The Triumph of Art
The Playhouse, Derry / Londonderry
From May 2024
The Playhouse, Derry / Londonderry
19 April – Derry-Londonderry – The Triumph of Music
Beginning at our lead partner The Playhouse, a procession of characters drawn from traditional folklore and recent rave history made their way through the walled city.
The Armagh Rhymers playing traditional instruments were accompanied by The Playhouse Young Artists Programme, wearing bespoke wicker heads by Bob Johnston that took inspiration from archetypes of the early 90s dance floors and rave culture. This merry band of mischief-makers travelled through the shopping centre and streets into Guildhall Square.
Paddy Bloomer’s Music Barn provided the venue for bands from Youth Engagement Service (YES) who performed their hits to a room full of music enthusiasts.
Under the watchful gaze of Derry’s past Lord Mayors, Jonny Delaney (The Fully Automatic Model) created a ‘hands on music space’, demystifying the creative process behind decks and mixing, projections, theremins and home-made instruments.
'The City Samplers', a collective of Derry music producers, showed us what they had created over 8 weeks in the Celtronic studio incorporating a suite of historical instruments into a live performance featuring live vocals, guitars and samples, all creating a truly unforgettable soundtrack.
Rounding off the event, 'The Floorfillers', a new supergroup formed from the Londonderry Bands Forum and Britannia Brass Band, played classic rave samples on brass and flutes, realised through the arrangements of Michael Doherty, with Maurice Kelly as Musical Director and David McGuckin on the Guildhall’s organ.
5/5
Derry has an unparalleled reputation as a global city of music, and it was a privilege to share this journey with the artists and communities who collaborated to make 'The Triumph of Music'.
Find out about more Triumph of Art partners.