David Rooney and Ruba Shamshoum Lead Palfest Charge

David Rooney and Ruba Shamshoum have been added to the bill for Palfest, which takes place in Dublin next week.

The festival is a volunteer event, organised by Irish artists in support of Palestine, and aims to demonstrate the solidarity between the Irish arts community and the people of Palestine.

David Rooney and Ruba Shamshoum play the O’Reilly Theatre, in Belvedere College, on Great Denmark Street, on Friday July 8, with doors opening at 8pm.

"This unique PalFest performance promises to be one of the musical highlights of the year,” a festival spokesperson told Hot Press. Rooney is planning to feature material from his upcoming Declan O’Rourke-produced new album and his studio band – which features Conor Guilfoyle (drums), Jay Wilson (piano), Baz Rycraft (bass) and Ruba Shamshoum (vocals) – will all be present and correct on the night, for what will be the live debut of one of Ireland’s most interesting new outfits of recent times.

With his striking illustration work featured in Hot Press, the Irish Times and in the Titanic Centre, among other platforms, Rooney's team are set to incorporate some breath-taking presentation ideas in their show, including portraits from the recently published 1916: Portraits and Lives (Royal Irish Academy).

While contributing to Rooney’s set, Ruba Shamshoum will also present her own repertoire, which has been critically-acclaimed for its intoxicating mash-up of jazz harmonies and Middle Eastern musical influences. Ruba’s songs have strong narratives about exile, hope and love. Her distinct jazz influences are allowed space to flourish with a band drawn from the elite of the Dublin jazz scene, including Orlando Molina (guitar), Matthew Jacobson (drums), Barry Rycraft (double bass) and Aleka Potinga (cello). There will be a special guest appearance by rising star Ríona Sally Harman.

Completing the line-up for what promises to be a sensational evening, will be Róisín El Cherif, an Irish/Palestinian singer-songwriter, whose work has begun to attract attention internationally. Irish fans may have seen Róisín perform at the Ruby Sessions, Whelans or the Mná Mná gig at the Roisín Dubh in Galway.

Other highlights at Palfest include Prizewinners4Palestine, with Mark O’Halloran hosting a night in which Kevin Barry and Lisa Mcinnerney will read from their work (Irish Writers Centre, Tuesday, July 12, 6pm to 7.30pm).

Jazz For Palestine (J.J. Smyths, Thursday July 14, doors 8.30pm) features Johnny Taylor (piano), Dave Fleming (bass) and Myles Drennan (drums), with uests Carmel McCreagh and Fiachra Trench, Ciaran Wilde, Hugh Buckley. Trevor Knight and Honor Heffernan.

Meanwhile, on Friday July 15, Palestinian playwright and author Ahmed Masoud will be teaming up with world-renowned trad band Kila for what promises to be an engaging and inspiring evening of literature and music in the Peacock Theatre (stars 8pm).

There’s also poetry, films, theatre and food – including a Palestine Food Market in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar on the afternoon of Sunday July 10 – in what is a very strong programme. For more information, go to: http://www.palfestireland.net/about/