Wired at Kilkenny Arts Festival

About the Curator

When not lecturing in film at Dublin Business School, studying for his PhD at Trinity College Dublin or playing with musical ensemble 3epkano, Matthew Nolan can usually be found in Kilkenny. He has appeared at the Arts Festival and began curating the WIRED strand last year. Dublin-based ensemble 3epkano specialise in producing original and innovative soundtracks for films from the silent movie era. Critically acclaimed for their headline shows in Ireland and the US, 3epkano have also been commissioned to produce new music for such prestigious institutions as the National Gallery of Ireland, Film Society of Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. They have released two albums to date.

Wired Programme

This year’s WIRED strand is another eclectic mix of the old, the new, and the occasionally weird. The first weekend kicks off with the great Cathal Coughlan, whose band of old, The Fatima Mansions, formed the soundtrack to my youth. It continues with a musician whose craft has generated nothing but superlatives in recent months: James Vincent McMorrow, and closes with The Sea and Cake, surely one of the finest US bands of the last 10 years, featuring the peerless John McEntire of Tortoise. On Thursday evening the sublimely talented Agnes Obel takes the stage for what may well turn out to be the gig of the year, while on Friday Emmy the Great introduces Kilkenny to her strange and wonderful world. That night brings two legends of experimental and avant-garde music together as Jaki Liebezeit (of Can fame) and his ensemble Drums Off Chaos collaborate with the composer and sound artist Philip Jeck to create what will surely be one of the most exhilarating shows of the festival. Gemma Hayes performs her uniquely captivating songs in St John's Priory, and WIRED closes with one of my idols (must be careful not to gush here): San Francisco’s Mark Kozelek, who plays his achingly beautiful compositions in the hallowed surroundings of St Canice’s. I hope to see you at every show!

View the 2011 Wired Programme