben