The Other Voices weekend is a musical highlight of the year. The chances are you'll see an Irish or international act live for the first time as you "accidentally" skip them in the queue for a pint in Dick Mack's.
In St James' Church, unique performances from Aine Cahill, Lankum, Django Django, Loyle Carner, Booka Brass Band, Perfume Genius, Wyvern Lingo, Mount Kimbie, Dermot Kennedy and Songhoy Blues will be filmed for Other Voices' TV series, and if you're lucky (and quiet), you can sit in and watch the magic unfold. Other venues will be hosting gigs along the Music Trail, with sets from RSAG, Loah, Columbia Mills, Mango and Mathman, R Kitt, Super Silly and many more.
The lovely people at Banter will have guests including playwright Enda Walsh and writer Sinead Gleeson in by the fireside at Foxy John’s for afternoon chats, debates and whatever else you’re having. And down in the Skellig Hotel, the Ireland’s Edge Migration Nation conference will focus on Ireland’s cultural and creative relationship with its widespread diaspora, with influencers and thinkers from different industries having their say.
Soak it all in
Other Voices runs on music and chats and everyone there wants to soak it all in. Here’s some advice to make sure that you can do just that.
Register for tickets to everything. On othervoices.ie, when you register for free tickets, you can exchange them for festival wristbands in Dingle. Some of the Music Trail venues will only be accessible to those with a festival wristband (subject to capacity, of course) and when you register, you will be entered into draws for tickets for the filmed gigs in the church.
Register for tickets to Ireland’s Edge through eventbrite.ie. They’re also free. Buy some of the last remaining tickets for After Dark, the late-night party in a secret venue that will pick up from where the church leaves off.
The church gigs will be streamed on big screens in Adam’s Bar, An Chonair, John Benny’s Pub, Paul Geaney’s Bar, Benner’s Hotel, The Dingle Bay Hotel, Foxy John’s, Nelliefred’s, The Marina Inn, McCarthy’s, Kennedy’s Bar and An Droichead Beag. These places fill up quickly, so bags a spot for the evening and listen out for whispers of secret gigs. Sometimes those whispers end up being true.
Don’t let your hangover dictate your day. Explore Dingle and catch at least one Banter talk in Foxy John’s. Banter kicks off at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday and it’s advised that you get there early. Dick Mack’s has just launched a brewery and has Chewy Burger and Beast Pizza in their newly renovated yard. Pop into Bean In Dingle for great coffee and sample their excellent sausage rolls. Eat in Pantrí on Main Street, which will be doing an all-day brunch on Sunday.
Elderflower G&T
Visit Reel Dingle Fish and Chips. Kanon’s Korner and Lily’s will be the last chippers in town serving chips on Saturday night. Visit the snug in Kennedy’s and order their elderflower G&T.
Book tickets for Music Trail West for €25. The ticket includes lunch in the Blasket Centre and a bus that will bring you to the four venues on the Dingle Peninsula. At this stage, accommodation will be fairly tight but it’s not unheard of to get a bed, a floor or a couch last minute, either through friends of friends or cancellations.
See an act you’ve never heard of before and if you end up with a church ticket, pass on the good karma and let someone else have a chance to experience it by swapping them out between sets. But most importantly, wherever you are is where you’re meant to be. There’s no correct order of things because it’s very difficult to go wrong at Other Voices. Go with the flow and follow the tunes.
