Culture
12 Sep 19

Tribute concert for David Berman to benefit depression support

The Sound House will host a benefit and tribute concert for the famed indie artist who took his life last month.

A tribute night for David Berman, Purple Jews has been announced as a once-off tribute night for which all proceeds will go to the charity Aware who provides support for those with depression and bipolar disorder. The name is a conglomeration of the two bands Berman is known for: Silver Jews and Purple Mountains.

Taking place on Thursday, 17th October in the Sound House on Eden Quay in Dublin, the event will celebrate the music and poetry of the beloved American artist. The evening is set to feature an array of special guests performing songs from the Berman back catalogue, as well as spoken tributes.

After the sudden death of David Berman in early August, an outpouring of grief was shared online. Dublin musicians Dudley Colley and Mark Jordan were inspired to reach out to fellow Berman fans in the hope of celebrating his work and raising money for a cause relevant to his work.

Accompanied by the Purple Jews house band will be performances by Adrian Crowley, who toured with Silver Jews during their only Irish gigs. Maija Sofia and Steve Ryan are also set to pay musical tributes to Berman. Broadcaster and writer John Kelly will read works from Actual Air, alongside further performances by Eileen Gogan, Niall Murphy, Danny Carroll, and Michael Stevens, with more to be announced.

David Berman was a cult figure in the history of American indie music, firstly with his project Silver Jews and more recently operating under the moniker Purple Mountains. Rising to prominence in the early 1990s, Berman collaborated with members of the quintessential alt-rock band Pavement, as well as recording and releasing music as a solo endeavour.

His music has been hailed for its arch and poetic lyricism. As well as releasing six albums under the Silver Jews moniker, Berman has been lauded for his sole poetry collection, Actual Air and the LP Purple Mountains, which showcased his famed songwriting ability.

After his passing, Berman received a huge outpouring of support from artists and fans alike.

Tickets for the David Berman Tribute are available here for €15.