Irish music acts Seo Linn, Mundy, Hot House Flowers, Altan, Kíla, and TG Lurgan were announced as the headline acts for Ireland’s newest summer music festival, which is centered around the Irish language.
Ravelóid (a play on the Irish word “réabhlóid” meaning revolution) is Ireland’s latest music festival launched by RTÉ 2fm Presenter Eoghan McDermott on Wednesday, Dec 9.
Seo Linn started out in Coláiste Lurgan and made its name by putting an Irish spin on many popular tunes, as well as coming out with their own Irish language songs.
You may not know that they are not alone.
The bands listed above, as well as the other Ravelóid headline acts announced on Wednesday—Delorentos, The Riptide Movement, Ham Sandwich, Heathers, Bréag, Mo Hat Mo Gheansaí, The Bunnymen, Na Firéin, Gráinne Holland and Boss Sound Manifesto—are just a few of those involved in the growing revolution of new music in Irish.
Ravelóid will bring all of these acts together in an exciting new music and culture festival placing the Irish language at the center of the already thriving Irish summer festival scene.
Taking place at Ardgillan Castle, Dublin from June 10 to June 11, 2016, Ravelóid has camping facilities for 5,000 attendees to enjoy a dynamic mixture of contemporary and traditional music, comedy, dance, literature, discussions, and workshops taking place over five stages.
Never fear if you’re excited at the prospect of seeing all these bands but are worried about your Irish. Describing Ravelóid as something similar to popular Irish festival Body and Soul, organizer Tomaí Ó Conghaile said that everybody is welcome to attend and use as much Irish as they can.
“Ravelóid welcomes everyone to attend this electrifying event, the newest and most lively festival in the Irish language world that will celebrate and highlight the vibrancy and diversity of today’s Gaeilge culture,” Ó Conghaile said.
“Don’t worry, there won’t be an oral exam at the gate so come join us next summer and become a Ravelóidí!”
RTÉ 2fm broadcast live from the launch in Temple Bar and will be following the countdown to the festival weekend in 2016 as Kíla kicked off festivities and gave the crowd a taste of what they can expect in June.
Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, Presenter Eoghan McDermott said, “Ravelóid is definitely shaping up to be the most exciting addition to the Irish festival scene in years.
“What better way to celebrate the Irish language and our history as a country than a céilí at 3am in a forest after seeing The Riptide Movement, Seo Linn and so much more live on stage?!”.
Not only will the festival place the language at the heart of modern Irish culture, it will also be the biggest Irish language event of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.
The program, led by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys T.D, is year-long program throughout 2016 marking the centenary of the 1916 Rising and celebrating the developments that have taken place in Ireland in the past 100 years.
An Theanga Bheo (The Living Language) is one of the seven program strands outlined for 2016, focusing on the central place of Irish in the Irish Revolutionary period and the vibrant role it plays in Ireland today.
Many of the groups announced as Ravelóid headliners this week are also currently being celebrated by Irish language magazine Nós and their 2015 music awards.
Highlighting those musicians and bands creating new music in Irish, the Nós music awards are currently down to the shortlist stage with a panel of judges including Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Ben Ó Faoláin, Lynette Fay, Barbara Nic Dhonnacha and Ciarán Ó Meachair making the final call on Song of the Year (Amhrán na Bliana), Album of the Year [New Music] (Album na Bliana [Nichol]), Album of the Year [Traditional Music] (Album na Bliana [Ceol Traidisiúnta]), Video of the Year (Físeán na Bliana), Newcomer of the Year (Núíoasach na Bliana), and Band/Musician of the Year (Banna/Ceoltóir na Bliana), while the general public will vote on the Live Gig of the Year (Gig Bheo na Bliana).
The winners will be announced in a special ceremony in the Sugar Club in Dublin on Jan 6, 2016 and you can cast your own vote on the best live gig here.
With many more acts yet to be announced, you can follow the lead up to Ravelóid or get yourself a weekend Early Bird ticket for $109 (€99) at www.raveloid.ie. More artists are set to be revealed in 2016.
Tá an Ravelóid ag teacht. (The Ravelóid is coming.)
Seo é a chairde! An clár oifigiúil go dtí seo- Faigh do thicéad luathpraghas ar €99 anois - https://t.co/1fIbyqqznq pic.twitter.com/semb2XdLXK
— Ravelóid 2016 (@Raveloid) December 10, 2015
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