Music lovers flock to the west for annual earful of Other Voices

MUSIC lovers thronged the streets of Dingle for the weekend as Other Voices made its 18th appearance in the town with a tantalizing array of performers that enticed thousands of dedicated fans from around the country to head west.

In a change from previous years and as confirmation of the growing popularity of the weekend, most events were ticketed and all the tickets - in the form of wristbands - were completely sold out before the start of the weekend. However, possession of a ticket did not guarantee entry and such was the demand to hear some of the musicians that hundreds of wrist bandholders sometimes queued for a prized seat at a venue with a capacity for only 70 or 80 people.

Meanwhile, the two lucky winners of the Kerryman competition for tickets to Other Voices thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Dingle. Joan and Mike Burke arrived on Friday in plenty of time to pick up their prize and head to see Carlow brothers, ‘Ye Vagabonds’ amongst others in St. James’s church. They greatly enjoyed the weekend in Dingle and their prize of two tickets to St. James’s on Friday night and wristbands for the Dingle Gin Music Trail kept them well entertained.

Philip King and Nuala O’Connor, their three girls Molly, Juno and Ellen and a crew drawn from around the country are the brains behind Other Voices and Ireland’s Edge. True to form they presented a knowledgable line up of speakers and an accomplished line up of musicians who did not disappoint the thousands who travelled and the locals who ventured out to enjoy the music, banter and discussion.

The best music, as judged by the Other Voices crew themselves, does not have a particular theme and the variety of styles was reflected in the range of venues from the IMRO Other Room marquee at the back of Paul Geaney’s to the intimate concerts in An Diseart.

Other Voices has a reputation for highlighting young vibrant talent and the one to watch from this year is Wicklow born, Anna Mieke who delivered a soulful performance in An Diseart on Sunday evening before taking part in the recording in St. James’s. In a contrast of styles ‘Bitch Falcon’, a hard hitting Dublin-based heavy metal band, gave a much edgier performance when they played to very appreciative audiences in Paul Geaney’s Marquee and Nellie Fred’s Garage.

Meanwhile, there was serious discussion going on at the Ireland’s Edge Conference in the Skellig Hotel where the topics covered ranged from the challenges facing Ireland in the 21st Century to climate change and issues surrounding the prying eyes of social media giants such as Facebook and Google.

As far as the streets of Dingle are concerned Other Voices is over for another year but those who want to hear more will look forward to the television series of the same name series which will be broadcast on RTE2 in the New Year. The talks from Ireland’s Edge are available, for a limited time, to watch on the RTE website and Player.

ABOVE: Girl band Vulpyne playing in The Marina Inn on the Other Voices Dingle Gin Music Trail. RIGHT: Mike and Joan Burke from Causeway outside St James’s Church where they got to experience Friday night’s concerts first hand courtesy of tickets they won in The Kerryman. BELOW, LEFT: Ireland’s Edge co-founder and co-curator Muireann Kelliher with CNN journalist Donie O’Sullivan from Cahersiveen who took part in an Ireland’s Edge discussion on political uses and abuses of social media on Friday. BELOW, RIGHT: Elouise Flannery at the opening of her exhibiton in Main Street on Thursday night with her sister, Robin, and brother, Jack. It wasn’t an Other Voices event, but visitors enjoyed the exhibition all the same.