In The Making – Music Production Workshop

Experience digital music production at In the Making’s step-by-step digital music-making workshop! Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, the Music Production Workshop will guide you through the process of creating and sharing your own unique sound.

Hosted on the Cork Opera House main stage – one of the city’s vital music venues – this hands-on session, delivered by talented music producer Viva Dean, empowers participants to experiment, explore, and unlock their creative potential using insider knowledge and industry-specific technology.

Emphasising the limitless potential for creativity and personal expression digital music-making offers, this event invites you to discover and flex your digital music production skills in an energetic, interactive and encouraging environment.

In The Making – Perspectives On Interdisciplinary Arts Panel

Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Arts is a discussion panel taking place in the Green Room at Cork Opera House, as part of In the Making – a festival of participation, exploration, and discovery through the arts.

Exploring the meaning of the prefix ‘inter’ in the sector, this panel brings together some of Ireland’s innovative artists and arts workers to examine interdisciplinarity through the lens of their own creative practices.

Encouraging ongoing reflection through conversation, this panel hopes to present perspectives behind this blended approach to creative expression. Panelists will share personal insights, engage in open dialogue, answer questions, and offer audiences a deeper understanding of what it means to work and create at the intersection of multiple art forms.


This is a free event however registration is required.

In The Making – Behind The Drag

Behind the Drag invites audiences on a theatrical journey of discovery, revealing the artistry and personality behind three of Cork’s most popular drag artists; Lucina Shynning, Abrakedavre, and Mystery.

Taking place in Cork Opera House’s Blue Angel at night, artists will demonstrate in real time the creative skills and decisions behind their iconic make-up looks and costumes, sharing character development insights for each of their personas along the way. Witnessing the steps and stages behind the drag process, audiences will gain a nuanced perspective on the craft, with artists breaking down their hows and whys, do’s and don’ts, and the power behind drag as an expressive and personal art form.

Richly layered and special, Behind the Drag will leave audiences with a lasting understanding and appreciation for the talent, dedication, and creativity that make this performance style so enjoyable and unforgettable.


Spaces for this event are limited.

In The Making – New Work Musical Theatre Showcase

Welcome to a night of original musical theatre in the making, featuring some of Cork’s finest musical talents.

Set in Cork Opera House’s intimate and atmospheric Green Room, this pared-back showcase shines a spotlight on new, Irish-made musical theatre in its infancy. Written by local composers, acts will be followed by talks that reveal the stories and inspirations behind the music, with a distinguished panel of industry professionals providing feedback and guidance about the pieces presented, contributing to the future progress of the work.

Unfolding in two parts, the New Work Musical Theatre Showcase promises to be a memorable night full of conversation, music, and storytelling. Highlighting the imagination and skill behind the craft, this event celebrates Cork’s thriving musical theatre scene – and the incredible talent driving it forward.


This event includes a fifteen-minute interval.

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival presents The Nasty Sessions with Khakikid, Shiv, Curtisy, F3miii

Bricknasty, led by the masked Fatboy, evolved from a Soundcloud collaboration to a full band with Dara Abdurahman, Korey Thomas, and Louis Younge. Their debut album, INA CRUELER, blended punk-folk, jazz, and RnB, earning critical acclaim and a loyal following. Their upcoming mixtape, XONGZ, marks a shift from introspection to a more experimental and cathartic sound; the mixtape reflects Fatboy’s personal struggles and recovery, incorporating new influences and collaborations while maintaining their signature style.

Curtisy – Tallaght based rapper Curtisy is quickly solidifying his position as one of the leaders of a new wave in Irish hip-hop alongside his collaborators Ahmed, with Love, Rory Sweeney, hiki and more. With inspirations including the likes of Wiki and Earl Sweatshirt, he has carved a niche for himself as an expropriator of vibrant and lush abstract hip hop, with live shows carrying a DIY punk charisma and energy. His debut album WHAT WAS THE QUESTION debuted at #3 on the Official Independent Irish Album Charts. Curtisy takes his debut project on tour this November.

F3miii – F3miii began his journey in a gospel choir and gained recognition with his debut track “Beautiful” on SoundCloud, amassing over 2 million streams on his last three singles; he performed at major festivals like Electric Picnic and Forbidden Fruit and was named a District Magazine Alumni for 2024 and showcased at Ireland Music Week in 2022. He has appeared on over 15 Spotify editorial playlists and was featured on a billboard in Leicester Square, London.

Shiv – Shiv, a Zimbabwean born, Mayo based artist,  transitioned from DJing to becoming a singer-songwriter and producer. Her distinctive sound blends alternative R&B and Lo-Fi Hip Hop, and is influenced by her diverse musical background and early relocation to Ireland. After a viral YouTube video caught Dublin managers’ attention, Shiv’s career took off, leading to over 20 million Spotify streams and collaborations with notable artists. She’s performed with Lana Del Rey, contributed to the *Your Christmas or Mine 2* soundtrack, and played major Irish festivals like Electric Picnic. With her debut album on the horizon, Shiv is set to make a significant mark on the music scene.

KhakiKid – the Irish alt-rapper Abdu Huss, has had an interesting life but only recently realized his story is worth sharing. Growing up in Crumlin council estate, Dublin, he shared a room with three brothers while his two sisters and single mother were in another room. At 12, he began writing raps inspired by Chief Keef. His 2020 debut single “Late” showcased his jazz-infused hip-hop style, and by 2021, he had built a cult following in Ireland and abroad. His debut EP, Elevator Music, released in September 2022, received critical acclaim for its mix of self-deprecating lyrics and energetic rapping. His upcoming music shifts to a more honest and personal approach, reflecting on significant moments he now believes are worth sharing. Abdu also aims to represent minority groups in Ireland, particularly since he only discovered his Arab-Irish heritage and refugee father’s story in adulthood. “Many minority groups aren’t spoken about, and I want to show that we have a place to exist.”


SPECIAL EFFECTS: This production may contain Strobe Lightning, Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze.

AGE GUIDANCE: Strictly 18+

*Performance schedule and times are subject to change and may be affected by illness or events beyond the producers’ or venues’ control. Performers, dates, times, prices, and fees are subject to change without notice.

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival presents De La Soul

De La Soul is back in the spotlight, though they never truly vanished. After their influential 1989 debut 3 Feet High and Rising, they  went on to further impact Hip Hop culture with five more groundbreaking albums: De La Soul Is Dead (1991), Buhloone Mindstate (1993), Stakes Is High (1996), Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000) and AOI: Bionix (2001).  Even though their catalogue went missing from streaming services with the rise of the digital age, the trio continued to tour and create music, releasing the Grammy Award-nominated …And The Anonymous Nobody in 2016. With Tommy Boy Music’s acquisition by Reservoir in 2021, De La Soul’s six classic albums have been  available for streaming since March 3, 2023, the 34th anniversary of their debut.


SPECIAL EFFECTS: This production may contain Strobe Lightning, Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze.

AGE GUIDANCE: Strictly 18+

*Performance schedule and times are subject to change and may be affected by illness or events beyond the producers’ or venues’ control. Performers, dates, times, prices, and fees are subject to change without notice.

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival presents Buena Vista All Stars Presents – One Night in Havana

Traveling from the streets of Havana to the stage of the world’s concert halls, a night filled with enchanting rhythms and timeless narratives that have touched hearts all over the world…The Buena Vista All Stars, featuring Ibrahim Ferrer Jr. and other renowned Cuban musicians, bring the essence of Afro-Cuban nostalgia to life with their show “Una Noche En La Habana” (One Night in Havana).

This performance transports audiences from the streets of Havana to global concert stages, blending tradition with innovation through enchanting rhythms and cultural narratives. The tour includes classics like “Chan Chan” and “Dos Gardenias” alongside new tracks from their upcoming album, set for release in May 2024.

The Buena Vista All Stars offer an unforgettable musical experience that celebrates and preserves Cuba’s rich musical heritage.


SPECIAL EFFECTS: This production may contain Strobe Lightning, Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze.

AGE GUIDANCE: Strictly 18+

*Performance schedule and times are subject to change and may be affected by illness or events beyond the producers’ or venues’ control. Performers, dates, times, prices, and fees are subject to change without notice.

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival presents Amadou & Mariam

At 60 years of age and with a career spanning almost 50 years, Amadou & Mariam have established themselves as the ultimate ambassadors of Afro pop.

Their upcoming album “La Vie Est Belle”, slated for release in the fall, brings together exclusive material and essential songs. This greatest hits record will capture the last twenty years of the duo’s career. It will feature highlights from “Dimanche à Bamako” – the album that propelled Amadou & Mariam into pop stardom which turns 20 this year.

In those 20 years, Amadou & Mariam enjoyed international success, collaborated with some of the world’s greatest names (Damon Albarn of Blur, Santigold, Scissor Sisters, Theophilus London, Amp Fiddler…) and toured the world’s largest festivals. Over the course of their career, Amadou & Mariam took the Malian blues that made them a household name and opened it up to rock, hip-hop and disco influences, spreading their Afropop message and joie de vivre.

We’ve always dreamed of tearing down walls and opening people’s ears to new sounds so the whole world can discover and appreciate Malian music.”

Amadou & Mariam


SPECIAL EFFECTS: This production may contain Strobe Lightning, Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze.

AGE GUIDANCE: Strictly 18+

*Performance schedule and times are subject to change and may be affected by illness or events beyond the producers’ or venues’ control. Performers, dates, times, prices, and fees are subject to change without notice.

Guinness Cork Jazz Festival presents Gregory Porter

A double Grammy Award winner and renowned worldwide as one of the greatest jazz artists of our time, Porter is set to captivate audiences at the Cork Opera House on a night that promises to be nothing short of spectacular.  

Fresh off his mesmerizing performances on The Late Late Show and the Graham Norton Show, where he enthralled audiences with his soulful voice and charismatic stage presence, Gregory Porter is making a triumphant return to Ireland after a seven-year hiatus.

Joining Porter on stage at the Cork Opera House are his talented ensemble, including longtime pianist Chip Crawford, Emmanuel Harrold on drums and percussion, Jahmal Nichols on bass, Ondre Pivec on Hammond organ, and Tivon Pennicott on flute, soprano saxophone, and tenor saxophone. 


SPECIAL EFFECTS: This production may contain Strobe Lightning, Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze.

AGE GUIDANCE: Strictly 18+

*Performance schedule and times are subject to change and may be affected by illness or events beyond the producers’ or venues’ control. Performers, dates, times, prices, and fees are subject to change without notice.

The CorkJazz AllStars presents XCLSV23

Come spend your Saturday night of the Bank Holiday Weekend with us as we present an All-Star line-up from the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.

XCLSV23 is curated by Mas Exodus and features Mas Exodus, Zaska, BoolaBoom, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Melina Malone, Qbanaa, DeCarteret, Yves Solo, and Stevie G

With more special guests to be announced.

STRICTLY OVER 18’s