Kilkenny village to host two-day Lúnasa celebration of music, dance and cinema
Keep Her Lit’s two-day gathering in Kells will feature Vincent Moon, the Len Collective, Irish and Palestinian dance traditions and a host of community events...
The scenic village of Kells in County Kilkenny will host the Keep Her Lit ‘Lúnasa Gathering’ on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, with two days of music, song, dancing, walks and live cinema to mark the beginning of the harvest season.
The programme begins on Saturday evening with French filmmaker Vincent Moon’s ‘Live Cinema’ at a secret outdoor location at sunset.
The event, beginning at 9pm, is described as an entirely improvised outdoor cinema experience and an immersive visual and sonic journey drawing on Moon’s library of music film recordings from around the world.
Moon is an independent French filmmaker who made a name for himself as a music video director for indie bands including REM and The National.
He will be joined by guest musician Méabh McKenna, a multi-instrumental sound artist who uses harp, voice, electronics and percussion. Her live performances bring together traditional, classical and early music with contemporary and electronic elements.
Sunday’s programme begins at 11am with the ‘Living Threads River Walk’, starting from Kells Priory car park.
The €5 walk and workshop will follow the Kings River and explore relationships between landscapes and rivers and the connections between living things.
Activities will include making nettle cordage, sharing stories and reflecting on people’s relationship with place.
At 1pm, The Len Collective will perform as part of a family-friendly trad picnic on the island at Mullins Mill.
The daytime concert will feature traditional Irish music, singing and dancing and is open to all ages. Tickets are €15/€5 plus booking fee.
Those attending are invited to bring a blanket and picnic or get a treat at the Kings Mill café.
A ‘Dabke and Set Dancing Workshop’ will take place at Kells Community Hall at 3.30pm.
Hosted by Mustafa Alsaidi and County Clare fiddle player and dancer Louise O’Connor, it will include lessons in set dancing and dabke before bringing the two traditions together.
Alsaidi, originally from Gaza, founded Belfast Dabke to carry on the tradition of his people and family in his new home in Belfast. The workshop is open to all levels and costs €5 plus booking fee.
The Keep Her Lit Community Céilí follows at Kells Community Hall at 5.30pm. Louise O’Connor of Lasta Dance will facilitate the céilí, with music from The Len Collective. It is open to complete beginners, improvers and experienced dancers, with tickets costing €5 plus booking fee.
The weekend programme concludes with a free traditional music session at Motte & Bailey at 7pm. Open to musicians and listeners, the gathering will feature tunes, songs and stories.
Further details and bookings are available through Keep Her Lit on Eventbrite, while updates are also available from @keepherlitfestival on social media.