If you find yourself in Stradbally Woods this August, listen carefully, there is music everywhere. Follow the sounds and sure enough you’ll discover the magical haven of Hazelwood! With music, poetry, comedy and performance art taking place all weekend, this is where likeminded people congregate to warm their hands over the fire and enjoy all that Hazelwood has to offer. By day catch Liam O’Connor who holds the Guinness Record for the fastest fingers on an accordion or Misleor who will be showcasing music from Ireland’s Travelling Community. Plus music from Sacred Sites, Julie Goo, An Galar Dub, Rageire, The Alkove – Kiss my Grass, Electric Youth, Cahercalla Rebellion, Aine Deane, Coscan Fogues, Stradbally Choir, Strive Theatre, The Crows Old Gold and DJ Nemo.
Picnickers are invited to get lost in the Hazelwood Afterdark, where they will be spellbound by songs and stories as Gaeilge. After fall of dark, bilingual bands and musicians of every genre will enchant the crowds with music – from Éire agus Chulainn’s traditional offering to Dysania’s “bog-rock”, and from IMLÉ’s hip-hop to Earthmover’s post-rock shoegaze. Across the weekend musicians such as John Spillane, Bláithín Mhic Chana and Piarais Ó Lorcáin, Lisa Murray, Jessie and the Veil, Lost West, Earthmover, Little Kings, Fianna Bána, DJ Ferdilicious, and Éire agus Chulainn will take to the gorgeous stage nestled in the festival’s leafy forest.
I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
The Song of the Wandering Aengus
W.B. Yeats
Many of the bands on stage this year have taken part in the Glór Ár Linne development scheme, run by Raidió Rí-Rá with the support of Dublin City Council and Creative Ireland, which provided workshops and entry-points to the music industry for up-and-coming artists creating music as Gaeilge. These bands include Jessie and the Veil, Earthmover, Lisa Murray, Little Kings, and Éire agus Chulainn.
Conradh na Gaeilge and Raidió Rí-Rá are proud to present this schedule of Irish language bands and musicians each night from 19:00 – 00:00 Friday to Sunday at Electric Picnic with support from Festival Republic.
Our all-female lineup returns on Thursday 28th August for the early entry campers with performances from some of Ireland’s up and coming comedians and songwriters all under the dutiful MC duties of Ailish McCarty! Including: Liv Masett, Roisin Kelly, Aoife Breathnach,The Kates plus more to be announced!
As well as music in the Hazelwood, campers are invited to pitch their tents in the company of other Irish language speakers at the official Gaeltacht Campsite, which has been given further support by Festival Republic this year. The campsite is bigger and better than ever this year with extra facilities and a community space where workshops will be held over the weekend. There will be continued emphasis on keeping the area clean and leaving no trace at the end of the festival, to keep the site – and environment – clean!