This week’s episode is a long form conversation with journalist and writer Una Mullally about the central ideas behind the Utopia series, concocted with and author, lecturer and a sex workers’ rights advocate Conner Habib.
Utopia at the National Concert Hall is a series of five speculative and aspirational events happening from today Wednesday October 20th until Sunday October 24th which will feature new forms of gigs and talks with improvised and experimental shows which asks questions of audiences and artists about our future: what do you want? What do we want our future to look like.
“If this era has changed us, then everything needs to be different. The only option is to strive for utopia.“
Una and I talked about what we’d like to see for live art and culture when things reopen, the desire to be around chaotic, loud performance, how art and music brings meaning and reflection that we’ve been missing, and discuss Night Dances, a recent show we both experienced at Dublin Theatre Festival, along with how we, as a society and people, have changed during this pandemic.
We also talk the disconnect between people and politics, in light of the Cobblestone, student protests, Merchant’s Arch and the numerous hotel developments around our city.
Utopia will feature input from David Le’aupepe, Gemma Doherty (Saint Sister), David Kitt, MayKay, Daoirí Farrell, Rory Friers (And So I Watch You From Afar), Izumi Kimura, Ben Castle, Rebel Phoenix, Strange Boy, DJ Replay, Dyramid, Kate Butler, Don Rosco and No Place Like Drone. Buy tickets here.
Andrea has a new podcast – My Favourite Album
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, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
