Four-day experimental event Utopia comes to the National Concert Hall

Starting on October 20th comes a special weekend of events ranging from music to live podcasts - all tackling the central concept of the event: Utopia.

Developed and curated by Una Mullally and Conner Habib, the five experimental events that will centre stage at the National Concert Hall from the October 20-24 will explore the concept of Utopia - what it means and how can it be achieved- with a series of talks and gigs.

"I've never been more excited to get back to live music, but I also want to return to something different. Everyone has changed, and I want to see that reflected in the form of live shows we can now get to witness.” says writer, broadcaster, and podcaster Una Mullally. “The Utopia series is about imagining something new and trusting the audience's and artists' desire that instead of 'back to normal' we should go forward towards something extraordinary."

The series of events will kick off on Wednesday, 20th October, with a live podcast recording of Everyone United with Conner Habib, Andrea Horan, and Una Mullally. The evening will see Conner Habib retake the stage with his countercultural podcast Against Everyone With Conner Habib; as well as a live recording of the nationwide history and culture show Andrea and Una’s United Ireland

The following day will focus on Irish philosopher and mystic John Moriarty, with his life and work being celebrated in Republic of Birds: John Moriarty’s Visions of Ireland. The first celebration of the County Kerry intellectual will include special guests and a rare screening of the 2012 documentary about John, Dreamtime, Revisited.

Saturday, 23rd October, will see a full day of musical celebration - starting at 10am and rolling on till 7:30pm - with Don Rosco and No Place Like Drone presenting The Chill Out Room as a Radical Space (Loving You). The free event will feature psychedelic and transcendental music trying to capture the spirit of a rave era chill-out room. Then, starting at 8:00pm, things will switch up as freestyle rap will take over; Utopia: Cypher presenting Rebel Phoenix, Strange Boy, DJ Replay, Dyramid, and more.

The series will close on Sunday with Utopia: Murmuration,which will see a live performance by David Le’aupepe, Gemma Doherty (Saint Sister), David Kitt, MayKay, Daoirí Farrell, Rory Friers (And So I Watch You From Afar), Izumi Kimura, and Ben Castle. The various artists will come together in an improvised act, which is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience.

“The Utopia series reflects my hope that the artistic and creative ruts we were stuck in for a decade have been shattered by the past two years," says writer, lecturer, poet, and podcaster Conner Habib. "Amongst the frustrations and fears, we've also been given a tremendous opportunity to imagine in new directions; whether that's imagining a new kind of concert experience, a new spiritual pathway for Ireland, or just a new culture overall that gives space for us to be creative and engaged participants, not just spectators."

Utopia is a part of the National Concert Hall's series Refractions which celebrates the venue's 40th anniversary.

WEDNESDAY 20TH OCTOBER, 7.30PM

Utopia: Everyone United with Conner Habib, Andrea Horan and Una Mullally

THURSDAY 21ST OCTOBER, 7.30PM

Utopia: Republic of Birds: John Moriarty's Visions of Ireland

SATURDAY 23RD OCTOBER, 10AM - 7.30PM

Utopia: The Chill Out Room as a Radical Space (Loving You)

SATURDAY 23RD OCTOBER, 8PM

Utopia: Cypher - Feat. Rebel Phoenix, Strange Boy, DJ Replay, Dyramid and more guests to be announced

SUNDAY 24TH OCTOBER, 8PM

Utopia: Murmuration - featuring David Le’aupepe, Gemma Doherty (Saint Sister), David Kitt, MayKay, Daoirí Farrell, Rory Friers (And So I Watch You From Afar), Izumi Kimura, Ben Castle and more guests to be announced.

You can get your tickets here.