Upcoming gigs

There must be something I’m missing on the Tipperary gig, considering I’ve found the time two nights in a row to write blog posts – choir? [check], conductor? [check], soloist? [check], venue? [check], audience? [aha... fingers crossed!]

I missed the ICC gig last night but had a chance to get to know conductor James Wood so I’ll make the next gig.

Music Network are conducting an audience survey at the moment and would greatly appreciate your participation – get on it people!

Louth Contemporary Music Society have two amazing gigs on the way. Temenos is a two night event, the first performance on 24 September featuring works by Ukranian composer Valentyn Silvestrov, including two world premieres and the second performance on 01 October featuring the remarkable Hilliard Ensemble performing a programme of sacred music under the title Arkhangelos. A new choir, entitled Louth Voices, will perform works in the Silvestrov programme and I’m looking forward to hear their work under conductor Tõnu Kaljuste.

I can’t remember if I have already mentioned this but the deadline for the next Music Network Recording Scheme award is Monday 05 October. This award is open to all areas/genres of music so if you are hoping to record anytime soon, or know someone who may be interested the application forms are available here

Ergodos have a performance coming up on 23 September in the beautiful surrounds of St Audoen’s. Maya Homburger and Barry Guy step up to the pulpit in St Audoen’s and tickets are on sale now. An unusual programme, it combines Bach’s household name with some new works by Irish composers.

The elusive Music 21 (elusive because the website is missing the all important About Us page that would provide info as to who is behind the productions) have a series of performances on the way in coordination with the NCH. The series starts next Tues 01 September with the Calliano Quartet and Hugh Tinney performing works by Britten, Ades, Gubaidulina and Schnittke.

Daft Playhouse

This is too cool…

Culture Notes

So I found a little while to write a quick blog post while chatting with my brother (while he torments some sort of ghost army in Wolfenstein so the chat is really me talking and him shouting “OH MY GOD, where did that guy come from??!!”)

The second in the Irish Composers Collective’s National Concert Hall series is tomorrow night and the performance takes place upstairs in the Kevin Barry Room at 8.30pm. The performance features eight works by Irish composers with performances by Dan Bodwell on the Double Bass and Michael Quinn on the harpsichord. I usually make it along to the ICC events but I may be caught for time tomorrow as I’m picking up conductor James Wood from the airport.

I just noticed The Winding Stair Bookshop is featuring cheap as chips gig – €5 for Peter Delaney and the gig is titled Eleventy Four (I think) tonight at 7.30pm.

Interesting piece on Persepolis from Fearghus at Bodies and Buildings relevant to sampling and mash-ups…

Wexford forging a reputation outside of the opera comfort zone

New deadline for Arts Council bursaries

Dublin Central Arts Workers continue to post interesting pieces

I made it along to the DEAF09 fundraiser on Friday night last in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar. There were some pretty great performances on the evening and it was the perfect location for the fundraiser with a marquee covering the whole of the square. The chilly wind was staved off by pints and paella although I didn’t stay too late as I was trying to get through some more work for the Tipperary gig.

Speaking of which – if anyone is around Tipperary in the next two weeks keep an eye out for the vivid colours of the Music for the Golden Vale posters! This one is in the supermarket in Thurles formerly known as the L&N on Friar St – I can’t remember it’s new name!

Bringing it home!

The publicity is kicking in for the Music for the Golden Vale performance in Cashel Cathedral on Friday 04 September. Today the Tipperary Star featured information in the Cashel section of the newspaper and on Wednesday of next week I’ll be recording an interview with Fran Curry of Tipperary’s main radio station Tipp fm for his programme Classic Café. My posters and programmes arrived from the printers today so expect to see Tipperary plastered with Music for the Golden Vale posters after this weekend! Onwards and upwards people! 

In other news, the DEAF fundraiser in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square is shaping up to be a nice shindig (forgive all the colloquialisms this evening, I’ve had a lot of coffee…) If you can make it along please do and support one of Ireland’s brilliant, constantly developing, festivals in what is proving a tough year for festivals all over this country. I have a vested interest in the fundraiser as my Cork based ensemble – Quiet Music Ensemble (website under development)-  have a planned performance for the last night of the festival, October 31st. More details on that anon.

I’m still here…

As I mentioned previously, I’m going to be a bit caught up for the next few weeks so the blog posts are thin on the ground. There are a few things on the way to mention:

Temple Bar Cultural Trust are hosting Culture and the City debate in Meeting House Square tomorrow evening from 6.30pm. The question being asked Is this city fit for purpose? aims to explore such issues as control and regulation of the space, although in the marketing material the majority of the word count is given over to the fact that this will be the a “masked” debate. Participants will be asked to wear a white face mask for the entire debate – promoting anonymity to encourage truthful opinions. I’ll hopefully be there from 6.30pm, tomorrow 19 August.

I popped into the launch of Culture Night today in Collins Barracks to get an idea of what we can expect for 25 September. This year it expands to more cities and towns across the country including Letterkenny, Galway, Tralee and Sligo among others. Check out the listings here.

I’m totally out of the loop with gigs and events but when I hear of any great ones coming up I’ll post…

Images from the day II

A few more – they wouldn’t sit into the same post for me…

Kids clamber on alternative seating

 

 

Samboeire lead the crowds up the sunny street

Images from the Day

Dermot Healy opens O'Connell St Festival, Sligo

Here are a few pics taken on the iPhone (so with reduced quality) of the celebrations on O’Connell Street in Sligo yesterday (Sat 15 Aug):

 

Sligo TV interviews street performance artists

Sligo Street Festival

Spent the say in Sligo campaigning to prevent the de-pedestrianisation of Sligo’s O’Connell St – check out the facebook page for pics of the day or get more info on Sligo Events blog. Reopening the street to traffic would be a backward step for the town and destroy the relaxed street culture that can be experienced every weekend on the street. Festivals and events taking place in the town would also lose one of the main public spaces for performance and demonstration – don’t do it Sligo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More info on upcoming gigs on the way as soon as I find an extra hour in the day…