New decade, new cabaret at Arts Centre
Wexford Arts Centre will celebrate 10 years of cabaret on Friday, April 19 with the launch of ‘Cabaret 19’, formerly known by the name Cáca Milis.
The cabaret has been hosted and coordinated since 2009 by the author and singer Helena Mulkerns and over the years has featured regular musicians including Fintan Cleary, Cyril Murphy, Kate Mckenna and Imogen Robbs while stage manager Alexandra Caulfield handled much of the administration.
The Cáca Milis crew presented more than 600 performers from Wexford and farther afield at the Arts Centre and other venues in Dublin, Limerick, Wicklow, Wales and Electric Picnic.
For the new decade it is transforming into ‘Cabaret 19’ and while the programme will still feature a vaudeville-style evening of the arts including new music, dance, short film, jazz and comedy, the framework is being streamlined to present an exciting blend of emerging and established artists, taking the show to Dublin for regular performances.
This Friday’s show will see edgy American singer songwriter Beki Hemingway perform alongside guitarist Randy Kerkler. The duo deliver an alternative rock sound with soulful lyrics that shine with Hemingway’s distinctive vocals.
Acclaimed author Niamh Boyce will read from her fascinating second novel, Her Kind, just published by Penguin Books. It tells the story of the first woman ever to have been burned at the stake as a witch.
The Irish short film slot features The Family Way, a hilarious and topical work written and produced by Róisín Kearney and directed by Nuno Bernardo, starring Ciara O’Callaghan (Striking Out, Fair City) and a host of other Irish actors.
Wexford artist Cody, who won last year’s Electric Picnic DIVA award, will weigh in with a new music video that promises to shake a few bones. Declan, Philip Cullen and Roberto Forte are at the heart of a ground-breaking Wexford festival Audio Shoot which will bring together work by a host of international multimedia and film artists in July 2019.
Dashoda is the solo project of Gavin MacDermott, a moody crooner turned electronic producer who grew up in Gorey who produces colourful pop music inspired by artists such as Japan and Brian Eno, Dashoda is currently working on a debut EP with Darragh Nolan of Asta Kalapa Studios, Gorey. Bringing it all together will be Helena Mulkerns, and composer Josh Johnston on piano. The duo will be presenting more shows in Dublin during the summer and will be back at Wexford Arts Centre for Culture Night and a Christmas cabaret.