Eurocultured Dublin returns to Smithfield on August 16th for the third time, with an array of talent from 12 different European countries. This fantastic festival freebie includes Live Street Art, Cabaret, Dance, Music and a Market Area.
Attendees can expect to be entertained by some of the best street performers, hailing from Portugal, Spain, Germany, Ireland and the UK.
The event centers around a carnival atmosphere, offering something for everyone. This years highlights include Cathy Davey (pictured), Jon Kennedy, Pohrebni Kapela, Tiago Morna & Nuno Estevens, Tru RAP feat Azizi Hustlazz, DJ Suhaid, Stone & Jezreel.
The event runs from noon until 9pm this Saturday and all admissions are free. Yah!
Some great Irish acts play the National Concert Hall from this Saturday as part of the ESB Beo Celtic Musical Festival.
The festival has been running for almost a decade now, giving celtic music fans a chance to see their favourite artists in the unique setting of the National Concert Hall.
This year Paddy Casey (August 16) and Damien Dempsey (August 23, pictured) are among the highlights, along with the Cuban-influenced Celtic trio Buille, Salsa Celtica (August 17).
While these acts play evening concerts in the Concert Hall’s Main Auditorium, you can also see some of Ireland’s finest trad stars in the more intimate confines of the John Field Room.
Vocal trio White Raven perform on August 20, along with Gerry O’Connor on fiddle; an 80-piece orchestra from the Meitheal Summer School play with top violinist Zoe Conway on the 21st; and Robbie Harris and Emer Mayock present a trad event for all the family on Saturday August 23, with a fully interactive song and dance show.
There’s a heck of a lot goin’ on in Kilkenny this fortnight – so much, in fact, that we’re having a hard time whittling it down to give you the highlights. Well, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.
Yes, the Kilkenny Arts Festival kicked off a few days ago, and runs until this Sunday (August 17), offering an array of artistic delights, including theatre, dance, visual art, film, and of course music.
So, let us walk you through the cream of the musical crop!
We’re assuming you all had the good sense to go see Lisa Hannigan at the Parade Tower in the Castle on Saturday? If not, tant pis, as the French say, but you’ll have a chance to make it up to yourself tonight by catching Mercury Rev at The Hub at Cillín Hill, with support from Norn Iron’s favourite indie pop duo, Oppenheimer.
Just as amazing will be Spiritualized (pictured), who close the festival at St Canice’s Cathedral on Sunday night, along with Dublin band 3epkano. Home-grown acts Dae Kim & House Of Cosy Cushions are also sure to make an impression on Thursday August 14 at Cleere’s on Parliament Street, and electro fans won’t want to miss Somadrone’s show in the same venue on the 15th.
And if you like your music a bit more worldly, the international programme of events features Paolo Angeli from Sardinia, Terje Isunget from Norway, Greece’s Savina Yannatou (pictured) & Primavera en Salonico, and some fine inter-country collaboration from the Ireland Asturias Project (Ireland/Spain), and the Kevin Brady Trio feat Bill Carrothers (US) & Soweto Kinch (UK)/Michael Janisch (US)/David Lyttle (Northern Ireland).
But don’t take our word for it, go see for yourself! Browse the full programme here
This week the main attraction is the Solas Festival, a unique addition to the boutique festival circuit. The festival aims to take world-renowned artists and place them in an intimate setting to entertain the lucky 3,000 ticket holders.
The festival is the brainchild of numerous independent promoters aiming to establish an affordable high quality festival featuring the best national and international musicians and DJs. Sounds good!
The festival offers everything from electronic and reggae to rock ‘n’ roll, traditional and acoustic so there should be something there for everyone.
The line up includes Hijack Oscar, Kila, Autamata, Republic of Loose (pictured), PrestonReed, God Is An Astronaut plus many more.
The festival runs from August 16-17 at Huntington Castle, Clonegal, Co. Carlow.
The Westport music festival begins tonight with Sharon Shannon, Mundy (pictured) and Dessie O’Halloran providing the entertainment.
The festival runs from today until Sunday and will also feature White Water, Ragus and The Walls.
All will perform in an open air setting in the Fairgreen arena in Westport. The festival is exprected to draw huge numbers upon the town and will culminate on Sunday night with a free fireworks display. We do love freebies!
BELSONIC, located at Custom House Square in Belfast, is a new music event made up of three, one day, shows running between August 11 and 15.The first show hosts The Flaming Lips, Mogwai, Oppenheimer & Jape. This is The Flaming Lips first appearance in Northern Ireland, and to celebrate we’re promised a laser show, state of the art light show and crazy visuals on a huge LED screen! I guess we’ll have to wait and see what that is! Other festival highlights include The Enemy, Reverend & The Makers, Fighting with Wire, Future of the Left & General Fiasco, The Zutons, The Go Team, Mystery Jets, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Delorentos (pictured) and Ski Bunny DJs. For a full festival outline see below!
It’s your final reminder of this year’s Indie-Pendence festival in Mitchelstown. Starting tomorrow and running until Sunday, the gigs are completely free and you don’t even need a ticket to attend!
Headline acts include Gemma Hayes, Cathy Davey and The Blizzards. Also playing over the weekend are Fight Like Apes, Ham Sandwich, The Flaws and The Kinetiks. For full festival information see here.
One of the summer’s most popular ’boutique’ festivals gets underway this weekend in Co. Offaly. Castle Polooza, now in it’s third year, takes place on the grounds of Charleville Castle, outside Tullamore.
All 2000 ticket holders gain daily access to the castle, as well as a great line-up of alternative, international and Irish acts, covered performance areas, camping facilities and – most importantly – flushing toilets and free hot showers!
Musical highlights include Mystery Jets DJ set, The Flaws, Red Kid, The Parlotones, Republic of Loose DJ Set, Fight Like Apes, Dirty Epics, The Tassle Club and The Black Seeds.
Also be sure to check out fiesty Dublin foursome Grand Pocket Orchestra (pictured) and Derry singer-songwriter Joe Echo, the lucky (and very talented) winners of the Hot Press ‘Your Band At Castle Palooza’ comp.
And if you’ve a moment to spare between bands, why not try your hand at the belly dancing lessons and Singstar competition. Any takers?
If you think traditional is the way to go this weekend, why not go along to the World Fleadh? The festival is Ireland’s biggest Irish and Celtic music event, taking place this year in Portlaoise.
The festival’s main attraction is its large marquee concerts and theatre performances featuring the best Irish traditional, contemporary & celtic music performers in the world.
In addition, it plays host to a number of Ireland’s top céilí bands, a scheduled session trail, world title competitions in Irish traditional music, song & dance and master classes & demonstrations in various performance styles.
The Festival starts this Thursday July 31 and runs through till Monday. You can’t beat a five day weekend!
No, it’s nothing to do with John Gormley or Trevor Sergeant. They’d approve of the Irish Green Gathering though: an eco-friendly music festival that’s “about looking at more sensible ways of living our lives.” It takes place in Co. Wexford from August 8-10.
“Be as green as possible, with the eventual aim of achieving an entirely sustainable, near zero-carbon, near zero-waste event,” they say, and who would wish them ill? After all, green politics is the new rock and roll.
Children under 13 are admitted for free. There are lectures on sustainability and demonstrations of green technology. It is an “inclusive event,” and caters for punters who reject the eating of meat as well as those who want to roast hog and lamb. The beer is local and independent. So’s pretty much everything else.
You don’t have to hand over too much green (aargh!) either: the weekend’s revellry, including camping, costs €65.
The line-up’s as friendly as the price and the atmosphere. Jinx Lennon, Giveamanakick, The Radio, Fred, Ilya K, Rarely Seen Above Ground, The Radio and Grand Pocket Orchestra are all up for it.
August 8-10, then, at Woodbrook House, Killanne, Co. Wexford. See for yourself.
