The 45th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival takes place this weekend, with people travelling from all over the world to catch some tunes.
The festival attracts 100,000 visitors every year and features jazz favourites such as Macy Gray, Corienne Bailey Rae and Morcheeba this year.
Newstalk reporter Sarah Madden headed down to Cork this weekend, and told The Anton Savage Show it’s been “amazing” to see people from all over the world at the festival.
One woman told Sarah she travelled from Australia “just for the jazz”.
“I took a 17-hour flight direct to London and then I flew from London to Cork,” she said.
“I can’t wait – it's such a vibe. I’m a big Guinness fan and I’m living my best life.”
Beyond the audience, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival recruits a multicultural line up to show the best of jazz from around the world.
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Cork DJ and event promoter Stevie G told Sarah, as a port city, Cork has always attracted “good influences from everywhere”.
“We’re between the two powerful music states of the UK and the states,” he said.
“We've always had a big tradition here of soulful music, and I think the vibe kind of works here - it's a laid-back city and a lot of the laid-back coolness of the music seeps in.
“I'm quite involved in the African-Irish music scene, which has been incredible since a lot of people came to Ireland in the late 90s.
“We're going through a golden age.”
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Anton spoke to Dublin-based jazz players Aaron and Nathan Poole, who play for TBL8 Brass and are playing in the Cork Jazz Festival for the third time this year.
Aaron said the band quickly learned there is a “niche for Irish brass bands out there”.
“It might be a small community, but they all unite here in Cork,” he said.
“It's probably the best weekend of the year in Ireland.
“The whole city really embraces it – you go into Hillbillies and they’re playing jazz on the speakers.”
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