A free music festival is set to take place at Smithfield Square on the weekend of November 12 and 13.
Smithfield Sessions has been curated by First Music Contact, in partnership with Improvised Music Company, The Contemporary Music Centre and Music Network. It will be free for all ages to attend and will feature emerging musicians from the popular, jazz, classical and contemporary music genres.
The event will also give people an opportunity to attend free masterclasses in drumming, composition, group music-making and an introduction to improvisation workshop. Saturday's line-up of performances includes 'Sound Out' new music with composers Aoife Kavanagh & Paul Scully, Woven Kin with Aisling Urwin on harp and vocals, Siobhan Moore on guitar, vocals and bodhran, and a traditional ensemble led by TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2022 Diarmuid O Meachair.
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On Sunday there will be showcase performances from Aleka and The Matthew Halpin Group in collaboration with Improvised Music Company and Aoife Wolf and Bricknasty in collaboration with First Music Contact. Workshops and masterclasses run from 12pm until 2pm each day and are free to attend on a first come first served basis.
On Saturday, masterclasses include a composition workshop by composer Aine Mallon followed by a drumming workshop with Micháel Quinn (Dermot Kennedy’s drummer). Meanwhile Sunday's masterclasses include an introduction to improvisation workshop with Lina Andonovoska followed by a workshop in Group Music-Making led by fiddle player Zoe Conway.
Showcase performances will run from 2pm to 6pm each day and are also free to attend. Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy said: “Who doesn’t like music? From toddlers to OAPs it’s something everyone can enjoy.
"The Smithfield Sessions is a unique opportunity to take a music masterclass or workshop. It’s also a wonderful chance to immerse yourself in music from excellent emerging talent here in Dublin. So pop on down to Smithfield and get involved."
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