COUNTDOWN IS ON: THREE DAYS OF LIVE MUSIC SET TO TAKE OVER CORK CITY HALL THIS OCTOBER

COUNTDOWN IS ON: THREE DAYS OF LIVE MUSIC SET TO TAKE OVER CORK CITY HALL THIS OCTOBER

The Stunning, The Boomtown Rats, Mundy and legendary Cork acts headline Guinness Cork Jazz Festival weekend

The countdown is on to a major weekend of live music at Cork City Hall this October, with three days of some of Ireland’s best-known artists set to take the stage as part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival weekend.

The line-up includes The Stunning, The Boomtown Rats, acclaimed singer-songwriter Mundy, a special Rory Gallagher tribute featuring Moonchild, and some of Cork’s best-loved homegrown acts. The latest additions see Cork singer-songwriter Tomás McCarthy and ska-punk favourites Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers join The Boomtown Rats on Saturday, October 24, while Mundy has been confirmed as a special guest for The Stunning on Friday, October 23.

The Cork City Hall Series runs from October 23–25, 2026, with tickets already on sale and availability for both Friday and Saturday night now limited.

Friday night will see Galway legends The Stunning headline a powerhouse double bill with Mundy. The band remain one of Ireland’s most beloved live acts, with enduring classics including Brewing Up a Storm, Half Past Two and Heads Are Gonna Roll. Their profile soared internationally in 2025 when Brewing Up a Storm featured prominently in the hit House of Guinness.

Mundy brings more than three decades of songwriting and live performance experience to Cork City Hall, with an acclaimed catalogue including To You I Bestow, Gin and Tonic Sky, Life’s a Cinch and the multi-platinum Galway Girl with Sharon Shannon. He has toured internationally with Bob Dylan, Neil Young and R.E.M. and performed at the White House for Barack Obama.

Saturday night sees Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats return to Cork City Hall 49 years after their last performance at the venue, joined by two distinctive Cork acts, Tomás McCarthy and Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers.

McCarthy’s debut EP Colours, released earlier this year, saw its title track reach number one on both the main iTunes chart and rock chart in Ireland on release day, while the EP itself topped the album charts. Combining gravelly, blues-infused vocals, melodic guitar and hard-rock grooves with a distinctly Irish lyrical sensibility, he spent a decade as primary songwriter for Fire and Water before embarking on his solo career. From 2024 to 2026, he supported legendary rock vocalist Geoff Tate on his Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter world tour across the US and internationally.

Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers have been bringing their distinctive blend of energy, message and fun to stages since forming in Cork in 1999. Over more than two decades, they have built a loyal following through headline shows and appearances at Electric Picnic, Sea Sessions, Spraoi, Cork Jazz Festival, City of Derry Jazz Festival, It Takes a Village and the Irish International Ska & Reggae Festival. They have also shared stages with The Undertones, Bad Manners, The Skatalites, The Beat, Stiff Little Fingers and The Selector.

For The Boomtown Rats, the Cork appearance forms part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. With timeless anthems including I Don’t Like Mondays, Rat Trap and Banana Republic, the band remain one of Ireland’s most celebrated acts, with a live show spanning five decades of music history.

Sunday, October 25, brings a double helping of live music to Cork City Hall, beginning with Rory Gallagher: The Legend Lives On.

The Rory Gallagher Tribute Band ‘Moonchild’ will celebrate the music and enduring legacy of Cork’s own Rory Gallagher, with Barry Barnes, a special guest from Sinnerboy and one of the most sought-after names recreating the Gallagher sound at festivals throughout Europe, joining the band on stage. Blues-rock trio Tres Hombres featuring Brian Tambling will also perform.

The afternoon promises a special homecoming celebration of Gallagher’s music in his native county, as part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.

The weekend concludes on Sunday night with the return of Mack Fleetwood, Europe’s premier Fleetwood Mac tribute act. Following four consecutive sold-out Cork Jazz Festival appearances, the band will recreate the magic of Fleetwood Mac’s legendary catalogue, from the blues-driven Peter Green era through to global classics from Rumours and Tango in the Night.

Cork City Hall Series organiser Tom Keating said the countdown to the weekend was now well underway.

“Having Tomás McCarthy and Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers join Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats at Cork City Hall is fantastic news for the show and for Cork music,” he said. “Both acts have carved out their own very distinctive places in the Cork music scene and have built audiences through great songs and brilliant live performances.

“We are also delighted to welcome Mundy to the opening night alongside The Stunning. It gives us another fantastic Irish artist with a huge catalogue of songs and a brilliant live reputation.

“The whole weekend is shaping up to be something very special, bringing together some of the biggest names in Irish music alongside artists with strong Cork connections, all in the unique surroundings of Cork City Hall.”

The full weekend programme features The Stunning with Mundy on Friday, October 23; Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats with Tomás McCarthy and Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers on Saturday, October 24; Rory Gallagher: The Legend Lives On on Sunday afternoon; and Mack Fleetwood on Sunday night.

Tickets are now on sale from €20 via Eventbrite. Availability for the Friday and Saturday night gigs is now limited, with both evenings on course to sell out in advance.