Dublin's first Alternative Cello Festival will take place next month

This new festival celebrates the diverse use of the cello across non-classical music styles and genres from Jazz, Traditional, Folk, Pop and Rock.

The line-up of artists for the festival includes some of the world's accomplished cellists, including: Úna Ní Chanainn (RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra); Kate Ellis (Crash Ensemble); Neil Martin; Kevin Murphy (Slow Moving Clouds, Seti the First); Vyvienne Long; Lioba Petrie (3epkano, Unshaped Form); Mary Barnecutt (Mary & the Pigeons); Hugh Buckley; the truly unique "wild cello goblin" Rushad Eggleston, and Kitty Maguire and Anna Marcosi, leading the "Yocella" cello yoga class.

The Workman’s Club will be the hub of the festival with the atmospheric downstairs space housing the evening events, starting with an all female line up for the opening concert on February 10 with Mary and the Pigeons, Lioba Petrie and Vyvienne Long. Saturday night will see Hugh Buckley and Cello Ireland take to the stage, followed by Rushad Eggleston, and the festival will draw to a close with a Sunday night concert with Kevin Murphy, Neil Martin and a cello jam session.

Conceived by cellists Lioba Petrie and Mary Barnecutt, Spike Cello Festival promises to present an exciting program catapulting the cello to centre stage. Having both worked in Dublin through many genres and styles of cello playing, Lioba and Mary wanted to create an event dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the alternative cello world.

The name "Spike" derives form the endpin of the cello, used to support and balance the instrument.

Tickets cost €15 per event or €50 weekend pass (plus booking fee) available from www.workmansclub.com