Drogheda Arts Festival 2009 - Official Blog

2010-04-30T02:51:00.000-07:00

Launch of the Drogheda Arts Festival at Highlanes Gallery

Well here it is the low down on the Arts Festival, well it starts to night with the opening at the Highlanes and then down to the excellent Mobile Evolution, a dance piece by Clare Cunningham an Edinburgh Fringe award winner, then when you think there couldn't be anything more to do there is ZERO 7 at the Purple Room in the Star and Cresent. WOW I'm wrecked just saying it all and then up again in the morning to West Street Wonderland.

OH can't believe it's this weekend

2010-04-29T03:50:00.000-07:00

Well it's upon us the Drogheda Arts Festival 2010.

Yeah the Arts Fest is Here.

Tomorrow is the launch of the Drogheda Arts Festival 2010 in the Highlanes Gallery at 7pm with RTE's John Kelly and check out the THE MARIENBAD PALACE while your there.

2010-04-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

Zero 7

Lucky Drogheda having a Grammy nominated artist coming to the Town, Sam Hardaker one half of Zero 7 is here to play a DJ set in The Purple Room, with support from External Sounds DJ's.
Friday 30th April
Purple Room, Fair Green.

Not long now....

2010-04-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

Well you lucky people.

Well things are hotting up here in Arts Fest HQ and you are in for a real treat as Conall Quinn's new play on Sunday 3rd May in The Droichead Arts Centre at 8.30pm.

Henry is on the look-out for German submarines but all he really wants to do is fire his flare gun. Alice has decided to run away from home again, and Edward's wife is blowing kisses at him.There's also the body of the American pilot to bury…

www.upstate.ie

Things running swimmingly

2010-04-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

West Street Wondeland

We are on track for what is going to be a great festival and with the Fringe happening along side there is definitely something for everyone.
Kids of all ages should make their way down to West St and Narrow West St for the wonderland that will transform the whole street into a family party and learning center with bands, performers and workshops... You'll have a ball.

T- Minus 8 days and counting

2010-04-22T05:14:00.000-07:00

Soon all systems will be go for the Arts festival now only 8 days to go and hey, tickets for certain events are selling out fast (must be the good weather) and with plenty on the weekend you will have no excuses than to get out and enjoy the Festival.

Remember Dervish tickets are €5 off for to day only so get 'em while there hot.

Only from the Highlanes Gallery 041 9807114

Money Off

2010-04-21T03:15:00.000-07:00

Yeah you lucky folks get out there and get your tickets for one of Ireland's best Trad bands Dervish live at the Barbican Centre Monday 3rd at 8.30pm and get into the box office at the Highlanes and quote "Facebook" to get €5 off how good is that.

West St. Wonderland

2010-04-20T04:29:00.001-07:00

Peter O'Byrne (centre) will host you make me Laugh with Niamh Shaw

Workshops on West Street:

Laughing in the face......Cartoon workshop 12pm-1.30pm.

Changing the ending.....Interactive "Forum Theatre" Performance.2.30pm-4.00pm

You Make Me Laugh......Comedy & Satire on the stage.4.30pm-6.00pm

Where i hear you ask are these workshops.
Many of the empty shops in west street will be converted into workshops for the day as well as workshops in the Abbey Dance Studios.
We have award winning performers handling the classes and kids from 13 to adult will be made into artist's, comedians and actors.

Have you signed up for Newsletter

2010-04-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed folks there is a brand spanking new newsletter on the way and if you haven't already signed up for one sign up right away and if you guys want there is a 3 for 2 special offer on certain performances.. like we say it's going to be epic.

Calling all the hero's

2010-04-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

You cool folks, we need some great people to help out over the May bank holiday weekend. You will have a great time and get a spanking sparkly new Drogheda Arts Festival T-shirt and see some great performances and make this years festival a great 'un.

Contact us @ Arts Festival Towers

droghedaartsfestival@gmail.com

The Marienbad Palace

2010-04-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Marienbad Palace brings together works by Laura Buckley, Diana Copperwhite, Jorge De la Garza, Alicja Kwade, Haroon Mirza and Ian Monroe. The works shown within the exhibition explore ideas of reality beyond our everyday experiences of space and time. This exhibition is worth a close look and is free to the public

“Sooner or later the process will halt, at that moment revealing the true dimensions of the world we inhabit, and which the visual centres of our timid brains have concealed from us.”

JG Ballard, The Enormous Space

The Scotch Hall Food Fair

2010-04-14T03:58:00.001-07:00

If you enjoying the magnificent events that are on Saturday on West Street Wonderland and are feeling a bit hungry why not take yourself down Scotch Hall for the Food Fair on Sat & Sun 1st and 2nd of May. Featuring food demo's, farmer market and "Grow your Own" demo's and seminars.

Learn some top cooking tips and enjoy a few nibbles while being entertained by music and street spectacles on the banks of the Boyne.

Review of Cirque de Legume.

2010-04-12T23:51:00.000-07:00

It’s billed as “the greatest vegetable circus on earth”, and who can dispute Cirque de Légume’s claim? Clowns Jaimie Carswell and Nancy Trotter storm the stage, armed only with a cratefull of vegetables. A cabbage becomes a rabid animal. A radish hypnotises a woman. An onion performs a striptease. Again and again the audience are asked “how about that?”

Irish Times

ME (Mobile Evolution)

2010-04-12T03:17:00.000-07:00

If you guys are able to make it to a Herald Angel Award Winner 2009 dance piece at the Drogheda Arts Festival on Fri 30th April you will be in for something very special indeed.

A winner a the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2009 this piece will make you think and wonder in amazement.

Evolution is a 17min solo dance piece, created in 2007 for the Dublin Fringe Festival. It is a biographical work telling the story of Claire's journey into learning to dance, alongside the story of the medical interventions that she has experienced throughout her life. In particular it is the story of how her body has changed and developed - particularly with regard to working in dance. There is recorded and live text (English) in the piece.

Music of Sofia Gubaidulina

2010-04-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

One of the world’s greatest composer’s, Russian born Sofia Gubaidulina will bring her world renowned contemporary music to the Drogheda Arts Festival on the evening of the 1^st May.

Gubaidulina (pronounced ‘goo-bye-DOO-lee-nah) who is visiting Ireland for the first time, will attend a composer portrait concert at St Peter’s Church, Drogheda in which highly acclaimed performers including Ivan Monighetti, the Dublin Guitar Quartet, Malachy Robinson, the Heath Quartet, The Oriel Trio and Dermot Dunne will perform a range of her works.

Her unique music is marked by the use of unusual instrumental combinations and tunings and shows her interest in folk and ritual instruments from Russia, the Caucasus region and Asia.

Sometimes, fiery and sometimes as soft as a rose, her music includes elements of Christian spirituality, musical symbolism, unique structures derived from fragmentation and repetition of simple material. Early on in her career, she was supported by Dmitri Shostakovich who recognised the musical gift that she possesses.

Wellhope you seen the billboard

2010-04-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

Hey the people have you seen the billboards around they should keep you informed and if you like you can sign up to our newsletter on droghedartsfestival@gmail.com.. and get a personal letter about they festival.

And hey guys no more capital letter where there shouldn't BE.

Yabba Dabba DO

2010-04-07T03:21:00.000-07:00

Final touches being sorted as we speak great line up for West Street wonderland and The Trad day in Millmount featuring traditional Foods, Crafts and Music and listen out for the Cannon fire to signal the start of the day...A must for kids and the Kid inside you....
http://www.millmount.net/

Irish times article

2010-04-06T03:57:00.000-07:00

Louth Contemporary Music Society is adding to the list of world renowned composers by bringing acclaimed Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina to the county. Gubaidulina’s first visit to Ireland will be a highlight of this year’s Drogheda Arts Festival on the May bank holiday weekend. The Russian will be here for a concert celebrating her work, The Fire and the Rose: the Music of Sofia Gubaidulina, in St Peter’s Church, Drogheda on May 1st, after a film on her life and work in the Droichead Arts Centre.

Also in Drogheda Arts Festival will be a world premiere of an Upstate production of Conall Quinn’s – winner of this year’s Stewart Parker award – The Ones Who Kill Shooting Stars. Commissioned by the festival and directed by Paul Hayes, it’s described as an entertaining and surreal tale of love and death set on a Co Louth beach during the second World War.

Another festival commission is The Marienbad Palace, a visual art exhibition curated by Jacqui McIntosh, exploring ideas of reality where virtual reality is always competing, will be in two venues – Droichead Arts Centre and the Highlanes gallery – and will feature works by Laura Buckley, Diana Copperwhite, Jorge De La Garza, Alicja Kwade, Haroon Mirza and Ian Monroe and takes its title from JG Ballard’s 1989 short story “The Enormous Space” and Alain Resnais’ seminal 1961 film Last Year in Marienbad. Other highlights include dancer/choreographer Claire Cunningham’s, ME (Mobile/Evolution), Cirque de Légume’s show and South Korean born pianist Young-Choon Park.

WELL guys and gals

2010-04-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

Well with a big belly full of chocolate eggs you could work all the excess off at the arts Fest on the May bank Holiday weekend and check out the Programme of event and get yourself down to see local band Biko @ the West Street wonderland

WEll less than a month to go..

2010-04-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

The count down is on and the trigger is cocked for a festival that well rock your socks of weather it's dance, art, or music we have it.... All so we have the Fringe happening along side us as well so worth a look pep's

In your face April Fools day

2010-04-01T04:44:00.000-07:00

HEY did anyone get you with a fool.... hope not but here at Arts Fest HQ we wouldn't dream of doing anything of the sort... only to tell you that Jimi Hendrix will be playing the West St. wonderland Stage so get out there spread the news and for Jimi's Sake BUY TICKETS

In the words of FOGEL "Check It Out"

2010-03-31T03:11:00.000-07:00

Check It out, the new look BLOG andwhen an act is announced why not check it out on the handy YOUTUBE feature... so no excuses to say i didn't know that is what they did....only kidding. An afternoon of Music awaits you as the kids from RTE series Music Changes Lives will play a concert on Saturday 1st Mat @ the Barbican

BOX OFFICE OPEN

2010-03-30T02:22:00.000-07:00

Get your tickets from the HIGHLANES'S ART GALLERY and avoid disappointment to the many great shows that are on the May bank holiday weekend............IT'S GOING TO BE EPIC

COOL A BOOLA.. Arts fest has arrived

2010-03-29T06:47:00.000-07:00

That's right folks the programme is out there so pick one up and get involved.... With the many events that are on and get around Drogheda, rediscover MILLMOUNT, WEST ST, THE ARTS CENTER & and discover the BARBICAN CENTER.

GA' DAY MATE

2010-03-26T03:51:00.000-07:00

It is shaping up for the launch and me thinks you'll enjoy it, check out everything from Vegetable Circus to BRIT AWARD NOMINEE ..... why not sign up for our newsletter to keep informed about the Festival.

DAY 210 in the DAF HOUSE

2010-03-25T06:41:00.000-07:00

The House mates have decided to launch the programme for the Drogheda Arts Festival on Sunday the 28th and have agreed that all the hard work, paper cuts and tears have been worth it... keep the eye out for all the posters for events going up soon

Alight all READY

2010-03-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

Well is shaped up and ready to roll this years festival....keep the eyes peeled back for the posters going up soon and the full listing of events will be released on Sunday night at the launch of the programme.... and West Street will be transformed to it former glory on the 1st of May as hundreds descend on the Street for family fun with performers and workshops.

Well Well Well Whats all this then

2010-03-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

Vegetable Circus and Comedy Acrobats, the Drogheda Arts Festival has it all and take your momma out..... and kids of all ages or the just young at heart to WEST ST. WONDERLAND on Saturday the 1st of May....and get involved with the Drogheda Arts Festival on the May bank holiday weekend

April 30th - May 30th

2010-03-22T04:13:00.000-07:00

The exciting line up for the 2010 Festival includes a new work from Upstate
Theatre Company, a co-curated visual arts exhibition by
Highlanes Gallery and the Droichead Arts Centre, music including External
Sounds, Dervish (as part of their 21 st Anniversary
tour), a concert for all the family entitled Music Changes Lives and the
first major Irish performance of the music of acclaimed Russian
composer Sofia Gubaidulina, for which the composer will be in attendance on
her first ever visit to Ireland. Full programme details

available soon at www.droghedaartsfestival.ie / become a fan on facebook.

Weekend 6 weeks to go

2010-03-19T03:58:00.000-07:00

Well 28th of March in The D Hotel The Drogheda Arts Festival will launch it's programme for the up coming Arts Festival on the May bank holiday weekend. But come on folks and get involved in the festival show your support for this fab festival..... Log on and become a fan of the arts fest on facebook.........Follow us on twitter.... Or stay tuned to this BLOG and I'll keep you informed

Well paddy's day over and now for the Arts Fest

2010-03-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

Well that the mother of all hangovers aside the next weekend to look forward to is the May bank holiday weekend and the Drogheda Arts festival.....From West St Wonderland on Saturday 1st May
to The ones who kill shooting stars a world first.
Don't worry folks I'll keep you BLOGGED all about it.

Acts for the May Bank Holiday

2010-03-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

Wow Wee can't believe the acts we have for the Festival, I think there is something in there for everyone from Classic Pianists to Brit Award Nominees, I think the may bank holiday weekend will be one for the books. Stay posted for more info in the coming days

Well It's begun..... ARTS FEST 2010 soon to be released line up

2010-03-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

An open letter to my pep's

Well it's going well apart from the office killings over what flavour muffin we should have and weather the coffee should be served by our butler or by our maid.... only joking the line up looks good for the festival for Drogheda and our friends from further a field should love the line up as well as the many work shops to get involved in... so lets make 2010 a festival to remember and get everyone you know in to art on the May bank holiday weekend...

I'll Keep you all well posted

Thursday is warming up...

2009-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Well we're only getting started and so far it's been a good start. Today the sun came out and Drogheda looked fantastic.

I went to collect the rest of my tickets from the Box Office @ Highlanes and could not resist a trip in to the gallery to see the Flicks exhibition (admission free and runs 7 days until Sun 21 June). It is very impressive how film takes over such a huge space so well.

J. Tobias Anderson's "Sliced Classics" dominated the upper and lower gallery and really set the tone and atmosphere but I think my favorite was Martin Healy's "Little Devils", a three-screen installation was a little erie!

I'm looking forward to the installations of Flicks also at the Droichead Arts Centre and also the Railway Station. If you have any comments or feedback let us know.

Today we also had two shoes for Children and Families at the Little Duke by Nico Brown & Martin Brunsden. Seashore show (which I didn't see but by all accounts is going down very well) and Instant Orchestra. I hope to have reviews on those tomorrow for you.

This evening it's SJ McArdle at the Droichead Arts Centre and I'm on my way there now .. more tomorrow!

Wednesday at the Arts Festival...

2009-04-29T05:49:00.000-07:00

Wednesday is opening night and we kick off the festival with a focus on the Visual Arts...

"Flicks - the cinematic in art" is curated by Cliodhna Shaffrey and uniquely takes place in three venues in Drogheda, Highlanes Gallery, Droichead Arts Centre @ Stockwell Street and Drogheda Railway Station. Flicks brings together work of nine artists who draw on and are inspired by film to create new original works of high imagination.

Later this evening at 8pm in the Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell Street Theatre why take in a screening of a classic Hitchcock film, North by Northwest, which features in the visual arts exhibition Flicks.

Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason star in this 2 hour masterpiece of intrigue and suspense interlaced with black humour

Admission is 6 euro available from the Droichead Ticket line 041-9833946 or if there are tickets left at the door.

I for one will am looking forward to the opening at the Highlanes this evening and I look forward to seeing you there at at 6:30.

Festival Time!

2009-04-29T03:06:00.000-07:00

Well here we are at last - the first day of the 5th Annual Drogheda Arts Festival ...

Tonight is opening night and with the help of our followers on Twitter we aim to keep a record of this year's festival in a truly unique way.

Our many followers including Kelly McKenna, SJ McArdle, Shane Murphy, Sian Moloney and will be tweeting and sending photos to us and within 24 hours I hope to have them compiled and and published here on the blog for all to see.

So get your glad rags on and hope to see you tonight at the grand opening in the Highlanes Gallery at 6:30 for the official opening of the Festival and the first event: "Flicks, the cinematic in art".

PS there are some tickets for various events being raffled on http://www.mumstown.ie/competitions/ ... check those out before the raffle closes!

Music, Music, Music - Spoilt for Choice!

2009-04-27T02:49:00.000-07:00

I've just been reading over the programme again trying to decide what I have to miss this weekend as I can't fit it all in!

Seriously though I think we are spoilt for choice this weekend, take music events alone...

Thursday we have our own SJ McArdle who is just back from Germany where he was touring with Reamonn.

Friday "The Rest is Noise: the Music of Alexander Knaifel" at St Peter's Church of Ireland includes performances from The Callino Quartet, Oleg Malov piano, Elizabeth Cooney violin, Elizabeth Wilson cello, Joachim Roewer viola, Patricia Rozario soprano. Another fantastic world call comtempory music event brought to the Drogheda Arts Festival in association with Louth County Council Arts Service and Louth Contemporary Music Society.

Friday also sees Mercury and Choice prize nominated singer songwriter Fionn Regan. Fionn is in the studio at the moment so lets hope for some previews of the upcoming album.

Saturday you hear the Tangos, Chacareras & Milongas from South America with Lunfardia at the d hotel.

At the Star and Cresent, External Sounds present, "Sister Brother Music Lover" featuring Super Extra Bonus Party. This band from West Dublin and Kildare bring there upbeat eclectic blend of indie and hip hop to the Drogheda Arts Festival - high-octane enough for you? Bring it on!

Sunday continues the Festivals commitment to Irish traditional music with Donal O’Connor (fiddle) & Martin Meehan (flute) at 1pm while at 3 Irish traditional singer and flautist Nuala Kennedy performs a range of material from across the Irish and Scottish traditional music repertoires.

...and we're not finished there ... at 8pm in St Peter's Church of Ireland don't miss the The Funeral Band! With the legendary piping of Liam O' Flynn, the fire of Sean Keane's fiddle-playing, the angelic voice of Rita Connolly, the ebullience of Seamus Begley's West Kerry box style, the keyboard craftsmanship of Rod McVey, the flair of Artie McGlynn's guitar, the drive of Noel Eccles - percussion maestro, the band supported by the musicianship and arranging talents of composers Neil Martin and Shaun Davey.... This is The Funeral Band!

Legendary UK DJ Norman Jay is in The Purple Room, Star and Crescent - doors 11pm - need I say more?

Monday does not disappoint either with Eliza Carthy (2 time Mercury Prize nominee) plays Stockwell Street Theatre. Having recorded with artists as diverse as Paul Weller, The Wainwrights, Billy Bragg, Nick Cave and Joan Baez Eliza Carthy brings a world class folk experience to Drogheda.

Can't wait.

A Memory from the 2008 festival

2009-04-27T02:38:00.000-07:00

I was searching for images relating to this year's festival when I came across this blog from a guy called 'Shardul' of New Zealand. He had a lovely entry documenting the Traditional Day at Milmount in 2008.

http://www.shardul.co.nz/2008/11/03/a-delightful-day-in-drogheda/

It includes some video of piper Ronan Browne and flute player Martin Doyle ... enjoy!

Seeking Volunteers to blog and tweet for the Arts Festival

2009-04-15T01:25:00.000-07:00

To document this years festival and to help let others see how diverse and fun the arts festival is we are looking for volunteers to spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and blogs to promote and document the build up and happenings at this years festival.   

If you have any spare time and are good with email, a camera, blogs, twitter, etc why not volunteer to contribute and add to online PR for the Arts Festival.   Please pass to people of all ages and disciplines, not technical knowledge required - just a commitment to make a difference and tell the world about our incredible Arts Festival!   

Interested? Will you be in Drogheda on the May bank holiday weekend? Why not email us and take part

P.S. Please use tag drogartsfest on your blog or tweet with #drogartsfest

5th Drogheda Arts Festival

2009-04-10T02:32:00.000-07:00

Drogheda Arts Festival returns to the banks of the Boyne for six days of the finest in performances, readings, exhibitions, workshops and fun. From the 29th of April to the 4th of May, Drogheda becomes the arts capital of Ireland, with an exciting line-up of local, national, and international artists. Drogheda Arts Festival is a wonderful opportunity to dip your toe into the wide world of creativity, offering the well-known and well-loved alongside the unknown and the soon-to-be-loved.

You can find out more about upcoming events and the schedule at the main Drogheda Arts Festival website, and we'll be blogging here with updates and photos from the events during the festival, so keep an eye on us here for all the latest!