Highlights of the Week:
Art enthusiasts are in for a treat as the remarkable Galway International Arts Festival begins. The festival, labelled as the apex of Ireland’s cultural events, is taking place from July 15th until July 28th at various venues. The festival aims to celebrate the wonderful, sublime, and intriguing aspects of art, as advertized in its programme notes. The calendar is packed with fascinating events, making it challenging to list them all. However, highlights include the debut of Mark O’Rowe’s play Reunion, the thrilling circus show West Wind, Irish hip-hop sensation Kneecap’s performance, the orchestral tunes of Stewart Copeland’s Police Deranged for Orchestra, artworks by Australian visual artist Patricia Piccinini and Irish visual artist Yvonne McGuinness, and a range of stimulating First Thought talks. More details can be found on the festival’s website.
Music Events:
Pillow Queens will be performing at Iveagh Gardens in Dublin on Saturday, July 13th, starting from 6pm. Since the release of their first album, In Waiting, almost four years ago, the Dublin-based band has transitioned from performing at small venues like Bello Bar, Dolan’s, Spirit Store, and Whelan’s to larger outdoor venues like Iveagh Gardens and numerous festivals in Europe, Canada, and the US, starting in August. Their impressive career and growing popularity are shown through their excellent third album, Name Your Sorrow. Furthermore, Morgana, a member of the duo Saint Sister, will be a special guest, showcasing her stunning solo work.
The Beetles of France, Phoenix, are set to perform at Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, on Thursday, July 18th, at 6pm. Phoenix, initially made up of school buddies Thomas Mars, Deck D’Arcy, and Christian Mazzalai, has charmed audiences since 1995. They transitioned from a cult band to mainstream fame with the debut of their fourth album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, in 2009. With an upcoming album on the horizon, fans can anticipate a mix of old hits and fresh tunes.
MusicTown, a festival stretching from July 19th to the 21st, is set to fill the NCH in Dublin with a variety of artists known for their creativity and passion for pushing boundaries.Throughout the weekend, visitors can expect a myriad of musical explorations akin to the ethereal beauty of the Northern Lights. Collaborations include Crash Ensemble with Elaine Howley, Mohammad Syfkhan, Rachael Lavelle, and E the Artist on July 20th and 21st. The festivities kick off on July 19th with Soda Blonde and the National Symphony Orchestra performing ‘Dream Big’, however tickets for this have sold out. Complete details for this event can be found on the MusicTown website.
Organisers of the celebrated Forest Fest will once again convert Emo Park, Co Laois, into a three-day artistic jubilee from July 19th to 21st. This year, the festival will expand beyond music to include a diverse array of arts, culture, and family entertainment. Despite the broadened focus, music remains a pivotal component of the festival, featuring acts such as Human League, The Divine Comedy, Dexys, The Undertones, Ash, The Stunning, Cathy Davey, Something Happens, The Frank and Walters, Lisa Hannigan and HamsandwicH that cater to a more mature audience. Upcoming bands worth noting are the UK three-piece Skinny Living, and local teen band, Thanks Mom. Full details can be found on the festival’s website.
Earagail Arts Festival will span from July 13th to the 28th, showcasing diverse art genres across various venues in Co Donegal. Full details can be obtained from the eaf website.
The 37th annual Earagail Arts Festival, held in Co Donegal, is an eclectic event that travels “from the blues of Bamako to the blues of Ballybofey”. Boasting myriad cultural expressions, the festival banner includes plays, spoken word, and music. Renowned performances to highlight the festivities include Paddy Cullivan’s ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Ireland’ and a set from ‘The Henry Girls’, among others. More comprehensive information can be found on the festival’s official website.
Mark Francis, a Northern Irish artist, hosts his latest art exhibition, ‘Acoustic Oceans’ at the Kerlin Gallery in Dublin. The exhibition showcases Francis’ grid-patterned paintings on various media such as canvas, paper, and aluminium, evoking serenity in the midst of our hectic digital age. His pieces such as ‘Diffuse Sound’, ‘Blue Noise’, ‘Vibrational Field’, ‘Megamix’, and ‘Phonic Reverb’ present data and binary sequences in a novel way.
The outdoor photographic exhibition, ‘Modern Nature’, combines the unique perspectives of four photographers: Sean Breithaupt, Robert Ellis, Stephen Gill, and Miriam O’Connor. Located on the promenade seafront at Rosses Point, Sligo, large-scale images are displayed on cubic structures. Curated by Yvette Monahan, the display not only captures the beauty of nature but also explores themes of science, politics, and psychology.
Lastly, the Willie Clancy Summer School, based in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, is ongoing until Sunday, July 14th. For further information, visit scoilsamhraidhwillieclancy.com.
The main traditional music, song, and dance festival of the nation concludes with the Muiris Ó Rócháin Memorial Concert, set to be held at the Community Centre on Saturday, July 13th at 7pm. This will be followed by the Seán Ó Riada Mass with Cór Chúil Aodha scheduled on Sunday, July 14th at St Joseph’s Church, starting 12.15pm. Comprehensive information regarding the event can be found on its official website.
EVENTS TO SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK:
-The David McWilliams Podcast is set for September 16th at Vicar Street, Dublin. Tickets can be purchased on ticketmaster.ie.
-St Vincent will be performing at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin, on October 13th. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.ie.
-Stephanie Rainey’s performance is lined up for November 14th at Vicar Street, Dublin. Book tickets at ticketmaster.ie.
-Kate Nash will be on stage at The Academy, Dublin on December 18th. Tickets can be secured via ticketmaster.ie.