This Thursday, Other Voices will dedicate the final episode of its landmark twentieth series to the national treasure that is Damien Dempsey.
This one hour special revisits iconic performances from across two decades of Other Voices, going all the way back to his first appearance on series one. Having first played the show in December 2002, this unique and brilliant musician has performed on the Other Voices stage several times since. Damien returned to Dingle last November to bookend the festival’s twentieth-anniversary celebrations with a cathartic and emotional live performance in the Church of St James.
“I was reared on the singsong. Singing is very important to the human being. It’s meditative. When I sing, I feel better, when I write music, I feel better. Music is a part of the journey of healing trauma.”
Damien Dempsey
“Damien Dempsey sings with a heart full of soul. When he first travelled West on the road to Dingle twenty years ago he stood on the stage in the Church of St James and mesmerised everybody who was in that small room with his power and with his passion. This show marks out his journey as he made his life in song over two decades. His career-spanning set of songs at Other Voices this year was one of the most remarkable and affecting performances that I have ever seen.” Philip King, Other Voices Founder
The episode will feature highlights from his many performances as well as an intimate and powerful conversation with MayKay. Throughout the episode the pair reminisce on memories of Other Voices, discuss the critically acclaimed music documentary Love Yourself Today and explore his unique ability to provide healing through song.
“Damien Dempsey’s shows are like nothing else. And when people say that they’re healing, they’re not lying. It’s a bit like therapy. You get out of it what you put in and if you go to a Damo show with an open heart and mind, you’ll become a better person. Last December in Dingle was the first Other Voices that had crowds back again since Covid hit. We were all squished into St James’ Church together like fizzy sardines. It was emotional and uplifting and healing. He gives so much of himself every time and the cross-section of people that his words and music speak to is so incredible. This show was definitely a highlight for me and I’m sure for everyone else in the room. I think the Other Voices and Tiny Ark crew did an amazing job of capturing that for people watching at home. God Bless Damo.” MayKay, Other Voices Presenter
The episode will be available to watch worldwide via the RTÉ Player and on RTÉ2 in Ireland at 11pm on Thursday 19 May.
