This November, we head home to Dingle to celebrate 25 years of Draíocht sa Ríocht / Magic in the Kingdom. Other Voices returns from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November for its 25th edition: three days of music, song and story on the edge of the Atlantic.
Today, we’re announcing the first six artists heading for the hallowed stage of St. James’ Church. From The Waterboys’ anthemic folk-rock to Brìghde Chaimbeul’s intricate Scottish smallpipes, Gilla Band’s uncompromising noise, Julia Jacklin’s intimate songwriting, Lambrini Girls‘ punk fury and Knats‘ infectious jazz grooves, it’s a line-up that captures the spirit of Other Voices: artists who do things their own way, brought together under one very small roof.
What better way to celebrate 25 years than to welcome THE WATERBOYS back to St James’ Church? Few bands have written the west of Ireland into their DNA quite like Mike Scott’s, from the mythic sweep of Fisherman’s Blues to the forever-anthem that is The Whole of the Moon. Seeing them in a church this size? That’s something else.
Dublin’s GILLA BAND have spent the last decade tearing up the rulebook for guitar music. Loud, abrasive, unpredictable and completely their own thing, they’re guaranteed to make their presence felt in St. James’.
Australian singer-songwriter JULIA JACKLIN writes songs that are wry, tender and devastatingly honest. Her St. James’ debut promises to be one of those moments that stops a room in its tracks. Check out The Hardest Thing from brand new LP The Gem.
Brighton punks LAMBRINI GIRLS don’t do subtle. Furious, funny and fiercely political, their riotous live shows are not to be missed. Dingle won’t know what hit it. Check out their ferocious latest single Bang Bang Bang.
Newcastle jazz collective KNATS pair bass and drums with irresistible grooves, swagger and a whole lot of joy. Check out their performance of Never Gonna Be A Boxer on Later… Jools Holland.
From the Isle of Skye, BRÌGHDE CHAIMBEUL takes the Scottish smallpipes in unexpected directions, blending traditional tunes with drones and intricate textures.
And that’s just the first six. More Church artists and details of the wider festival programme will be announced in the coming weeks.
Performances from St. James’ Church will feature in a 25th anniversary series of Other Voices, broadcasting in early 2027. They will also stream live via Other Voices YouTube, with a small number of golden tickets to the Church recordings available through competitions to be announced soon.
Philip King, Founder of Other Voices:
“When we began Other Voices in the little Church of St James on Dingle’s Main Street, little did we think this notion of taking a photograph of Ireland’s musical life would endure for 25 years.
“Much has changed in that quarter century, and the artists and musicians in all of their diversity, who have travelled to the Dingle, have given us a store of songs: a soundtrack of what it feels like to live in a world of profound change.
“We owe those 25 years to a number of agencies, to our supporters and the magnificent team who bring Other Voices from Dingle to the world. We look forward to welcoming you at the end of November to share in this special year.”
The road to Dingle begins in Dublin, with Other Voices: Home at the Guinness Storehouse on Sunday, 8 November. From St. James’s Gate to St. James’ Church, the celebrations are just getting started. More info on this year’s Other Voices Home here.
THE JAMESON MUSIC TRAIL RETURNS
The Jameson Music Trail takes over Dingle’s pubs, cafés and venues, with emerging artists playing across the town all weekend. With everyone from Fontaines D.C. to Dermot Kennedy and CMAT cutting their teeth there, the Music Trail is where you’re bound to stumble upon your next favourite band.
Alannah Thornburgh · Avenue 68 · BABYRAT · black nylon · BUKKY · Burglar · CABL · Child of Prague · Danny Murphy · Daragh Fleming x Throwing Snow · echo northstar · Esmeralda Road · How I Became A Wave · John Blek · Junk Drawer · KK Lewis · Maicín · McGrath · mischa and the bear · Múlú · Nell Mescal · New Jackson · Officer John · Piaras Ó Lorcáin · PORTS · Robocobra Quartet · Roisín Gowen · Róisín El Cherif · Rory Sweeney · Rua Rí · Search Results · Sei Green · SELL EVERYTHING · SHAMROCK SHOWBAND · Shark School · Smithereens · State of Grace · telekura · The Railway Boys · Roofcats · Yunè Pinku
Jameson Music Trail tickets go on general sale from 12pm on Friday 23 October via Eventbrite. Expect them to be snapped up!
NEED A LIFT? DINGLE COACHES HAVE YOU COVERED
Staying elsewhere on the peninsula? Dingle Coaches will run a special Other Voices bus service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, with routes heading both east and west of Dingle. Find routes and ticket information HERE.
IRELAND’S EDGE: IDIR AN DÁ LINN / MEAN TIME
Other Voices’ festival of ideas, Ireland’s Edge, returns to the Dingle Skellig Hotel on 27–28 November, bringing together artists, thinkers, makers and activists. This year’s theme, Idir an Dá Linn (“in the meantime”), explores the space between what is passing and what is yet to emerge.
The first speakers include Aisling Bea, Irvine Welsh, Gwenno, Carole Cadwalladr, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, The New York Times’ Malachy Browne and Sophia Smith Galer, with more to be announced. Ireland’s Edge tickets are on sale now via Eventbrite.
TICKETS TO ST. JAMES’ CHURCH
Access to the intimate TV recordings at St. James’ Church is by competition only, through Other Voices and partners’ social media and digital channels. Performances and highlights from the weekend will be available across RTÉ television, radio and the RTÉ Player with more details to follow. It will also be streamed live into venues around Dingle and via Other Voices YouTube.
Other Voices 2026 is made possible with the support of Reed, Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, RTÉ, Walls Construction, Dingle Skellig & Benners Hotels, Kerry County Council & IMRO. This year’s Music Trail is made possible thanks to an ongoing partnership with Jameson / Irish Distillers.