"Why should I go to Cork? It's far away and they're all a pack of langers!"

What do people think of when they think of Cork? Is it the accent? Is it Roy Keane? You might be surprised to find out that there is a lot more to the City by the River Lee than you think! 

• Want to try out the freshest produce and pick up some Tripe or Drisheen for dinner? Check out the English Market!
• Take a stroll down Oliver Plunkett Street - an award-winning street where you can buy a chainsaw, a €300,000 watch or a guitar plectrum within meters of each other!
• Sit out in the sun in the Bishop Lucey Park, or sit in from the rain in Cork Coffee Roasters and watch the world go by through their giant front window!
• Take trip out to Fitzgerald's Park and brave the 'Shakey Bridge'!

Rebel by name, rebel by nature.

 Cork musicians have a long history of "sticking it to the man" (or the woman, or whoever was in power at them time!) and not much has changed! From the Showbands that excited crowds at back in the  50's and 60's all the way up to Black-Metal outfit Altar of Plagues and everything in between - Cork musicians have been finding ways to annoy the older generations for years! If you're feeling a bit rebellious, we have the best tips for you! You can also check out our blog for more regular updates!

• Fancy some Absinthe and Metal? Head on over to Fred Zeppelins (Fredz to the locals) and sit at the bar! The music is great and there are regular gigs and a Happy Hour!
• The Roundy, just at the bottom of Patrick Street, offers a great place to sit outside during the day. -and it also provides a great place to party at night! Pop upstairs and see what local act is playing, you won't be disappointed! 
• Previously an Art-house Cinema, The Kino has been given a new lease of life by the local arts community. Pop in and grab a coffee and check out the regular gigs by local artists. This is also an all-ages venue, that provides local young bands with a great outlet for all of that teenage angst!

Depending on the time of the year that you choose to visit, you can find Choral Music, Jazz, Alternative and much more!

Not content with just having amazing live music every night of the week , you'll find a number of festivals in Cork City & County throughout the year! It's not just in the live venues that the magic comes to life, you'll also find street performers roaming the City showcasing their talents and delighting the crowds! We recommend checking out:

• The Cork Jazz Festival takes place each October and showcases the best in local and international talent. The festival has been running since 1978 and is one of the stand-out weekends on the Cork calendar!
• Do you like classical choirs and vocal arrangements? Or maybe you want to see an awkward barbershop rendition of Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls"? Look no further than the Cork International Choral Festival! 
• Are you into contemporary art and music? Check out the annual Quarter Block Party which aims to present art in unusual locations  and transforms the historical quarter of Cork City into an hive of alternative activity! 

Experience an authentic Trad experience in a rural pub!

For Trad in the City, check out our music guide. On the other hand, if the sounds of the city are too much, hop an a bus out west for a real trad experience. West Cork offers a multitude of options to experience traditional Irish music being played in authentic settings. This isn't just a show for tourists: this is a way of life! Go on, escape from the city! We recommend checking out:

• Clonakilty is about an hour away on the bus! Pop into DeBarra's, grab a pint of Murphy's and listen to extremely talented musicians in an intimate setting!
• Head a bit further down the Coast to Ballydehob - there's a weekly Trad session that rotates between a number of bars every Friday! 
• Head all the way down to Bantry! Every August the most talented Trad players descend on the town for the Masters of Tradition festival. During the rest of the year, you won't have to look too far to find a bar with a session!

If you want to stay in the city and listen to Trad music, that is absolutely an option! Click here to download our free Cork Music Venues Guide and find out where you can watch authentic trad music in Cork city now! It will also let you know where you can watch other genres too!