Dermot Kennedy has launched a new annual Global Irish Music festival which will take place in Sydney and Boston.
The new festival which was launched by the ‘Giants’ singer, is named Misneach, and will run next St Patrick’s Day.
The first edition of this festival will take place on March 16, and Boston from 18 to 19 March, and will be headlined by Kennedy and local artists from each city.
Dermot Kennedy spoke about this new festival, at yesterday’s launch of Ireland Music Week at Lost Lane, Dublin.
“I wanted to set up this festival to celebrate Ireland and our culture”, Kennedy said. “I think we’re all so proud of Irish music and always have been. Our culture reaches so far across the world so I wanted to do something that celebrates Ireland and our culture”.
“We have always generated music and artists who punch well above their weight”.
Kennedy Announces Support Acts
Kennedy will be supported by a set of Irish acts at this festival, which will run across two cities which were central to the Irish diaspora.
Ahead of these shows, Dermot Kennedy has also chosen three acts from this year’s Ireland Music Week line up to perform at Misneach.
Misneach which is the Irish word for courage, will see Dublin hip hop artist Fynch, Cork five piece Cliffords, and Dublin’s Big Love perform at the festival next year.
“I had a playlist of fifty bands and artists that are taking part in Ireland Music Week and I listened through it,” he says.
“Fynch really stood out to me for his delivery in terms of how he wrote and performed and then I heard a live version of the song Lily by Big Love, and it just kind of hit me. I thought, why haven’t millions of people heard this song?”.
“Cliffords are just an amazing band that I am so excited about. When I listen to the music of these three bands, I just can’t wait for other people to hear them”.
“changed my perspective on everything”
When asked if launching this festival is paying if forward after receiving encouragement in the early part of his career by Glen Hansard, Kennedy replied: “I guess it is but it’s not even done with that intention”.
“Glen Hansard letting me sing a song in Vicar Street as part of his gig was huge to me. I couldn’t believe it and it changed my perspective on everything”, he said.
“Those opportunities meant an awful lot to me and helped so much. Because if there’s ever a point where you feel frustrated or a bit demoralised about your career, moments like that give you an awful lot of hope. It’s very exciting for me to maybe give someone else that chance”.
Ireland Music Week which will take place for the 22nd consecutive year, will happen across venues including Lost Lane, The Grand Social, Workmans Club and The Button Factory, as it shows off a new crop of Irish musical talent.
This event also came in for particular praise from Dermot Kennedy.
“That’s down to the quality of the music being made,” Kennedy says. “I think we’re always done that. To some degree, the rulebook is out the window. I’m making my third album now and I thought about what’s the best way to approach it but I don’t think there’s any set way about it anymore”, he said.
He also added: “I think events like Ireland Music Week are about getting back to the music because as an artist who is trying to build a career you might think you have to get involved with social media and be a certain way but I think it’s refreshing to realise that people just want to hear good music”.
