Today marks Ireland’s National Music Day, a whole day and night of free live music events in villages, towns and cities across Ireland. Love:Live Music are calling on audiences young and old to get involved in the events taking place near you today.
In the run-up to National Music Day, we spoke to Sharon Rollston, CEO of Music Network, the organisation which co-ordinates the day’s events.
Sharon, could you give us a bit of background on National Music Day and how the idea came about?
Back in 2010, love:live music/National Music Day was initiated by Music Network as part of its national music development remit, with support from the Arts Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It aims to celebrate Ireland’s prolific music culture and the community spirit of music-making and it takes place on the 21st of June every year. Over the past 4 years the event has grown in size and profile as people’s ideas for it have become ever-more inventive, with events staged in all sorts of unusual spaces and places. It’s become a really vibrant, colourful highlight in Ireland’s cultural calendar. The date is also shared with celebrations in over 450 towns and cities globally, as the 21st of June is also International Music Day, a world-wide movement.
What has the reception for National Music Day been like to date from musicians, venues and the general public?
The response has been really positive. The event has grown year on year and last year around 45,000 people attended over 300 events involving more than 3,000 musicians in almost every county in Ireland. As well as arts venues, events have taken place in hospitals, schools and workplaces, in shops, cafés, parks and on the streets, with lots of participatory music-making involving people of all ages, as well as public performance events.
Why do you think it’s important for Ireland to have a day like this?
Music is something that many people living in Ireland have a talent for and this day is designed to celebrate that gift, whether as a performer or a music lover. The event is totally inclusive in that it’s open to anyone who wants to make music on the day, whatever their age, whether they’re amateur or professional and it covers any musical genre. Essentially it’s an opportunity to highlight the value of music in people’s lives, and the great work that goes on in communities and within groups and organisations across the country on a regular basis.
Do you think live music in Ireland is accessible enough to everyone who wants to enjoy it?
Music Network is about making live music happen around Ireland and access is central to what we do. Love:live music features only freely accessible events on this one day of the year so that everyone, no matter how limited their income, has the chance to experience and enjoy live music on the 21st of June.
What have been the most unusual or interesting events which have taken place as part of National Music Day over the years?
Last year events ranged from the boutique to the large scale – from White Collar Boy performing a live set on the Dublin-Waterford train, to Ennis’s outdoor concert featuring Lúnasa, the Kilfenora Céilí Band and Maura O’Connell, which attracted 2,200 people. In previous years two that spring to mind are the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s flash mob storming the shop windows of Brown Thomas in Limerick and the sight of harpers performing on Dublin’s Thomas Beckett Bridge which, of course, is better known as the harp bridge.
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s event?
One of the most exciting things about working on the event is the sense of spontaneity it creates – there’s always a great buzz on the day and inspiring things happening at every turn. Events to watch out for this year include a jazz street procession inspired by iconic 60s bandleader Sun Ra; some surprise performances by the National Chamber Choir in unexpected places; a choral gathering in Meeting House Square – everyone is very welcome and no choral experience is necessary – and there’s also the Ennis Tin Whistle World Record attempt being led by Lunasa’s Kevin Crawford to give you a flavour of just a few.
Sharon Rollston is the Chief Executive Officer of Music Network
You can find out more about the events taking place near you today at http://www.lovelivemusic.ie/ and follow Love:Live Music on Twitter at @lovelivemusicIE
