The longest day of the year is almost upon us – shocking really! To celebrate the summer solstice Cork City has a two week long festival of culture ending on the 29th (that’s gigs, shows and other stuff). In fact it started on the 13th to there is a lot of catching up to do. And I’m only going to cover the items that I find interesting here. For the full line up, check out the Cork Midsummer Festival 2009 website.
In these times of financial stress they are running a 5 for €55 deal (you end up saving €25) , and a lot of free shows too.
In the theme of financial straights, how about recreating depression era American style Dance Marathon in the Irish Examiner Spiegeltent (set up in front of the Opera House again). Part of the 5 for €55, it runs from Monday June 22nd until 25th from 9.30pm. You don’t have to dance all four nights (and there is a water bar, as well as a regular one), but you can if you like. Of simple show up and watch the others. Lets just say it makes a change form a regular night club. And, lets face it, its a dating opportunity too. For the initial rounds pairs are going to be made up as random; you get a number going in, and who you dance with is chosen for you. There are solo rounds for the chronically shy and the snazzy dancers, and later on you can rejoin your spouse, partner or local politician if you want to. Read through the guidelines if interested.
For the young at body, there is an event to break down the artificial youth culture barriers in the city with “The Future Sound of Cork” on Sunday June 28th at 3pm in the Spiegeltent again. Stevie G (of RedFM) hosts this event showcasing a cross-section of Cork’s best young bands, singers, rappers, DJ’s, graffiti artists (no idea how this one will work in the air-conditioned tent, so much fumes), break-dancers and more. This event which is open to all ages. The aim is to break down the boundaries and prejudices that end up forming amongst teenagers. The question is will the freaks, geeks and floaters of every school show up, or just the so called cool kids. (And yes I feel old typing this).
The “In Conversation” series, on June 16 and almost daily from June 20th to 27th (they are taking Friday 26th off) at 4pm in the Artists Guesthouse, 9 Chapel Street, Shandon. This free series let you talk to the artists and the directors of the shows. If you are interested in, or even fantasise about putting on your own show, its worth talking to these guys. Might be of use to the attendees of the Future Sound of Cork.
As for gigs. There’s a lot of gigs something for everyone; Camille (formally Camille O’Sullivan who is doing a seperate Brecht show), David Holmes & Andrew Weatherall, Almasäla, Planeta Lem, Scullion, Niwel Tsumbu, The Wilders, The Nina in Me (Karen Underwood sings Nina Simone), FRED and as its required by the P.O.R.C. constitution The Frank and Waters.
The festival is known for its theratical productions, many of which are site specific and put together just for the festival. This years sees Corcadorca perform medEia (the 1998 by Oscar van Woensel retelling of the Greek tragedy of Medea) in The Vertigo Suite of Cork County Hall. Any play performed in a glass pavilion, 17 storeys up and with panoramic views of the city has something going for it. A fear of heights for one.
For the first time in forty years, Cork’s Hollander House, 8 North Mall, is open to the public where Hollander is being performed by Hammergrin in a show which includes midnight performances for those in search of late night plays. In a house where rooms move. Could be interesting.
Certainty “interesting” is Susurrus in Fitzgerald’s Park.Well, how can a play without actors, without a stage and with only one person in the audience not be interesting.
Something for everyone as the cliché goes. But remember, clichés can be true. Enjoy Cork sensibly.
