← All events
music · Friday 17 July 2026 · 8:30pm 
Gwenno at The Savoy Cork
At The Savoy · Drawbridge Street, Cork
At The Savoy · Drawbridge Street, Cork
Gwenno Saunders has built a devoted following across the UK and Ireland with albums sung in Welsh and Cornish - records that earned her Mercury Prize nominations and a reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in British and Irish independent music. Her fourth solo album, Utopia, marks a shift: recorded predominantly in English, it blends the dreamy electronic textures she is known for with piano-led songwriting. The Cork date is part of a short Irish run in July 2026, and it is the kind of intimate gig that sells out quickly among fans who know her work. If you have never seen her live, this is a good introduction.
Gwenno performs with an electronic-leaning live set that tends to be immersive rather than loud - expect layered synths, melodic vocals and a focused atmosphere. The Savoy is a fitting choice of venue. The building first opened in 1932 as a cinema and was a central part of Cork’s nightlife for decades before a ten-year closure. It reopened in February 2026 after a full refurbishment, spreading across a main room and a smaller upstairs lounge, with a capacity of just under 600. The entry is via Drawbridge Street, around the corner from the old Patrick’s Street frontage. The Cork show sits in the middle of the Irish tour, which also takes in Dublin, Kilkenny, Limerick and Clonakilty - a run that covers the whole country in five nights.
Cork city centre is well served by Bus Eireann and the city’s own network of local buses. Kent Station, Cork’s main rail terminal, is about a 15-minute walk from Drawbridge Street, with direct trains from Dublin Heuston, Limerick and other cities. If you are driving, the city has a number of multi-storey car parks close to the venue - Lavitt’s Quay and the Grand Parade car park are both within a short walk. Parking on Patrick’s Street itself is not available in the evening. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are plentiful after shows.
Cork city has a full evening to offer around a gig - English Market is a short walk away and the streets around Patrick’s Street are well stocked with places to eat and drink before showtime. There is more to see in Cork and across Co. Cork.
Heading to The Savoy in Cork? Cork has plenty more to see. Read the Cork area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.