It’s Culture Night’s eighteenth year with many free events happening around venues, museums, cultural spaces, art galleries, theatres and outdoor spaces of the city
Culture Night is an opportunity to see what the creative people of the city are up, with family-friendly, all-ages, free events on offer.
As with previous years, there’s an increased emphasis on late-night events. here’s 10 recommended events to check out around Dublin this Friday.
Annie Mac’s Before Midnight
After a sold-out show at Vicar Street on Patrick’s Day earlier this year, Annie Mac’s early club night is back for Culture Night.
Annie Mac’s Before Midnight series, where clubbing takes place early in the evening is on in the Guinness Storehouse on Friday.
Tickets flew out upon release but you never know, you might find a ticket somewhere.
Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians (MxxM reimagining), Philip Glass Symphony @ NCH
The National Concert Hall has announced its free Culture Night programming for Friday September 22nd this year.
NCH’s Culture Night offerings include:
An electronic reimagining of Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, in Simon Cullen’s MXXM, Main Stage, 7pm
National Symphony Orchestra – Philip Glass Symphony No. 1 Low, Main Stage, 9pm
Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg Choirs – Sing on the Steps John Field Room, 5.30pm
Choral, Percussion and Gamelan Workshops, various rooms from 5.15pm – 9pm
Box Office: Tel: 01-4170000 / nch.ie
Meeting House Square Late
The late gig at Meeting House Square every Culture Night in Dublin has become a place for the dance and electronic community of the city to showcase their wares.
Previous years have seen the likes of Fran Harnett, Dreamcycles and Dublin Modular and queues around the block and around another block to get in to the space.
Advance notice then for this year’s late night event which this year is curated by Strawberries from 10pm to Midnight.
Strawberries is a techno party for LGBTQ+ people and friends, and DJs lined up to play this year include a set from Strawberries resident Soria Reilly (10pm-10.30pm), Bull Horris (Strawberries, Tender) B2B Tadhg K (Dublin Modular) playing trance, progressive and Euro house on vinyl (10.35pm-11.10pm) with Dublin-based Kerry DJ Efa O’Neill playing “house rollers, techno rumblers, electro wobblers and everything in between.” (11.15pm-midnight).
Mo Cultivation DJs are also in Meeting House Square from 9pm to 10pm.
Irish vinyl electro compilation launch
A new compilation celebrating a period of Irish electro music making in the late ’90s and early 2000s is to be launched at The Racket Space for Culture Night.
Dreams of Electric Bleep is a collection of Irish electro fro 1999 to 2005, that features Decal, Americhord, Phil Kieran, Chymera and John Braine among others and comes out on October 6th on on Bandcamp through Sunil Sharpe’s Earwiggle label (October 13th worldwide).
The line-up for the Culture Night event at The Racket Space in Glasnevin features Phil Kieran, Decal, Magnetize, John Braine, and Eliza on Friday September 22nd from 9pm – 3am.
Inclusive sensory music events in Tallaght with R.Kitt, Dreamcycles & more
Brought to you by Sofft Productions in partnership with NOISE Music and South Dublin County Council, two free events, The Soft Space and Vanishing Point, will promote accessibility and inclusivity in the arts on Friday, September 22nd.
Vanishing Point
Born out of the exploration of sensory space, this experiential zone will combine ambient sounds, soothing lighting, and comfortable seating, with the aim of promoting restful rejuvenation and mindful introspection.
Designed by lighting designer Conor Jacob of Sofft Productions, and curated by NOISE Music and Dublin Digital Radio, the space will feature a line-up of talented DJs delivering curated sets across the night, including: Baliboc, R.Kitt, Maxium and Dreamcycles.
The Soft Space
The Soft Space is designed to be a decompression space with uniquely designed elements to help facilitate a sensory experience. Taking place at the cultural quarter at Tallaght’s Culture Night, the unique space is immersive and offers a serene space for relaxation where attendees can visit and escape the festival atmosphere.
Hugh Lane Gallery – Live Music
The Hugh Lane Gallery is open on Culture Night until 10pm with a special evening of art and music.
5.30-6pm Catscars (solo artist) – electro pop
Dark synth-pop utilising the Nintendo DS as its principal instrument.
6.10-6.40pm – Lisa Dowdall & Matthew Nolan (duo) –contemporary classical and chamber music collaboration.
6.50-7.20pm – Damian Lennon & Hugh O’Neill (duo) – ambient / improv /
7.30-8pm – Úna Keane (solo artist) – piano and electronics
8.20-8.50pm – The Next New Low (band) – indie / folk
9.10-9.40pm – I Dreamed I Dream (band) – genre-blending five-piece band from Cork. They are influenced by everything ranging from shoegaze and dreampop to classic girl groups.
Throughout the evening between the Sculpture Hall sets, Inni K (solo / a cappella) – trad / Sean-nós will performance 5 x short solo sets throughout gallery spaces.
National Print Museum
Live music in Beggars Bush on Haddington Road.
Lemoncello (6pm – 7pm)
Irish Contemporary folk-inspired duo Laura Quirke and Claire Kinsella with a love for close harmony and vulnerability in songwriting.
Rob De Boer (8pm – 9pm)
Rob de Boer is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and label founder from Dublin who is part of the band Papa Romeo and Frank Zing.
Contour @ Phase Arts Space
Returning electronic duo Conan Wynne and Anna Doran have a new Contour album called Compensating For Reality and a ticketed album launch happens on Culture Night, alongside an Audio Visual Exhibition in Phase Arts space in Rathgar.
The duo perform with Rian Trench on drums.
Soul Juice Afterparty
A Culture Night afterparty soul/jazz/R&B fusion improv jam at the Sugar Club from 11pm to 3am.
Taking inspiration from the London jams, Soul Juice is building a community around jazz/soul/RnB music in Ireland so that people stop flying away to find what’s already at home.
The last event was 90’s hip hop 50th anniversary, but this time we’re covering Latino jazz/soul/RnB with Cuban/Jamaican band ‘Havana Roots’ and Brazilian-inspired ‘Lavery’.
Performers can sign-up at the door, and there’s random rotations on-stage every 15 minutes with a full backline provided( just bring your instrument (they have drum of course). DJ Mickzart will be on decks with a mix of music to celebrate a night of Latino culture. Tickets.
District Music Parties
District Magazine launch their Music wing with two parties, early. and late.
Early @ The Grand Social
Hip-hop and spoken word.
Nealo (Live Band Show), FYNCH, Emmet Kirwan, Natalya O’Flaherty, Max Zanga
Late @ Farrier & Draper
House, disco, hip hop & techno.
Pagan, Marion Hawkes, Ricky Chong, District DJs, Skin&Blister Takeover,Hello kt b2b Mercorn, Jezebel ,Naoise Falafel
More?
Bang Bike Mobile DJs / Outdoor Roller Disco
Bang Bike Belfast transforms the city streets into a vibrant dancefloor. Kicking off with a disco set from 8pm-10pm at Central Plaza for Dublin’s first ever outdoor roller disco, then peddling on down to Capel Street for a night of classic techno from 10.30pm-12am.
Irish Traditional Music Archive
Visit the Irish Traditional Music Archive for live recitals of traditional Irish music, song and dance.Performances are 30 minutes each and limited to 50 people and must be booked in advance. All age groups are welcome. Recitals will be staged in the ITMA library on the first floor.
Live Music & performance @ Spencer Dock
Temi NLA, Faró Quartet, Song-writing Workshop and Performance with Lorna Meade / Macdara Yeates, Dónal Fallon and Roxanna Nic Liaim.
An Evening of Live Music at The R.A.G.E.
Bands TBC.
Jessie Thompson and Jason McNamara present: Dance Music For The Apocalypse
Hip hop and contemporary dance artist Jessie, and drummer and musician Jason present a live music and dance performance for the whole family. 7.00pm – 7.30pm
QueerMania – Vogue Ball
A Vogue Ball, hosted by QueerMania at the Wood Quay Amphitheatre this 22 September. An open competition in which participants are invited to join the hosts on stage and battle for the title of Vogue Ball Champion!. Prepare to throw shapes to pop bangers like Werquin’ Girl by Shangela, Cinderella by Kevin Jz Prodigy, Pure/Honey by Beyoncé and Vogue by Madonna. Participants will be selected on a first-come first-served basis.
The Rise Of Pop Culture In Ireland @ The Circular
Brian McMahon and Sinead Kenny from Brandnewretro.ie present this talk on the belated rise of pop culture in Ireland from the 1960s to 1980s. This informative yet amusing talk uses original magazines and artefacts from the 1950s to 80s to accompany the talk. Followed by a set from DJ Brand New who present a mix of 70s & 80s disco, soul, funk and new wave grooves until closing time.
As with every year, Museums, galleries, cathedrals, studios, libraries, parks, government buildings, theatres and more, will open their doors to the public as the city comes alive with specially curated tours, workshops, exhibitions and performances.
There are also the spaces that are open most of the year round like Christchurch Cathedral, National Museum of Ireland, Farmleigh, Chester Beatty and shops like Dublin Ink, Damn Fine Print, Casa Mexico and Dublin City Comics who are involved this year.
Best to spend some time browsing culturenightdublin.ie
See https://culturenight.ie for nationwide listings
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
