In what sounds like a wonderful four-days of music, art and conversation, The National's Bryce Dessner is curating Sounds From A Safe Harbour, which will take over a string of Cork venues and spaces from September 17-20.
The focal point will be the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra performing 'Wave Moments', a new composition by Dessner and Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Perry who'll also be performing a set of his own.
The other myriad participants include The Gloaming, Aaron Dessner & Lisa Hannigan, This Is How We Fly, Liam Byrne, Donal Dineen, Nadia Sirota, So Percussion, Andre De Ridder, Valgeir Sigursson, Jessica Dessner, Amiina, Crash/Bedroom, Eat My Noise, Ragnar Kjartansson, Crash Ensemble, Julianna Barwick, Sam Amidon, Kjartan Sveinsson & Skuli Sverrisson, Heima, Mina Tindle, My Brightest Diamond, Linda & Irene Buckley, Richard Reed Perry & Quiet River Of Dust and James McVinnie.
Film buffs will be able to see Sigur Ros' Heima and The National's Mistaken For Strangers, with numerous pop-up pieces, excursions and water-borne expeditions.
“Sounds From A Safe Harbour has grown exponentially from my initial conversation with Cork Opera House CEO Mary Hickson into a huge, imaginative celebration and contextualisation of the initial idea alongside the port aspects of Cork,” Bryce explains. “Rolling with the water, wave and sea themes, we decided to look to the river, the harbour and the port in making Sounds From A Safe Harbour. I’m especially looking forward to bringing 'Wave Movement' to Cork and performing it along with another composition of mine entitled ‘St. Carolyn By The Sea’, which myself and my brother Aaron will perform live the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.
“Collaboration is a huge part of my own practice and I enjoy very much exploring cross genre engagement.  We have injected this energy into our festival and will be presenting music, art, film, conversation, dance and food across the weekend. The unifying factor being the music, this is the special glue that brings Sounds From A Safe Harbour home.”
Along with the Opera House which will be operating as the festival HQ, you'll be able to catch events in The Everyman Palace Theatre, UCC, Port of Cork, Triskel Christchurch, Firkin Crane, Crawford Art Gallery, Wandesford Quay Gallery, Sternview Gallery and many more. There will also be an extensive music trail programmed throughout the city.
Tickets go on sale on May 21.