The Blind Boys of Alabama are one of the Jazz Festival's headline acts.

Jazz Festival to begin with a carnival parade through Cork

This year’s Guinness Jazz Festival will begin with a Mexican-style carnival parade through the streets of Cork city.

Headline acts, Maria Schneider, Blind Boys of Alabama, Nnenna Freelon, Laura Mvula, and Chicago’s Hypnotic Brass Ensemble have also been announced for dates across the city, this October.

The annual festival will take place from October 25 to 30, with a ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ Jazz Parade on the Thursday evening launch. It will snake through the streets of Cork.

It will include street performers and floats from Cork Community Art Link, who will partake in a New Orleans funeral procession, with live jazz from Stanley Clarke, Billy Childs Ensemble, Billy Cobham, Fred Hersch, T.S. Monk, Donny McCaslin, Belfast’s jazz evangelist, Linley Hamilton, Frank Vignola’s Hot Jazz Trio, and Pablo Ziegler Trio.

New Festival director, Sinéad Dunphy, has high hopes for this year’s event.

“Jazz music is constantly evolving, so it’s only fitting that Ireland’s largest jazz festival continues to evolve, too,” she said.

“We’re bringing it through an exciting new phase of rejuvenation and expansion, so it will be a bigger and better celebration of arts than ever before. Attendees can expect a fresh, authentic, and downright jazzy feel, this year, as we get back to the roots of the festival and reflect what’s going on right now in the jazz world.

“There will be an unparalleled blend of headline acts, gigs and fringe events, along with exciting new elements, including the ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ Jazz Parade and a very hush, hush, secret jazz trail.

“I’m delighted to work with Guinness and the local Jazz Festival committee to ensure this year is the best yet so that Cork maintains its status as the home of jazz in Ireland, and one of the most important jazz festivals in the world,” she added.

The Festival Club, at the Metropole Hotel, will be the event’s base, while the Everyman Theatre, Cork City Hall, Triskel Arts Centre, Cork Opera House, and Firkin Crane will also play host to acts.

In partnership with the festival, Triskel Arts Centre will curate a weekend of music and film from the world’s most prestigious jazz record label, ECM. A full headline artist line-up, details of the free music and entertainment programme, and Fringe events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Visit http://www.guinnessjazzfestival.com for updates.