FEATURE: Kerry, So Cool and So Clever… Inside Other Voices Dingle 2023

FEATURE:

Kerry, So Cool and So Clever…

Inside Other Voices Dingle 2023

_________

I was going to…

write about Primavera Sound Barcelona 2024, as they just announced their line-up. I might circle back to that nearer to the date of the festival. I am more interested in smaller festivals. Maybe ones that pass some people by. One that caught my eye is Other Voices. I am focusing on the event that takes place between 1st and 3rd December in Dingle (there was a streamed event, Other Voices Home at the Guinness Scorehouse, that happened on 21st November). With a lot happening, it is a chance to highlight an interesting festival event that hosts some terrific names. You can get some more details here. Go check them out on Twitter and Instagram. They are also on Facebook and TikTok. Before going on, here is some information and history about Other Voices:

“Songs for the Head & the Heart

Since 2001, Other Voices has brought some of the world’s leading luminaries to the most westernly tip of Europe to raise their voice and sing.

Glastonbury headliners, Grammy-winners and New York Times cover stars have all joined us in West Kerry to experience the magic of our intimate, ethereal winter festival, creating a genre-defying time capsule of the musical landscape year-on-year.

Across two decades, our spiritual home the Church of St James has witnessed breathtaking performances by Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse, Sam Fender, Arlo Parks, The National, For Those I Love, Young Fathers, Little Simz and more, with Other Voices’ ethereal charm drawing back friends like Hozier, Loyle Carner, Sigrid, Dermot Kennedy and elbow to play for us time and time again.

We care just as much about showcasing emerging talent as we do about big names. Each year the brightest new artists make the pilgrimage to perform on our Music Trail in boats, caravans, cafes, record shops and anywhere else we can squeeze them in. Whether it's in West Kerry, Cardigan or Ballina our Music Trail is always about championing what’s about to happen and has been a right of passage for the likes of Fontaines D.C., Saint Sister and many more.

Produced by South Wind Blows, Other Voices Festival has become an established fixture in the Irish and international music calendar, a 'must attend' event for performers and audiences alike with thousands making their way to experience all that we have to offer each winter. ‍

Other Voices across the Globe

From Austin to Derry, Latitude to New York City via Berlin and London we’ve brought our Other Voices stage to some of our favourite cities and festivals, bringing pals like Snow Patrol and Lisa Hannigan with us and making new friends like Gregory Porter, Ed Sheeran, Martha Wainwright, Willie Nelson and Celeste along the way.

Courage

When the world stood still, we kept moving. In 2020 during the depths of lockdown, we launched our acclaimed ‘Courage’ series, beaming inspiring performances of new voices and familiar faces into homes around the world. Iconic performances by Denise Chaila, The Murder Capital, Lankum and more lifted our spirits and gave us all courage at a time when we needed it the most.

Other Voices Twenty Two

This December we celebrate our 22nd year, live and online with some of the world's most exciting acts. Stunning live sets will be beamed live tothe Other Voices' YouTube each night from The Church of St James, with dozens of Ireland's brightest new voices taken to the stages along the Dingle Gin Music Trail from 1 - 3 December. We want to share our plans with you before anyone else - sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know”.

Maybe you won’t be able to get a ticket at the moment but, if you can and are in the area, make sure that you do. I am going to end with a playlist of tracks from artists set to appear live at the event between 1st and 3rd December. There is also non-music guests such as comedian Aisling Bea who will be in conversation. I will discuss that. Further details and links can be found here:

“The Church of St James | 1 - 3 December | Live & Online

We're so excited to share the first six acts who'll be taking to the sacred stage of St James' this December!

CMAT

Following the release of her excellent sophomore record Crazymad, For Me, global popstar CMAT returns to Dingle after a triumphant couple of years! Equal parts “God, self-destruction and a Britney tune”, the Irish songwriting auteur has earned rave reviews at home and abroad for her trailblazing second full-length, which features John Grant and references to Vincent Kompany, Mark E Smith and Rebekah Vardy, but CMAT is holding down the spotlight all by herself. Famed for her live sets, St James’ Church awaits!

ØXN

Doomfolk supergroup ØXN makes their Other Voices debut. Their haunting debut record 'CYRM,' announced as Claddagh Records’ first new signing in 18 years, arrived last month to critical acclaim, gripping listeners with unique sonics.

GURRIERS

After playing one of the buzziest shows on the Music Trail last year, GURRIERS move straight into the Church this year. Building a reputation as one of the island’s most energetic, riotous live acts, they've gained attention for their punk-driven performances all over Europe and secured a slot supporting legendary outfit Slowdive at their Irish shows.

MICK FLANNERY

We'll be welcoming back the cherished songsmith MICK FLANNERY to the OV stage. Following a hugely successful collaboration with Susan O'Neill which even nabbed Phoebe Bridgers’ seal of approval, he recently signed to John Prine’s label Oh Boy Records releasing his eighth studio album Goodtime Charlie last month, marking the imprint’s first international signing.

JULIE BYRNE

Hailing from Buffalo, New York, JULIE BYRNE is one of contemporary music’s most astonishing singer-songwriters. July 2023 saw the release of her latest album, The Greater Wings, which was a collaboration with a beloved friend and former lover, who tragically passed away before the LP was completed. The resulting body of work pays tribute to her grief with breathtaking delicacy. The 33-year-old musician’s Irish great-grandfather was a multi-instrumentalist and a finger-style guitarist, whom Julie credits for her own bewitching creativity.

THE JOY

Last but definitely not least, South African group THE JOY have become infamous for their ability to spread euphoria through unmatched sonic energy. Transcending both genre and continents; the five-piece band’s first release was 2021 EP Amabutho. The combination of traditional Zulu music with contemporary a cappella elements effortlessly summed the band’s spirit. Collaborating with The Blessed Madonna, playing Jools Holland and performing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games was only the beginning; they’ve since caught the attention of artists like Alicia Keys, Sam Smith and Jennifer Hudson.

We'll be adding even more exciting names the Church line up VERY SOON so keep an eye out for news and chances to win some golden tickets to see them live in action!

Livestreaming & Tickets

All Church performances will be streamed live to world via the Other Voices YouTube. As a reminder you cannot buy tickets for The Church performances - find out why here. These will only be available via competitions. Follow us on socials for the latest news and stay tuned for many more acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

Special thanks to Reed, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, RTÉ, Kerry County Council and IMRO for making this year's OV possible!

Dingle Distillery Music Trail - SOLD OUT

Over 50 of the island's best new voices and established talent will take to the OV stage across Dingle town this December as part of the Dingle Distillery Music Trail for three days of incredible live sets.

Tickets are sold out but you can join the waiting list now via Eventbrite

Please be aware that as always the Dingle Distillery Music Trail venues are intimate and access to each venue will be on a first come, first served basis with more artists playing more than once so you'll have more than one chance to catch your favourite act this year, but we do advise getting down early to your favourite shows.

Ireland's Edge

Ireland's Edge - the ideas and discussion strand of Other Voices - flies home to Dingle this December to present it's ninth edition.

This year's two day discussion programme 'Trust Issues / Muinín Faoi Amhras’, considers the breakdown of trust in the structures that uphold our society - public institutions, parliaments, hospitals, universities, broadcasters, the technology industry and business, and asks if and how it can be restored amid growing distrust posing challenges for our future.

Fiona Hill, former senior director for European and Russian affairs, U.S. National Security Council, Tony Connelly, RTÉ Europe Editor; Author, Mark Little, Founder of Storyful and Kinzen; Member of the Future of Media Commission Ireland, Professor Orla Feely, President, University College Dublin, Mark O’Connell, Writer, Aoife Moore, Journalist; Author of best-selling The Long Game: Inside Sinn Féin, Alex White, Senior Counsel; The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA); Former Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland, Dr Monica Peres Oikeh, GP with Special Interest in Women’s Health, Sinéad O’Carroll, Editor, TheJournal.ie, Claire D. Cronin, US Ambassador to Ireland, Professor Sara Burke, Associate Professor of Public Health & Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, Brian Irvine & John McIlfuff, Founders and Artistic Directors, Dumbworld, Professor John O’Halloran, President, University College Cork, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, General Secretary, Irish Nurses and Midwives Association, Siobhán Holliman, Deputy Editor of Tuam Herald; Future of Media Commission //, Professor John Naughton, CRASSH, Cambridge University. There will also be a captivating performance by the extraordinary singer and composer Rachael Lavelle.

Day and weekend tickets are on sale now but moving fast. Books yours now before it's too late.

Book your ticket for Ireland's Edge here.

IN THIS PHOTO: Aisling Bea

BANTER

‍Jim Carroll’s legendary Banter series returns to Other Voices with a host of exciting guests including BAFTA-winning actor, writer and comedian Aisling Bea, historian and broadcaster Dónal Fallon, multi-award-winning author Mark O’Connell, journalist and Irish Times columnist Brianna Parkins, broadcaster and author Emma Warren, artist and designer Richard Malone, Chairman of the iconic Irish record label, Claddagh Records James Morrissey. Banter will also feature a special conversation with author Colum McCann and acclaimed Irish musician Colm Mac Con Iomaire with more names to be announced.

Held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the festival weekend, Jim Carroll will explore what makes his guests tick, through a series of fireside chats in Foxy John’s pub on Dingle’s Main Street. Entry to Banter will be on a first-come, first-served basis each day so make sure to get in nice and early!

No additional ticket required”.

One thinks that festivals happen in the summer and nothing happens later on. Although technically not a winter festival – 1st December is still in the autumn -, it is one late in the calendar that is worth highlighting. Whilst we are starting to get line-ups coming through for next year’s festivals, it is worth keeping in mind smaller festivals and events that are interesting and boast diverse talent. I like the fact that there are legends like Aisling Bea and Brianna Parkins in conversation. We also get music from CMAT and Julie Byrne. It is going to be a warming, rousing, inspiring and magical time in Dingle, Kerry. If you can see it live or online, make sure that you do not miss out on these…

CULTURAL gems.

FEATURE:

Kerry, So Cool and So Clever…

Inside Other Voices Dingle 2023

Sam Liddicott