DINGLE FEST:From Elbow to Jape and Christy Moore in between, there's great music in store at this year's 'Other Voices' sessions, writes Patsey Murphy
DINGLE WILL BE the hottest place to be next weekend as a mixum-gatherum of musicians from here and everywhere gather once again in and around the tiny hall that is St James' Church for the recording of Other Voices for RTÉ 2.
Where else would you be going?
This year's line-up will include the English Meteor award-winners, Elbow, as well as one of the favourites of Electric Picnic, Jape. Colm Mac Con Iomaire, the fiddler from The Frames, will be playing tunes from his solo album, and Christy Moore will appear with Declan Sinnott. Kíla will be storming through the town along with Noah and the Whale.
Producer Philip King always manages to attract an eclectic mix of well-known and soon-to-be-known performers. Lisa Hannigan, for example, will be back this year; her new album is soon to be released in the US. It opens doors and serves as a platform. Other guests this year will include Billy Bragg, Duke Special, Liam Finn (son of Neil), Emiliana Torrini, Imelda May, Eric Bibb, James Morrison, Hugh Cornwell, Sheffield songwriter Richard Hawley and Steve Reynolds.
John Kelly, who has been master of ceremonies since 2003, will be joined by BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac. Although tickets sold out as soon as they hit the internet - the church accommodates only 80 people per recording session - the town comes alive with impromptu sessions and, if you're very lucky, a one-off performance by a musical hero.
"It just wouldn't work anywhere else," says King, who also presents RTÉ Radio 1's weekly South Wind Blows. He initiated the series seven years ago as a showcase for emerging Irish talent, and by 2003, international guests had joined the line-up, including the folk legend Steve Earle.
"Strange bedfellows become intimate lovers during Other Voices in Dingle; collaborations that shouldn't work just do. Young Irish bands find themselves back to back with stadium veterans, chatting about the weather, the ice cream and the music," says King.
"The influx of musicians is wholly embraced by the Dingle community and famous faces blend almost unnoticed, whether browsing in local shops, supping a pint in Benner's Hotel or shivering awaiting their turn on stage outside St James' Church. There is no VIP area or backstage hang-out during Other Voices and that's the beauty of it . . . Rock-lords mingle with trad-lads and the result is a magical meeting of creative minds."
"In December, Dingle is a beautiful, magical, special place; a respite from the harried sell-sell of Christmas," he says. And he is sure to have a few surprises up his sleeve.
• The new series of Other Voiceswill be recorded in St James' Church, Dingle, Co Kerry, from next Friday to Tuesday and will be shown on RTÉ2 in January. See ebay.ie for an auction of two tickets for charity.