More than 500 musicians have gathered in Co Cork for the city's jazz festival, taking place this weekend.
The event organisers have said it will deliver a €45 million injection to the local economy.
The festival is expected to attract more than 100,000 people to over 100 events in theatres, pubs and clubs, as well as to dozens of on-street performances.
Mary Coughlan, Buena Vista All Stars, Les Amazones d'Afrique and Le Boom will be joined by double Grammy award winner, Gregory Porter.
He performed at a sold-out Cork Opera House last night and will be back on stage for another sold-out show there tonight.
It is Mr Porter's first time performing at the Cork Jazz Festival, which is in its 46th year.
He told RTÉ News it had been one of his ambitions to perform in Cork for many years.
"Well, before I even started my career I heard about the Cork Jazz Festival," he said.
"I would see different film clips and video clips of people playing and it's one of those marks on your career like - we did Cork! It means you've arrived, in a way."
Mr Porter added: "Without the people who are excited about the music, without promoters, without the festivals, we're just singing to empty spaces.
"So, it's wonderful to have these festivals with tradition, long-standing tradition, that there's a desire for it to keep going for another 50 years. It's wonderful."
Mr Porter spent Wednesday and yesterday sight-seeing in Cork with his wife, Victoria, and their two sons. He said he loved the "village" feel to the city.
"Cork is already a fantastic place. Add to that some wonderful jazz and the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival which has now created this fantastic musical village. It's great."
He spoke to RTÉ News at the opening of an exhibition marking 85 years of his record label, Blue Note, at St Peter's in Cork.
The interactive exhibition features some of the label's iconic artwork and is one of many fringe events taking place this year.
Jazz Festival Chairperson Fiona Collins said its accessibility - with venues in close proximity to each other - is part of the reason for the enduring success of the event.
"The festival is amazing, and the city lends itself to the festival over the weekend," she said.
"Everything is walkable. It's easy to get around. The people in the city add to it."
Ms Collins added: "The musicians love coming here, love playing for the festival, so that excitement lends itself to the festival and I think that has helped its longevity. People just love coming back year after year."
The festival will continue until Monday. Events also take place in the suburb of Douglas, and in Kinsale in the county.
