eir Other Voices returns to Kerry this December 1, 2 and 3, clocking up the 16th instalment of the world-renowned TV series recording sessions that reverberate around the ancient walls of St. James’ Church in Dingle, later edited and broadcast on RTE2 and around the world as Other Voices, Ireland’s longest running music TV series. Over the years a dynamic, eclectic, free music and arts festival has flourished alongside the TV recordings in Dingle, broadening the musical offering, introducing spoken word, artistic and theatrical elements, taking the eir Other Voices experience beyond the tiny capacity of the Church sessions and bringing it to the thousands of music fans from home and abroad, who brave the mercurial winter weather of the Wild Atlantic Way to immerse themselves in a weekend of glorious musical diversity.
To announce eir’s second year of title sponsorship of the Festival, Dublin electronic all-stars and eir Other Voices veterans Le Galaxie took to the stage at Tramline, Dublin last night, Tuesday 12th September, performing a rip-roaring gig for gathered music fans. Former Fight Like Apes frontwoman May Kay, now an intergral part of the Le Galaxie line-up, and herself an eir Other Voices alumni, is also a presenter of eir Other Voices, a triumvirate that features the BBC’s Annie Mac and Huw Stephens.
Oisin Masterson, eir’s Head of Brand and Marketing, along with Aoife Woodlock, Music Producer for eir Other Voices, enthusiastically confirmed the second round of partnership on eir Other Voices Festival 2017. In addition, eir has evolved the sponsorship significantly further this year with the launch of the eir Other Voices Open Call 2017, which will make possible the opportunity for one Irish artist to earn a hugely coveted performance slot at the IMRO Other Room during the Festival in December, transmission of that performance on the RTE TV series, along with further music-career support from eir including all travel to and accommodation in Dingle for the duration of the Festival, three days in a recording studio with a top engineer, the production company and budget to create a music video, along with practical music industry mentoring from the eir Other Voices team.
Commenting on the launch of the eir Other Voices Open Call, Oisin Masterson, Head of Brand and Marketing, eir, said: “The eir Other Voices Open Call is reflective of what we stand for as a brand – making it possible for people to realise their ambitions and become part of something big. This is a unique opportunity, as eir Other Voices is synonymous with fostering and showcasing the very best of Irish talent and to be part of this would be a career highlight for any artist. We are delighted to once again join the Festival as a principle sponsor and support the event and its visitors with the technology that makes sharing such great content easy. The eir Other Voices Festival has a special place in our hearts, as it does for so many, and we are excited to be part of this.”
Of the IMRO Other Room, where the eir Other Voices Open Call artist will perform, Victor Finn, IMRO Chief Executive added: “IMRO is delighted to continue its longstanding association with this unique and special gathering of songwriting and performing talent. IMRO has a strong reputation as a champion and supporter of new music creation and the IMRO Other Room, now firmly positioned as one of the highlights of the eir Other Voices experience, provides the perfect showcase opportunity for the many bands and artists making the trip to Dingle. eir Other Voices continues to push musical boundaries and in so doing offers invaluable exposure for great musical talent.”
Aoife Woodlock, eir Other Voices Music Producer went on to announce the first three acts to perform in St. James’ Church: the challenging, intimate and tender sounds of Seattle’s Perfume Genius (www.perfumegenius.org), desert punk/blues band Songhoy Blues from Timbuktu, Mali (www.songhoy-blues.com ) and Cavan’s Aine Cahill, a truly unique writer and performer with Glastonbury and Electric Picnic performances already under her belt at the age of 21 (www.ainecahill.com). Also confirmed on the night, the news that Dubliner Katie Laffan, Electric Picnic’s Best New Artist 2017, The Irish Times Ticket Awards, fresh from the Other Voices Stage at Electric Picnic, is the first act announced to play the IMRO Other Room at eir Other Voices 2017 (www.katielaffan.com)
Founder of eir Other Voices Festival, Philip King, welcomed the second year of partnership: “We are delighted to be again working with eir. It was great last year and it’s going to be even better this year. eir’s remarkable technology and their excellent team continue to make Other Voices audible, visible and considerable at the highest resolution locally across the Dingle peninsula, nationally and internationally. eir Other Voices is a natural partnership sophisticated in its ambition to encourage, inspire and and give air to the next generation of great Irish artists. eir Other Voices shows what’s possible when you connect the periphery to the centre and the centre to the world. It’s a model for where Ireland is heading.”
The eir Other Voices Open Call, supported by RTE 2FM, is an invitation to artists across Ireland, who produce all genres of music, to submit one track to the eir Other Voices team for consideration. Entries are now open at www.othervoices.ie/content/open-call and will close at 6pm on September 22nd, 2017. Last year, more than 900 acts applied for one performace slot at the IMRO Other Room. The new eir Other Voices Open Call will add authentic value by supporting the chosen artist on their journey to Dingle and beyond. eir’s additional investment wil enable the artist to travel, record music and shoot a video.
