Visitors to Cork city in Ireland are often amazed that, in a country which is noted for tradition, culture and a fondness for all things Gaelic, the city has become the centre for one of the world's greatest international music festivals. A city which is steeped in Irish history plays host to an international music celebration for a full weekend.
The Cork Jazz Festival is an annual music festival held in this city over the October Bank Holiday weekend. It is Ireland's biggest jazz event and attracts numerous top class musicians and bands and thousands of music fans from all over the world to this venue each year. In 2010 over 45,000 people visited the city for the event and listened to music played by over 1,000 musicians from more than 30 countries.
The festival is now in its 34th year and since its inception in 1978 more and more of the world's best jazz musicians have been coming there. Some of the greats who performed at Cork were Cleo Laine, Ella Fitzgerald and Dave Bubeck. Also George Shearing, Buddy Rich, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea and Stephan Grapelli have made appearances. These are just a few of the famous jazz musicians who have played here. This is a testament to the status of the Cork Jazz Festival on the world stage.
Apart from spontaneous and unscheduled music which springs up on the streets during the weekend, there are over eighty venues throughout the city. The bigger venues are The Cork Opera House, The Everyman Palace Theatre and The Metropole Hotel. In fact the festival was started in 1978 by Jim Mountjoy who was the marketing manager of The Metropole Hotel as a way to get more customers to the hotel. He hardly envisaged at the time that the festival would grow to its present size. Pubs, lounges and smaller theatres stage some of the smaller acts and there are also workshops, lectures and fringe events right through the weekend.
Jazz is no longer the most popular music format as it was in days gone by but there is still a large following all over the world and there is always development and experimentation with its forms. There was a big revival during the 1960s and 1970s and it continues to thrive in various places throughout the world. This venue is able to attract as many fans as many of the modern pop and rock festivals.
There are over twenty festivals in the county during the year including the Folk Festival, The Cycling Festival, The Choral Festival and the Arts Fest but none can compare for sheer volume of visitors and excitement with the Jazz Festival.
October weekend is the date for the 2012 Cork Jazz Festival and indications are that the recession has not dampened enthusiasm and similar numbers as in previous years are expected to arrive. This means that there will be the usual pressure on accommodation with hotels and b&bs being fully booked. Intending visitors should book their accommodation in plenty time.
The Cork Jazz Festival is an annual music festival held in this city over the October Bank Holiday weekend. It is Ireland's biggest jazz event and attracts numerous top class musicians and bands and thousands of music fans from all over the world to this venue each year. In 2010 over 45,000 people visited the city for the event and listened to music played by over 1,000 musicians from more than 30 countries.
The festival is now in its 34th year and since its inception in 1978 more and more of the world's best jazz musicians have been coming there. Some of the greats who performed at Cork were Cleo Laine, Ella Fitzgerald and Dave Bubeck. Also George Shearing, Buddy Rich, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea and Stephan Grapelli have made appearances. These are just a few of the famous jazz musicians who have played here. This is a testament to the status of the Cork Jazz Festival on the world stage.
Apart from spontaneous and unscheduled music which springs up on the streets during the weekend, there are over eighty venues throughout the city. The bigger venues are The Cork Opera House, The Everyman Palace Theatre and The Metropole Hotel. In fact the festival was started in 1978 by Jim Mountjoy who was the marketing manager of The Metropole Hotel as a way to get more customers to the hotel. He hardly envisaged at the time that the festival would grow to its present size. Pubs, lounges and smaller theatres stage some of the smaller acts and there are also workshops, lectures and fringe events right through the weekend.
Jazz is no longer the most popular music format as it was in days gone by but there is still a large following all over the world and there is always development and experimentation with its forms. There was a big revival during the 1960s and 1970s and it continues to thrive in various places throughout the world. This venue is able to attract as many fans as many of the modern pop and rock festivals.
There are over twenty festivals in the county during the year including the Folk Festival, The Cycling Festival, The Choral Festival and the Arts Fest but none can compare for sheer volume of visitors and excitement with the Jazz Festival.
October weekend is the date for the 2012 Cork Jazz Festival and indications are that the recession has not dampened enthusiasm and similar numbers as in previous years are expected to arrive. This means that there will be the usual pressure on accommodation with hotels and b&bs being fully booked. Intending visitors should book their accommodation in plenty time.
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Cork Jazz festival fans can book a Hotel in Cork or a Bed and Breakfast in Cork at Stay in Cork
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