Series 9 Programme 1 airs on RTE Two Wednesday February 16th at 11.45pm and will feature the most talked about band of 2010, The National, the incredible guitar and vocals of Anna Calvi and leading Irish singer songwriter James Vincent McMorrow. The IMRO Other Room will host the hauntingly beautiful, Jennifer Evans.

The ninth season of the world renowned Other Voices music TV series will broadcast on RTE Two from Wednesday February 16th. The series was recorded over five days in Dingle, Co. Kerry during December of last year. A who’s who of international and local artists travelled across the snow bound Irish countryside to take part in the St. James’ Church recordings including The National, Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker, Marina & The Diamonds, Ellie Goulding, Cathy Davey and Lisa Hannigan.

Each of the six episodes will feature unique live performances from St. James’ Church, intimate acoustic sets in some of Dingle’s most fascinating nooks and crannies, along with insightful interviews with presenter DJ Annie Mac. Also featuring in each programme will be stripped back sets from some of Ireland’s most exciting new music talent, whose performances were recorded in Dingle as part of the IMRO Other Room.

The first programme will air on Wednesday February 16th at 11.25pm and will feature the most talked about band of 2010, The National, the incredible guitar and vocals of Anna Calvi and leading Irish singer songwriter James Vincent McMorrow. The IMRO Other Room will host the hauntingly beautiful, Jennifer Evans.

Other Voices continues each Wednesday night at 11.25pm on RTE Two for six weeks, bringing to our screens the magnificent songs and passionate musicianship of some of the world’s key eclectic music-makers.

Other Voices was made possible by the support of key partners – Intune Networks, Failte Ireland, the Irish Music Rights Organisation and RTE.

A number of exclusive live performances will also be posted in advance of each show on othervoices.ie and the Other Voices Facebook page. And for those of you who crave another Other Voices fix, tune into the music stream at othervoices.ie to hear exclusive interviews and more music from the series, in the days following each broadcast on RTE Two.

OTHER VOICES 9 – BROADCAST SCHEDULE 2011

RTE Two, 11.25pm

PROGRAMME 1 (Wednesday 16th February)
The National
Anna Calvi
James Vincent McMorrow
Jennifer Evans (IMRO Other Room)

PROGRAMME 2 (Wednesday 23rd February)
Marina & The Diamonds
ASIWYFA
O’Emperor
Lisa O’Neill (IMRO Other Room)
Sacred Animals (IMRO Other Room)

PROGRAMME 3 (Wednesday 2nd March)
Ellie Goulding
John Smith
The Minutes
Planet Parade (IMRO Other Room)

PROGRAMME 4 (Wednesday 9th March)
Everything Everything
Cathy Davey
Ryan Sheridan
General Fiasco
Daithi O’Dronai (IMRO Other Room)

PROGRAMME 5 (Wednesday 16th March)
Lissie
Smoke Fairies
Steve Mason
The Man Whom (IMRO Other Room)
Ciara Sidine (IMRO Other Room)

PROGRAMME 6 (Wednesday 23rd March)
Richard Hawley
Lisa Hannigan
Jarvis Cocker
The Danger Is (IMRO Other Room)

www.facebook.com/OtherVoices

It’s Dingle time. Season 9 of Other Voices in the town of Dingle, Co. Kerry is a music enthusiast’s haven from the world for five days. Thankfully the snow was left behind, but we’ve brought with us a great sense of expectation for what’s to come. And how could we not? The National (who have just arrived), Marina & The Diamonds, Lissie, And So I Watch You From Afar, Everything Everything and the late addition of Steve Mason are just a handful of the acts braving it to the Dingle peninsula for these unique and intimate gigs, and we do mean a “80-people-crammed-into-a-genuine-200-year-old-church” level of intimacy.

Night one’s performances saw Other Voices veteran Richard Hawley invite along some famous friends to play with him. The bad news is that Laura Marling, was struck with flu so was unable to perform. Having travelled on the ferry from the UK and made the long trek to Dingle, it’s a big disappointment especially considering Marling accepted the invitation to perform at the request of a good old fashioned handwritten letter from Hawley.

The night was kicked off in searing fashion with Anna Calvi. The young London-based musician, who will release her debut album on Domino Records in January put in a set that can only be described as fierce. It’s easy to see why she has supporters in high places like Brian Eno, Interpol and Nick Cave; Calvi works her guitar like a theatrical machine, building swathes of dramatic noise on six-strings as she stands straight, hair tied back tight, with pursed red lips, black heels and a “I mean business” white shirt and long trousers. Accompanied by harmonium, extra percussion and a drummer who looks like he might have just walked off the set of Twilight, Calvi’s music is dark, sensual and frantic. It’s easy to see why she’s been compared to film-maker David Lynch. Both thrive on creating surreal worlds with their art. Calvi will be back to play The Workman’s Club, Dublin on February 23rd.

Sheffield-born and bred Hawley has played the series twice before, so this year he approached things differently. A full set of covers from his musical influences took in renditions of Lee Hazlewood’s ‘The Girl On Death Row’, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s ‘I’m Gonna Dig Myself A Hole’ and Elvis’ ‘Devil In Disguise’ (dedicated to the Catholic Church no less). A unique interpretation of The Velvet Underground’s ‘I’m Waiting For The Man’ was prefaced with the idol-shattering tale of a bizarre Lou Reed karate and sword routine at a gig they both played in Norway.

It was then time for Hawley’s special guests to make an appearance. A reticent Lisa Hannigan is anything but in voice when the duo pair up for a sublime ‘Hushabye Mountain’ from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Lisa is left alone with the band for a goosebumps version of ‘Moon River’ which she informs us, Hawley’s band can do in any key.

Then, it’s the turn of Hawley’s fellow Pulp band member, the inimitable Jarvis. No second name required. Still as recognisable as ever (and seemingly dressed in the same clothes as ever), Jarvis is in a talkative mood. After playing another Lee Hazlewood cut – ‘Pour Man’ and an Everly Brothers song, he goes into full swing. Jarvis introduces us to his guitar which due to its sentimentality was bought a seat on the flight over and thus, received a boarding pass with the name ‘Mr Guitar Cocker’ on it. He talks about seeing Fungi The Dolphin, the setting – St. James Church and compares the relationship between a priest and the congregation to the artist and audience dynamic (“performers have egos and putting them up on an altar just feeds that”), and then free associates from the pulpit, to introduce, yes, a Pulp song – ‘Something Changed’. It’s a salivating precursor to next year’s Pulp reunion.

For a cracking encore, Hawley, Hannigan and Jarvis (on Christmas bells) join forces for a swoonsome version of ‘Silent Night’ which really couldn’t have been topped. As our congregation left the church into the crisp night air, it was clear from the chatter that Hawley had put together a superb night of music. It looks unlikely that Dingle will be able to say no to him in future years.

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Please note, tickets for all shows are now sold-out.

All performances from Saturday December 4th to Tuesday December 7th will be screened live, in high definition by Intune Networks in the following venues in Dingle: Benners Hotel, Foxy John’s, McCarthy’s, Currans, Adams and Geaney’s.

Fans will be able to watch all the performances via WiFi streaming on their phones and laptops in all the above venues. Plus Ashes Bar and Restaurant.

Saturday December 4th
Anna Calvi
followed by…
A Night Curated by Richard Hawley featuring
Richard Hawley and band
Jarvis Cocker
Laura Marling
plus a very special guest

Sunday December 5th
The National
Ellie Goulding
Cathy Davey
John Smith

Monday December 6th
Lissie
Smoke Fairies
Everything Everything
And So I Watch You From Afar
James Vincent Mc Morrow

Tuesday December 7th
Marina & the Diamonds
O Emperor
The Minutes
Ryan Sheridan

And performing at the IMRO Other Room on Wednesday December 8th
Jennifer Evans
Planet Parade
Lisa O’Neill
Sacred Animals
The Danger Is
The Man Whom
Ciara Sidine
Daithi Ó Dronaí

www.othervoices.ie
www.facebook.com/OtherVoices