Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
One of our mutantspace members set up the wonderful Medicine Sessions last year in Lismore, County Waterford, Ireland. It’s been a wonderful success, with all manner of musicians and poets lightening up that part of the country, and I really hope it continues to go from strength to strength. So here’s a tribute to the event by Vicky, the wonderful organiser, promoter, programmer and doer. And no matter what she says to create space out of nothing, to keep going no matter what requires gumption, passion, care and a huge heart.
One year, hundreds of audience members through the doors, genres including blues, folk, classical, electro, avant garde, experimental, jazz, rock and roll, trad, pop, singer songwriter and grunge, spoken words in the form of street, beat, contemporary, monologue and conversational and a platform for 26 performers (some with repeat visits) and a donation bucket that has raised approximately €1,200 for performers. The Medicine Sessions has exceeded expectations in its first year of life. From the tentative baby steps this time last year, to the now, steady confident stomps, it is starting to play with all its best friends in the playground of original music platforms.
To be honest, The Medicine Sessions has been easier to set up than I expected, if anyone is contemplating organising something similar, I would say do it! If you have a modicum of common sense and the ability to always treat performers considerately, then you have the ability to organise a new music event. Bands are not as untouchable as you’d first think, the amount of talent out there and particularly in Cork, is astounding and every single performer we’ve had through the door has been completely delightful! No bolshy egos, no demanding silliness, just really sound people who want to share bits of their souls with others. We have been particularly blessed with the venue we have too, which has gone a long way to creating a great night. The Red House Inn has buckets of history and charisma, the right amount of shabbiness, dodgy smell and proper country pub welcome.
The plan for this coming year? Well, a festival has been mulled over, but I may need to do some serious planning before that can happen, so that particular dream will probably be shelved until 2014. This year I’ll just be happy to get on board some keen audio visual people, who can make an excellent recording for the performers. I would love to be able to offer this as part of the thank-you. It only seems fair that if you cannot offer a guaranteed payment, that you at least try and provide an equivalent in other ways in the form of promotional material. Massive thanks to all the performers who have appeared at The Medicine Sessions so far, you have all been incredible!
MUSICIANS
Áine Duffy
The Grunts
North Side Drive
Dimitry Datus
Horsemen Pass By
Stuart Wilde
Vita
Catherine Cunningham
Rob Carlile
The Buachaills
Goldfish Syndrome
Matthew Tull
Polly Barrett
Foxglove
Cormac O Caoimh
Bren O Ruaidh
Fear Stalks The Land
Torcán
SPOKEN WORD
Phil Lynch
Peadar O Donoghue
Fergus Costello
Stephen Murray
Gary Baus
Rab Urquhart
Joe Power
Niamh Bagnell