Sounds from a Safe Harbour shares short film in memory of Talos, first-ever vinyl release and SIRENS European tour dates

The Dreams are Ours to Keep marks two years since the passing of Eoin French, while the Cork festival also announces the SFSH25 Mixtape LP and a European and UK tour for its SIRENS collective.

Sounds from a Safe Harbour has released The Dreams are Ours to Keep, a short film marking two years since the death of Eoin French (Talos), one of Ireland’s most loved musicians and a founding force behind the festival.

The film looks back at the residency at the heart of SFSH’s 2023 edition, and specifically the making of ‘We Didn’t Know We Were Ready’, written during that residency by Ólafur Arnalds, Talos, Niamh Regan and Ye Vagabonds. The song was first performed in the lobby of The River Lee before travelling to the festival finale at Cork Opera House, hosted by Ye Vagabonds, and later to the Tommy Tiernan Show, then recorded for the album A Dawning.

It’s shot by Peadar O’Goill with Steve O’Connor, Sean Phair and Adrian O’Connell, and edited by Louise Gaffney, with words by Max Porter (read by Niamh Regan) running through it, written after his first experience of the residency, an experience that led him to join SFSH as a core curator.

 “At the time, we didn’t know how precious that week would become, or how little time we would have with Eoin. The song was written about the experience of creating together – about being present in that moment, in that room, with those people – but since Eoin’s passing, the words have taken on a new depth of meaning. It’s a reminder of the extraordinary comfort music can bring us, and of the lasting connection created through moments of shared creativity.” 

Festival Director Mary Hickson

French worked on SFSH from its inception and designed the graphics for the 2023 edition. The Dreams are Ours to Keep is dedicated to his memory, and is out now on YouTube.

---

SFSH25 Mixtape

The festival is also releasing its first-ever vinyl record, SFSH25 Mixtape, out Friday September 25th. The single LP captures highlights from MIXTAPE, the sold-out orchestral performance staged at SFSH25, featuring Jon Hopkins, The Staves, Amanda Bergman, Sam Amidon, Sean Carey, Leif Vollebekk and Angie McMahon performing with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra and SFSH Choir, conducted by Cormac McCarthy.

It’s available for pre-order on Anthem Vinyl.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Jon Hopkins — Feel First Life (arranged by Bryce Dessner, co arranged by Michael Blasky)

2. The Staves — Damn It All (arranged by Áine Delaney)

2. Amanda Bergman — Wild Geese, Wild Love (arranged by Bryce Dessner, co arranged by Michael Blasky; additional guitar, Bryce Dessner and Petter Winnberg)

4. Sam Amidon — Three Five (arranged by Bryce Dessner, co arranged by Michael Blasky; additional guitar, Bryce Dessner)

Side B

1. Áine Delaney — Make it Still

2. Sean Carey — Alpenglow (arrangement by. Áine Delaney; featuring Michael Lewis on saxophone)

3. Leif Vollebekk — Sunset Boulevard Expedition (arrangement by Áine Delaney, Chris Elliot & Leif Vollebekk)

4. Angie McMahon — Serotonin (arrangement by Bryce Dessner, co arranged by Michael Blasky; additional guitar, Bryce Dessner)

---

SIRENS tour

SFSH is also sending SIRENS out on the road this autumn, an evolving ensemble hosted by Lisa Hannigan with the Theodora Byrne Trio, developed during the SFSH25 residency. Irish dates were previously announced, but UK and European ones were added.

SIRENS 2026 dates:

• 24th September 2026 – Inis Oírr Island *SOLD OUT* 
• 26th September 2026 – National Concert Hall, Dublin 
• 27th September 2026 – Cork Opera House, Cork City 
• 10^th October 2026 – Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 
• 11th October 2026 – PEOPLE Festival, Berlin  
• 17th October 2026 – The Barbican, London 
• 18^th October 2026 – Teatro Principal, San Sebastián 

The Berlin date falls within PEOPLE Festival, which opens Funkhaus to the public for two days of roughly 200 unscripted performances across its rooms and stages, with no published lineup, you find out who’s playing once you’re in the room. The San Sebastián date is part of AB100, a weekend built around Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s wider musical community, marking the brothers’ 50th birthdays, and also featuring Kevin Morby, Ben Howard, Jon Hopkins, Ragnar Kjartansson, Richard Reed Parry, Ye Vagabonds and more, closing with a rare performance from The National.

Sounds from a Safe Harbour returns to Cork for its next full festival edition from Wednesday September 30th to Sunday October 3rd 2027.