Imagining Ireland
Since 2016, 'Imagining Ireland' has brought the best of Irish music, spoken word, and poetry to a new audience and continued to highlight some of the best contemporary music that Ireland had to offer. This year, the event marked the beginning of the largest-ever program of global St. Patrick's Day celebrations. 'Imagining Ireland' was created by the National Concert Hall (NCH), produced by Serious Events, and supported by Culture Ireland.
Irish artists
Sorcha Richardson took on the role of curation after a fantastic event in 2023 led by James Vincent McMorrow. The indie-folk star, who has collaborated with Ellie Goulding and toured with Villagers, stands out through her narrative songwriting, weaving lyrics into cinematic scenes for the audience, and took on the challenge of selecting a small number of artists from the many exciting acts that Ireland has to offer.
Performing alongside Sorcha, the bill included Ye Vagabonds, who performed pieces from their celebrated album ‘Nine Waves’, as well as Susan O’Neill, whose timeless voice and unique stylings have seen her earn nominations for the Choice Music prize and the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.
Here’s a quick look back at the fantastic ‘Imagining Ireland’ concert in the @BarbicanCentre that kicked off 2024’s #StPatricksDay festivities!
— Embassy of Ireland (@IrelandEmbGB) March 11, 2024
Supported by @culture_ireland, @NCH_Music & @Seriouslive the event showcased some of the most exciting acts on the Irish music scene! pic.twitter.com/G6LlrlsQQ5
Rising star of Irish R&B Aby Coulibaly brought her distinctive mix of ‘90s beats, insightful lyrics, and buttery vocals, while MOIO, who has established himself as a leading force in the emerging Irish Creative community, wowed the crowd with his soulful alternative R&B.
Rachael Lavelle captivated the audience on the night too, with tracks from her existential coming-of-age album ‘Big Dream’ that showcased her ability to combine an arresting vocal style with humorous observations on existence.
'Imagining Ireland 2024 playlist'
If you couldn’t be there for the gig or you just want to relive what was a fantastic evening check out this great playlist from Sorcha Richardson on Spotify featuring all of the artists who made it such an unforgettable night!