Usually I like to keep my working life and my private life completely separate, but something strange and new happened this year. And that something is Canalaphonic Music and Culture Festival.
Next Friday and Saturday, 8th and 9th May, Canalaphonic will take place in the Portobello / Rathmines area. It’s mainly a music festival, but it also includes, comedy, poetry, spoken word, film, markets, kids area and tours. When we decided in Dublin City Council (my employer) that we were going to organise a festival in the Rathmines area we knew that the Grand Canal would be a focal point. It’s such a beautiful amenity. So Canalaphonic was born.
Myself and work colleague Sid Daly have been working flat out on this for months and we think that it’s going to be great. But there’s still plenty to do in this last week. We’re like swans on the canal – outwardly we look serene, even laid back, but under the surface we’re paddling frantically. Along with us we’ve worked with fellow City Council community worker Rob Chester, lecturer and poet Michael O’Dea from Rathmines College, and the ever-excellent Mick Kinahan of the Dublin branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (who, among many other things, organised the barge which will act as stage at Portobello Harbour next Friday and Saturday).
But I think the turning point for the event was when Sid connected us to Dave Judge of Abner Browns Barbershop. Dave’s energy, enthusiasm and his limitless connections within the music business in Dublin has enabled him to programme the best of independent and unsigned acts in the country for Canalaphonic.
Please check out the programme for the festival here. With two outdoor stages and twenty two other venues around Rathmines over the two days there’s bound to be something there to float your boat!
I’ll be reading some poetry at Rathmines Library at 2pm on Saturday 9th May, along with some guests, fellow Hibernian Poets and others.
I’ll post an update after the event, but in the meantime I hope to see you all there at the weekend!
I wish you every success with the festival Brian and good luck in your poetry reading. It is great to see you being published so widely.
Best wishes,
James
http://www.jameslawless.net