Other Voices Ballina Music Trail adds 18 new acts

With under three weeks to go until the second edition of Other Voices Ballina, a whopping 18 new acts have been added to the Music Trail line-up.

Festival-goers will be treated to a wealth of talent from a diverse range of genres, with something to suit everyone. The series of free gigs take place in a cluster of venues spread across the town on February 28 and 29.

This year’s dynamic line-up includes drummer, producer, rapper and winner of the Other Voices IMRO Open Call 2019, Alex Gough, Galway songwriter Maija Sofia with a collection of songs from her RTÉ Choice Prize nominated debut album Bath Time, and Rusangano Family band member MC God Knows, bringing his electrifying energy to Ballina in a performance that will also feature Citrus Fresh, Hazey Haze and some very special guests.

Also on the bill, Dublin artist Kynsy fuses elements of indie, rock and electronic music, while Farah Elle is a dynamic singer-songwriter, Dublin hip hop artist Nealo hits the senses with powerful lyrics and, for your pop fix, Rushes delivers soulful, silky vocals.

Expect a high-energy, no-holds-barred rock show from Sick Love, art rock electro-pop from Dublin quartet Autre Monde, raw and captivating vocals from Amy Montgomery, experimental rock from Percolator, and old-school soul, funk and pop from Uly.

Hailing from Galway, Roisin Lowry is LÅwli, an exhilarating artist with ethereal melodies, while folk fans are in for a treat with singer and multi-instrumentalist John Francis Flynn, Armagh singer DANI, who takes inspiration from Irish traditional melodies, and last but not least, Graham Sweeney, who grew up on Achill Island, blends Irish folk with irresistible rhythms.

RTÉ 2FM will broadcast from the festival, with Tracy Clifford going live from Bar Square on Friday, February 28, between 12 and 3 p.m., featuring band sessions and interviews, and later that night, 2FM Rising bring their stage to Bar Square, with performances by Alex Gough, Nealo and Kynsy.

All those planning to attend Other Voices Ballina should register for free in advance and exchange tickets for festival wristbands at the Other Voices Ballina Hub. All festival-goers who collect wristbands from The Hub will have the opportunity to win a multitude of great prizes, including tickets to St. Michael’s Church, signed Other Voices Ballina posters, Other Voices merchandise, and lots more. Entry to all Music Trail events is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for the festival is now open at Eventbrite.

Other Voices live streaming, in partnership with Virgin Media, streams all the action from St. Michael’s Church to the Music Trail venues throughout the town. Music fans can sit back and enjoy all the performances from St. Michael’s Church from a cosy spot in the pub in front of huge screens with high definition audio-visual. Venues include The Loft, T. Breathnach’s, An Sean Sibin, An Bolg Bui, Harrison's, Paddy Mac's, Bar Square, Tarbh 47, The Cot & Cobble, Vincy’s Bar, Ballina Arts Centre and Shambles Bar at Ballina Manor Hotel.

 

Worshops

Away from the music, Our Coasts, Our Voices feature marine environment workshops and games for little ones and grown-ups alike. Taking place on Saturday, February 29, at Ballina Library, the first workshop is Indoor Coastal Fun (10 to 10.45 a.m.), which involves a host of games and explorations of our coastal ecosystems, while the second is Our Rhythm, Our Climate, Our Voices (11 to 11.45 a.m.), which fuses rap and drumming led by MC God Knows and Murli of Rusangano Family for children, using music and spoken word to explore our waterways, coastline, ocean and marine life. The artists and children will collaborate with Little Rainbow Family for a live spoken-word workshop performance. No registration is needed; just drop in on the day.

Waxing Lyrical is a series of art happenings located in the Other Voices Hub and Ballina Arts Centre. An art exhibition entitled Torann na dTonn will adorn the walls with beautiful art pieces from artists based in Mayo, Kerry and surrounding areas for this very special group show. The artists work with paint, moving image, music, song, sound, sculpture, ceramic, print, drawing and other mediums. Participating artists include: Desmond Downes, Michael Kelly, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Líse Nic Fhloinn, Sadhbh Nic Fhloinn, Ferg Flannery, Jane Williams, Lone Beiter, Honora O'Neill, Ronan Halpin, Bob Ó Cathail and Aidan Crotty. A book project called Cogar explores art, song, rap, lyrics, spoken word and poems. Live music will be performed by Teresa Horgan, Matt Griffen and Bob Ó Cathail.

Finally, the multi-disciplinary creative event Ireland's Edge returns to the Jackie Clarke Museum on Saturday, February 29. The event will bring together a compelling range of entrepreneurs, innovators, writers and artists.