Plain sailing for The National as they prepare to play in Cork

Bryce Dessner tells Ed Power why his band are so happy to be involved in the Sounds From A Safe Harbour festival in Cork

THIS weekend one of the biggest bands in the world begin their world tour at Cork Opera House. With a capacity of about 1,000. the venue overlooking the River Lee is a tenth the size of the arenas The National usually play. Moreover, when they step on stage on Saturday it will be to debut material from their new LP, Sleep Well Beast — rightly hailed as among the group’s strongest yet. In all sorts of ways, having them in Cork is a coup.

So what brings an outfit routinely, if reductively, described as the “American Radiohead” to the city? For the answer, look over the shoulder of frontman Matt Berninger, to guitarist Bryce Dessner.