There’s just over a week to go until St. Patrick’s Festival kicks off and the programme for 2020*** looks immense! Bigger and better than ever, there’s five great days and nights absolutely jam packed with everything from gigs to art exhibitions, poetry and literary events, the all new Festival After Dark club series, hidden Dublin tours and trails and so much more!
The full Festival Programme is available now at stpatricksfestival.ie, where all information can be found. In the meantime, here’s the lowdown on some of the amazing events on offer.
Not to be missed is Annie Mac, Kojaque, Soulé, Denise Chaila and Guests at Guinness Storehouse on March 14, where guests will have one of the first opportunities to experience the extended panoramic views over Dublin in Gravity Bar. Saturday March 14 also features another incredible concert over at the Pepper Canister Church. Join Northern Irish-English alt-folk duo The Breath, Scottish piper and Guardian Folk Album of the Month winner Brìghde Chaimbeul and fiddle player Aidan O’Rourke for a musical journey through the lands of Ireland and Scotland.
This is How we Fly with special guest Iarla Ó Lionáird runs at Liberty Hall Theatre on March 15, while the World Premiere of James Joyce’s Pomes Penyeach with Lisa Hannigan and Guests will be at The National Concert Hall on March 16. Dublin production duo Mount Alaska plus special guests feature at the Pepper Canister Church on March 15. Colm Mac Con Iomaire with the Contempo Quartet, accompanied by his full band, perform his latest album The River Holds Its Breath at Vicar Street on March 16.
Brand new for 2020, Festival After Dark runs throughout the five nights of the Festival. Canadian electro artist Jessy Lanza kicks off the late-night series at Lost Lane on March 13. Hit up MO’OV’US (moreofus), a celebration of Irish hip-hop and rap presented by Nialler9 or let loose at Mother also at Lost Lane on March 14. Check out the website for a full list of live performances and club nights across the city in Dublin’s best venues including Lost Lane, Bow Lane, The Sugar Club and Yamamori Tengu, with promoters Hidden Agenda, Tengu, Bow Lane, ChoiceCuts, Mother and many more.
Where We Live 2020 presented by THISISPOPBABY with St. Patrick’s Festival runs at The Project Arts Centre from March 11 – 21. An explosive ten-day festival of new work from Ireland’s creative vanguards, Where We Live 2020 will interrogate and celebrate what it means and how it feels to live in Dublin and Ireland right now. Amongst the incredible twenty-two shows on offer will be Zero Zero: Crash Ensemble & Mango X MathMan, an exhilarating creative collaboration that will bring together the worlds of street music, rap, spoken word and contemporary classical music.
For a lively evening of conversation, laughter, debate and performance with Ireland’s finest* minds, join renowned broadcaster Marian Richardson at the Pepper Canister Church, Friday March 13 as she delves into the thoughts, life and career of award-winning comedian, actress and presenter Deirdre O’Kane, with a special musical guest performance from Sierra Leonean-Irish artist Loah.
Standing, Sitting, Lying Down is a unique, immersive audio–visual experience showcasing a series of live ambient electronic pieces complete with accompanying visuals happening on March 13 & 14 at The Space between. As the name suggests – the audience is invited to experience the show in one of three postures – Standing, Sitting or Lying Down. TALKATIVES: Rhythm & Poetry Slam kicks off Sunday March 15 at Lost Lane – think hip-hop cypher meets poetry slam.
Feast your eyes on one of the multitude of FREE exhibitions running all over the city. Black Girl Magic (March 13 – April 19) at Hen’s Teeth, Blackpitts celebrates six black, female music icons in bright and bold, large-scale neons. Chosen by artist and DJ Honey Dijon and designed by Brazilian artist and long-time Hen’s Teeth collaborator Marina Esmeraldo. An absolute must-see is Assemble. The first ever group exhibition presented by Atelier Maser will bring together seven of the leading names in Contemporary Irish Art: Helen Steele, Lola Donoghue, Leah Hewson, Deirdre Breen, Jane Fogarty, Alice Fitzgerald & Aoife Scott. Atelier Maser, March 13 – 17.
The fun most definitely does not stop there – there’s more gigs, shows, tours and exhibitions scheduled for the full five great days and nights so make sure you check out stpatricksfestival.ie and get planning your Festival now!
St. Patrick’s Festival 2020 13-17 March 2020, Dublin***
www.stpatricksfestival.ie | #SPF2020 | #StPatricksFestival
The National St. Patrick’s Festival, Dublin is made possible by the generous support of Fáilte Ireland – the National Tourism Development Authority, Dublin City Council, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Alongside commercial partners Tesco Ireland, Renault and long-standing partner Irish Ferries, with Hennessy as partner on selected events at Festival After Dark.
***In line with the wider actions being taken in response to the constantly changing nature of the global health crisis, the organisers of the St Patrick’s Festival have cancelled the indoor programme of cultural events. Further details here.
