It’s going to be one helluva party.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival kicks off on October 25th this year, as per tradition, but this year’s festival is bigger and better than ever.

For the first time ever, the weekend will kick off with a ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ Jazz Parade on Thursday evening.

After that, the line-up features Grammy award-winning Maria Schneider and her Orchestra for their first-ever Irish appearance, the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama, celebrated US Jazz singer and composer Nnenna Freelon and UK soul songstress Laura Mvula.

Chicago’s Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are back in town once again, alongside 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… with dozens more acts yet to be announced.

If you like to get your Jazz Weekend plan in place nice and early, tickets for the headline acts will go on sale on May 31st.

Happily, there is also plenty of free entertainment with up to 1000 jazz musicians from over 20 countries performing in over 70 city venues including pubs, hotels, restaurants, galleries, public buildings and club venues as well as on the city streets.