Open Ear is an annual music festival focused on giving a platform to Irish artists in the stunning environs of Sherkin Island, West Cork, Ireland. Now in its fourth year, the festival will run for 4 days across the June Bank Holiday Weekend, Thursday May 30 to Sunday June 2.

If you’re unfamiliar with the festival, this new short documentary by Joseph Ingersoll, gives a clear overview of the creative ethos of the festival, and it’s idyllic setting:

Visiting the island this year are artists: Garies (New Jackson and Lumigraph), Radie Peat, Maria Somerville, Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands, Aaron Dilloway & Vicky Langan, Woven Skull, Jennifer Walshe, Club Comfort, Fran Hartnett, T-Woc, Áine O’Dwyer, Aoife O’Neill, Static., Eliza, Prun, Ebauche, Bloom, Belacque, SIAS, Kenny Hanlon, The Digital Druids and Dabbledoo Feat. Amanda Feery & everyone, and there’s still much more to be announced.

Year on year the festival’s ambition has expanded, bringing artists of many ages and musical disciplines together. The event continues to explore Sherkin itself, an island measuring 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, using various locations to deliver a fresh, one-of-a-kind curated programme. These elements have combined to create one of the most unique festival experiences Ireland currently has to offer; bringing a broad and inclusive audience to a remote location, to experience various forms of music that are multi-faceted stylistically and in presentation – in some cases, the presentation is shaped by the Island itself.

The festival has nurtured a strong symbiotic relationship with Sherkin Island itself and its residents. The trust the residents have imbued in the organisers has allowed them to embed the festival into various locations around the Island, such as: St Mona’s Church, Horseshoe Bay Quarry, and the Sherkin Community Hall, alongside the main base on the land of Sherkin North Shore.

2019 will see collaboration becoming more intrinsic to the festival's programme. Open Ear provides communal spaces to allow artists to connect and come together in a stunning location, it fosters an open-minded ethos and encourages trialling new material. Artists and groups involved in collaborations this year include: Dublin Digital Radio / Áine O'Dwyer / Vicky Langan / The Digital Druids / Dabbledoomusic /  Woven Skull / Aaron Dilloway (Wolf Eyes) / Amanda Feery, + more to be announced.

Tickets for the festival, priced €155-€170, are available from www.openear.ie. This year Open Ear is partnering with The Hotel on Sherkin to offer a package deal of festival ticket and hotel room for the weekend, furthering their collaboration with businesses and residents based on the Island. Open Ear also offers high-end bell tents that attendees can rent via their ticketing platform. Festival accommodation is predominantly camping based, with ‘sea view’ camping inclusive to the ticket, this also includes transport of luggage across the island, showers, toilets, and drinking water.

Open Ear is a one-of-a-kind festival experience where attendees come home feeling energised by a like-minded music community coming together for something truly special.

2019 Programme | Part One

Garies :: Radie Peat :: Maria Somerville :: Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands :: Aaron Dilloway & Vicky Langan :: Woven Skull :: Jennifer Walshe :: Club Comfort :: Fran Hartnett :: T-Woc :: Áine O’Dwyer :: Aoife O'Neill :: Static :: Eliza :: Prun :: Ebauche :: Bloom :: Belacque :: SIAS :: Kenny Hanlon :: The Digital Druids :: Dabbledoo Feat. Amanda Feery & everyone :: & much more to be announced…