Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ATLANTIC 2020 WORTH A WATCH
As one virtual festival wraps up another one begins and so, as Leonard Nimoy might say in the Simpsons, the cosmic ballet goes on. This time the little chink of light illuminates the North Coast where, mainly in Portstewart and Portrush, the Atlantic Sessions has established as one of our great events. Of course with things being as they are – blah, blah, blah! – there are no actual live shows for people to go and see. Instead, organisers have made the best of their two best resources – music and the sea – to come up with something a little bit special.
Artists – including Anthony Toner,
Conor Mason, Joel Harkin, Malojian, New Pagans, Peter O’kane, Ports, Roe, Sasha Samara, The Darkling Air and Tour Alaska – have been filmed in stunning locations across the two towns for three free-to-view programmes with exclusive performances, conversations, plus messages and videos from festival family and friends.
They’re hosted by the inimitable Joe Lindsay, long associated with the Atlanti Sessions and feature six of the NI Music Prize 2020 nominees, local performers, and tell the story of the rich musical heritage of the area. Presenter Joe Lindsay said: “We’ll miss seeing you this year and we miss live music as much as you do, but we thought we’d do the next best thing and Atlantic Sessions to your homes! We wanted us all to be together, we wanted to experience the power and beauty of music. Together. As we’ve always done. And we will do again. Until then, keep supporting local music and venues in any way you can.”