This week sees the return of a vibrant five day festival that sees thousands of people gravitate towards the Dublin 8 area of the city to experience all the magic that one of Ireland’s coolest neighbourhoods has to offer. Culture Date With Dublin 8 sees the area’s historic landmarks, heritage sites, museums, churches, and breweries playing host to over a hundred specially curated events.
As part of this year’s programme, organisers have just unveiled details of ‘Late in D8’, a series of late night events including gigs in historic venues, late night parties and a music trail featuring everything from laid-back acoustic sets to upbeat dance vibes.
The nocturnal celebrations are supported by The Night-Time Economy Advisor for Dublin City Council, Ray O’Donoghue. Speaking ahead of the festival O’Donoghue said, “We’re thrilled to support this year’s Late in D8 music trail. This event will showcase DJs, live bands, and musicians performing in pubs and cultural spaces throughout the district.
The festival not only honours the area’s rich historical heritage but also highlights its contemporary cultural scene by promoting local nightlife and celebrating its musicians, DJs, and artists.”
D8 Music Trail
On the Friday night of the festival, May 8th, the Dublin 8 neighbourhood hangout, Fourth Corner, will feature DJ sets from Abbacaxi and Bedlam DJs. Lucky’s on Meath Street will host a Dublin Digital Radio takeover, and Rascal’s Brewing Company will host a First Friday Live Music Showcase, including the rock-blue four-piece Driving Blue, pop artist Natalie Moran, and the grunge folk act Gea Geansaí. The Liberty Belle on Francis Street hosts legendary Irish band The Goaties, while over at the Dublin Liberties Distillery, the Irish Women in Jazz will be recording a live podcast and concert with musician Aleka Potinga.
On Saturday May 9th the Dublin 8 creative space ThinkPunk Studios will host late-night DJs, including sets from Laetitia Deering and Robbie Kitt. Enthusiastic Eunuch and our sister publication The Goo Magazine have collaborated on a night at the BelloBar featuring Mnemonic Pulse, the Portland, Oregon-based “post-industrial-ambient void” artist, with support from Human Lanterns and Jonathan Deasy.
DJ Billy O’Hanluain will take to the turntables at Arthur’s Blues & Jazz Club, and the Thomas House will host a Vinyl DJ event with Archive 45 and DJ Dotsie. Glen of Aherlow will present a night of live music featuring the 2 Bit Bandits.
Late Night Cultural Events
As part of this year’s festival, a host of late-night events including live podcasts, late night museum openings, concerts, free Irish dancing lessons, movie screenings and more will be taking place across some of Dublin 8’s most iconic cultural venues, in association with CWB artist management. Some of the highlights include:
On Friday, May 9th, the historic Tailors Hall will host a night called ‘Liberation at the Back Lane Parliament’ an evening featuring spoken word, music, art, and performance, curated by journalist Caelainn Hogan, exploring “What Liberation Means Today” as we celebrate Daniel O’Connell’s anniversary. The event will include contributions from Tuqa Al-Sarraj, Osaro Azams, and Chrissy Donoghue Ward. Elsewhere, Throwing Shapes, the Community Ceramics Studio located in The Tenters, will be celebrating with a massive free party as part of their one-year anniversary, and the Dublin Liberties Distillery is set to host a comedy competition with the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival with an all expenses paid trip to the USA for the winner.
Saturday, May 10th sees St. Patrick’s Cathedral playing host to ‘A Pint of The Past,’ an evening of song and performance curated by historian Donal Fallon, exploring the brewing history of Dublin 8. The event will feature contributions from Macdara Yeates, Stephen James Smith, Helena Byrne, and Padraig O’Lionsaigh with an after-party for the event in Leonard’s Corner including special guest DJs.
The full Late in D8 programme can be found here
The Culture Date with Dublin 8 Festival takes place from Wednesday 7th to Sunday 11th May. Many of the events are free but booking is required.
This year is a particularly special one as the festival commemorates 250 years since the birth of Daniel O’Connell with a series of special events, including a free concert in Goldenbridge Cemetery on Sunday, May 11th. Read more on that here.
Culture Date with Dublin 8 is an initiative led by the Dublin City Council South Central Area in collaboration with their programme partners.
