Get up of yer Arts! – 5 Festival Recommendations for this Weekend

Culture Night – http://www.culturenight.ie/

Not since the great Yop explosion of ’83 will there have been as much culture in the air as there will be around Ireland for this year’s edition of Culture Night. There are 38 regional centres listed as having a range of free cultural events for you to dip your arty parts into. Having 38 cultural hubs is a pretty decent showing from 32 counties, safe to say there is something happen close to you where ever you lay your hat. Even Leuven in Belguim has been made an honorary outpost of Irish culture for that night that’s in it; good love them, it’s an awful boring country and giving them a shot of Irish culture is definitely a charitable act. The lads from Mayo will be going at it Hammer and Tongs with a night of blacksmithing, stories and songs in Ballina; it’s a good training as the whole county will be going at it hammer and tongs if they lift Sam on Sunday.

One of the aspects of Culture night that usually captures the imagination are the building that throw their doors open to the public, inviting them in to see the place and possibly enjoy a concert or exhibition. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland become less Big Brother and more friendly auntie when they invite the culture vultures in for a gawp at their exhibition tonight at Warrington Place in Dublin. The studios of Spraoi in Waterford is a must for adults a children a like; a rare chance to get a glimpse behind wizards curatin. Do be careful when choosing events, some things taste like shameless promotion of upcoming events e.g. meeting the cast of this year’s panto in The Everyman in Cork.

There are some amazing events to chose from though. The Casino in Marino is a pretty as it is poetic and the standard of performer there tonight is worthy of a few Ferreo Rocher.  Slow Skies are part of a wonderful night of film and music in The Pav in Cork, Free Beats in Kilkenny have a solid line-up of music including Cat Dowling and Halves. Block T in Smithfield foster, facilitate and share creativity all year round and tonight they’ll be showcasing the best of it; well worth a look.

Not only are all the events free, many of them are family orientated and in Dublin there is transportation between venues laid on too. No excuses, go gorge on a culture binge!

Slow Skies enchanting Body and Soulers at Electric Picnic

Spirit of Folk Festival – http://spiritoffolk.com/

I’m very fond of this festival that has a mellow and chilled vibe that is perfectly suited to Autumn and the pastoral setting of Dunderry park. Scaled down slightly this year, which is probably going to benefit the earthy communal vibe. The Cujo family had a stormer here last time round and they are well worth catching. One of the hidden gems is the storytelling that takes place in an underground chamber that’s ordinarily used for shamanic rituals, the day to day of Dunderry house. I know! Eddie Lenihan will be on duty down here and you’ll be seeing little people flit between the trees by the time he’s finished with you. This one only runs on Saturday, but it’s the tip of the weekend.

The Cujo’s crooning in Dunderry

Clifden Arts Festival – http://www.clifdenartsweek.ie/

Clifden is a beautiful town to visit when there is nothing happening, but now there’s a perfect excuse to hit Co. Galway. Kicking off this weekend and running until the 29th, the colourful picturesque town will be boxing above it’s weight with highlights that include a bit of jazz from Dave Lyttle & Co., award wining theatre from Fishamble and understated, fluid guitar mastery from Declan Sinnott. This is another good one.

SAW – Sonic Arts Waterford – http://www.sonicartswaterford.com/

This is the first edition of an imaginative and progressive festival that brings together electronic artists from around the world to Waterford City for a weekend of blipity blop (the digital equivalent of diddly-eye). Fitting in nicely with culture night, the crew responsible for SAW have set this festival up to provide a platform the discussion and exchange of art and experimental music.  It’s a full programme including workshops, talks, walks and performances. Mind, ear and eye fodder.

Comeraghs Wild Festival – http://www.comeraghswild.com/

This is another new festival, strolling out for the first time this year. The aim here is to get people out for a goof, gander and gawp in The Comeragh Mountains in County Waterford. One of the events that stands out for me is an overnight hike in the mountains, that will have the walkers camping out in the hills and gathering around the campfire for stories and song when the sun sets. If they remember to put the Child of Prague out, this one should be special.

Safe Travels, Don’t Die 🙂