Docklands to stage weekend festival

Dublin Docklands plays host to a weekend music extravaganza as the 2008 Analog Festival kicks off tonight.

The Divine Comedy frontman Neil Hannon, Oscar-winning actor Tim Robbins and singer/songwriter Gavin Friday will be part of the Rogue’s Gallery concert opening the star-studded event this evening in Grand Canal Square.

Director Gore Verbinski and actor Johnny Depp initiated the Rogue’s Gallery on the set of the second 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie when they decided to produce a multi-artist CD of sea songs to accompany the film.

They approached producer Hal Willner to come up with a swashbuckling collection of stars such as Bono, Nick Cave, Sting, Jarvis Cocker, and Rufus Wainwright for the Rogue’s Gallery album.

Willner now brings his Rogues Gallery extravaganza to Dublin’s Docklands for its first performance in Europe.

The festival continues tomorrow with Tortoise, Efterklang and Liar and culminates with a free concert on Sunday featuring Taraf de Haidouks and Vinicius Cantuaria.