Cory Wong

Cory Wong brings his rhythm-first funk to Vicar Street in Dublin on 1 December 2026. A guitarist and composer from Minneapolis, he carved his sound on local jazz and improvised music scenes before stepping into the spotlight alongside Vulfpeck and offshoot The Fearless Flyers. His solo path, launched with Cory Wong and the Green Screen Band, then The Optimist and Motivational Music for the Syncopated Soul, set the tone: tight grooves, sharp arrangements, and a guitar that thinks like a drum.

On stage, Wong treats structure and spontaneity as partners. Horn parts lock with the rhythm section, the band shapes songs with crisp hits and breaks, and space opens for collective improvisation without losing the pulse. His projects, from The Wongnotes big-band universe to collaborations across contemporary jazz and soul, feed a live set that moves easily between funk, jazz, pop and rock accents while staying focused on interplay and feel.

In Dublin, expect a set that threads through The Striped Album and The Lucky One, revisiting themes with brisk tempos, call-and-response lines and spotlight moments for the ensemble, all anchored by Wong’s percussive, syncopated guitar.