Griff, Kae Tempest, Yard Act, CMAT, Villagers, Gurriers, ØXN, Julie Byrne, and more to feature in Other Voices Series 22 this Spring
RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player | Thursdays from 29 February | 11.00pm/11.30pm
Other Voices, Ireland’s lauded televised music show, returns to RTÉ this February with a series of extraordinary performances and conversations filmed in Dingle, Cork and West Wales.
Presented by veteran BBC Broadcasters Annie Macmanus, Huw Stephens as well and Fight Like Apes frontwoman and longstanding Other Voices host MayKay, the brand new six-part series will showcase the trailblazing talents of some of the most thrilling Irish and international artists on the current music scene; with exclusive intimate performances by Griff, Kae Tempest, The Murder Capital, Villagers, BC Camplight, Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhriain, CMAT, ØXN, Gurriers, Mick Flannery, Julie Byrne, The Joy, KhakiKid, Niamh Bury, Qbanaa and Lucy McWilliams.
Ahead of her 3Olympia Theatre headline show on March 26th this year, UK pop sensation Griff delivers an unmissable set during her first visit to Dingle. After visiting Curran’s Pub for chats with Annie Macmanus, the 23-year-old star had St James’ Church captivated with hits like ‘Black Hole’, ‘Vertigo’ and an emotional rendition of her latest single ‘Astronaut’.
Another international highlight comes from revered poet, rapper, and playwright Kae Tempest, who finally makes it to Dingle after 13 years of the Other Voices team knocking at their door. “It feels like I’ve arrived at the perfect time,” the Londoner told St James’ Church, before delivering a breathtaking performance that West Kerry will surely never forget.
On 29 February, the series kicks off with a storming performance by BRIT Award nominee and reigning RTÉ Choice Music Prize winner CMAT, who brings her boundless star presence to the Church for the very first time after performing at Other Voices twice previously. Also in episode one we will see highlights from Cork songsmith Mick Flannery who joins us to play songs from his excellent eighth album Goodtime Charlie, Dublin-born, London-based singer-songwriter on the rise Lucy McWilliams and mesmerising vocal group The Joy who made the pilgrimage all the way from South Africa.
Later in the series, Other Voices will share highlights from Other Voices Cardigan 2023, including captivating sets from Mercury Prize nominees Yard Act, pioneering Scottish folk artist King Creosote, history-making Welsh rock four-piece Adwaith, extraordinary triple harpist Cerys Hafana and more. Yard Act’s anticipated new album Where’s My Utopia will land on March 1 via Republic, with the band debuting fresh tracks on Other Voices.
We’ll also see a jaw-dropping performance from BRIT’s Rising Star 2024 nominee Sekou filmed in Cork. The soulful 19-year-old released his debut EP ‘Out Of Mind’ last year, featuring breakout hit ‘Better Man’ – which scored him a slot on Jools Holland following his Other Voices debut. Incredible sets from Picture This, Bricknasty, Niamh Regan, Cardinals and Wallis Bird were also captured at Other Voices UCC in Cork.
Throughout the series, Other Voices continues to celebrate what’s about to happen, with some of Ireland’s brightest new voices including Dublin alt-rap sensation KhakiKid, Claddagh Records’ folk star Niamh Bury, hypnotic singer-songwriter Lucy McWilliams and Dublin-based Cuban neo-soul artist Qbanaa taking to the IMRO Other Room stage, which was filmed in immersive venue WAVE Dingle for the first time.
Other Voices Founder Philip King, heaped praise on this year’s performers, saying: “Some of the best music I have ever heard is being made and minted in these Islands right now. The music collapses distance and brings us together. If you want a sense of what it feels like to be living in these times of change and turbulence, listen to these remarkable Other Voices who write and sing from their lived experience and share their joys and sorrows in a series of emotional and passionate performances.”
Co-host and fellow musician MayKay added: “I always think that we’ve seen the best season of OV and then the next year it gets better. Kae Tempest with Colm Mac Con Iomaire, The Joy & Gurriers were pinch-me moments from Dingle and UCC is becoming our second home. Always more magic.”
Other Voices begins on Thursday 29 February at 11pm on RTÉ2 and will be available worldwide on the RTÉ Player.
Other Voices 2023 was made possible thanks to the support of Reed, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, RTÉ, Kerry County Council and IMRO Ireland.
