COMPARED with the easy task of getting the Luas to Heuston Station and walking a few minutes to Forbidden Fruit, the trek to Open Ear may feel like a voyage too far.
But the underground weekender isn’t made for easy digestion. Set in the breathtaking Sherkin Island off West Cork, it’s a festival at the very edge of Ireland, and the outer limits of experimentation you’ll find at any Irish festival.
Since 2016, with the odd year off for Covid and rejuvenation, Open Ear is a no-bullshit, no commercial pandering celebration of thoughtful electronics, drones, outsider global folk, techno and whatever weird noise you’re willing to dance to at the edge of a cliff.
They don’t do big headliners, but there’s no stage clashes all weekend, and gigs covering the whole island, so technically you could tick off every act on the line-up.
The festival opened last night with a free performance from Syrian Kurd folk musician Mohammad Syfkhan, while other artists over the weekend include Kate Carr & David Donohoe, da Googie, Saturn Returns, Rustal, Hilary Woods, Ossia and loads more.
Moo Kid 