Sounds From A Safe Harbour 2025: Highlights from a fine weekend in Cork
Sounds From A Safe Harbour 2025 curators Cillian Murphy, Mary Hickson, Max Porter, Bryce Dessner, and Billy Mag Fhloinn. Picture: Bríd O'Donovan
Coming just 13 months after the passing of Cork musician and festival stalwart Eoin French (Talos), the first concert of this year’s festival was always going to be an emotional affair. It began with recordings of the Kilcully-man’s voice and continued with the likes of Ye Vagabonds, Lisa Hannigan, and Loah performing his music.
Tears flowed among the audience and backstage area when Brían French took to the stage and delivered a moving monologue about his brother. A fitting tribute all round.
Cillian Murphy has been involved in the biennial festival since it began back in 2015. But you may not have noticed. The Oscar-winner tended to keep a low profile, helping with the organisation behind the scenes and popping up as a punter at various gigs. It provided a chance to revisit Cork and re-engage with the local gigs world he was involved in before he became an actor. That changed a bit this year as the Ballintemple star stepped into the spotlight.
The higher profile was necessitated the European premiere of his powerful new film screened at the Arc Cinema, followed by a public Q&A at Cork Opera House. A masked Murphy also mingled incognito at the Opening Ritual on Thursday at Elizabeth Fort, and he even revived his DJ career with a set at the Pav on Saturday night.
Blindboy has been blazing a trail on the podcast front in recent years, but what became of his former sidekick Mr Chrome? We found out at the Kino on Saturday. “My name is Bobby Fingers and this is my first gig,” declared the bagless bearded wonder as he came on stage. The Limerick man has already built quite a following on YouTube with his surreal remakings of famous celebrity scenes, and now he’s taking it live.
Bobby and his band do a nice line in Shannon-enfused lounge sounds and amusing songs, and along the way we also get live clay model-making, readings from his erotic novel and a lengthy interlude where he wanders through the crowd selling copies of the book. A bit haphazard, but also a bit fun. Highlight of the evening? A rendition of Rubberbandits’ classic,
Another gig that turned the fun-factor up to 11 was Sounds From A Honky Tonk at Cyprus Avenue on Sunday afternoon. Swedish singer Amanda Bergman was joined by a rotating cast of guest singers for takes on the great American country music songbook. A karaoke-like singalong included stellar performances from the likes of The Staves and La Force. Other highlights included David Kitt and Caroline Rose duetting on and Victoria Canal’s rendition of
U2 bassist Adam Clayton was at the Triskel to host the Q&A with Dónal Lunny following the screening of the impressive documentary, about the trad music legend. The evening also featured music from Lunny himself, accompanied by his old mucker Andy Irvine, and a number of younger musicians.
English rockers Black Country New Road impressed at a sweltering Cyprus Avenue on Sunday with their first ever gig in Cork.
Another gig getting rave reviews from the lucky ones who attended was the combined forces of Róis, Crash Ensemble, and Rachael Lavelle at the Pav.
As well as the Talos tribute and the 37D03d Mixtape, the festival’s collaborative ethos shone at the Sirens event at Shandon. Theodora Byrne’s choral arrangements took flight on the voices of female artists such as Lisa Hannigan, Beth Orton, and Niamh Regan. Roll on 2027.
