With Other Voices set to invade the Co. Kerry town of Dingle this weekend, a special event is taking place at the legendary Paidi O’Sé’s pub in the heart of the West Kerry Gaeltacht.
Hosted by trad legend and podcaster Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, Power’s Golden Hours is an evening of songs and storytelling that will see the cream of Ireland’s vibrant trad scene - Cormac Begley, West Kerry Set Dancers, Junior Brother and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh - treating festival-goers to a celebration of the very best in Irish culture, accompanied by a tipple or two.
Tickets for the December 3rd event are on sale here and include return transport to and from Dingle.
We caught up with Kerry folk artist Junior Brother to mark the occasion.
1. What’s the music that you listened to growing up, that you still listen to today?
The Beatles, Barney the Dinosaur, Rod Stewart.
2. In three words, describe the minute before you walk on stage.
Ready For Liftoff.
3. How do you wind down after a gig?
If I’m lucky enough to have it, I will sit upon a nice couch and zone out for 10 minutes.
4. What’s the one song (by another artist) you wish you’d written or recorded first?
'How To Milk A Cow' by Richie Kavanagh.
5. What is your pet peeve?
Soft apples and close-mindedness.
6. Name one record, one book and one film that everyone should hear / read / see.
Record: 'The Punch Line' by The Minutemen
Book: 'Priestdaddy' by Patricia Lockwood
Film: 'The Passion Of Joan Of Arc', Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer (or, 'Vampyre', also by Carl Theodor Dreyer)
7. Pick the director and lead actor(s) for a biopic about your life.
Director: Michael Bay
Lead Actor: Susan Sarandon
8. You’re ordering take-away, what do you get?
I would order in a loud voice “take away all of this food ‘til I cook myself an auld bowl of chilli”.
9. Describe your perfect day off.
Hanging out with herself.
10. Tell us, in one sentence, why we should come to your next gig (whenever it may be.)
You will be a hero of the pub if you make an appearance. Close friendships will blossom abundantly amongst both acquaintances and foes at the event in question, only and absolutely only if you pop your head through the doors of the concert hall.
BONUS QUESTION: Recommend a podcast and tell us why we should subscribe to it.
Blúiríní Béaloidi's Folklore Podcast - a fantastic podcast from the National Folklore Collection of University College Dublin, with great insight and superb use of invaluable archival recordings.
BONUS ANSWER: Everyone must also listen to the podcast 'Tell Me a Story with Eddie Lenihan. Eddie is one of the great treasures of our island, and this podcast combines great production with the intimacy of a one-on-one encounter with the great seanchaí.
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Junior Brother plays Power's Golden Hours at Paidi O'Se's this Sunday, December 3rd.
