we're off to Brittany (not Britney) festival

This time next week the gang of us will have settled into our away-base at LES VIEILLES CHARRUES music festival in BRITTANY. What began 16 years ago as a 'smidgeeen' of a community project has grown into one of the largest musical events in Europe - certainly the biggest in France. It attracts in excess of 150,000 over the course of the July weekend.

According to French newspaper LE MONDE it has somehow managed to 'preserve the friendly chilled-out atmosphere of its beginnings' despite it's remarkable growth.

This is our maiden-voyage to this particular festival so we're trusting Le Monde and the gang of festival hounds we hooked-up with at the ROCK-EN-SEINE FESTIVAL in PARIS last August. We were taken under the wing of an amazing BRETON posse who extended us the hospitality you'd reserve for long-lost brothers. They raved about the unique atmosphere of their festival and made us sign contracts (in blood!) that we'd re-group there - so we're on our way! (Fre and Gabriel flew over and celebrated KATEANN's birthday with us last Easter at CLOMANTAGH CASTLE in KILKENNY.)

What's more Kateann, RÓNÁN and SÚLÁN - who'll be touring around CZECH-GERMANY-FRANCE-SPAIN this month - are taking a detour to join our crew in Brittany!

The festival boasts three of the biggest stages in Europe and is well-known for its somewhat eclectic mix of performers. It's an event thrown in true Breton style; that Celtic sense of diversity, welcoming with open-arms and absence of pretense appears at the heart of the festival’s success so I know we'll feel very much at home.

BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS, MORCEEBA, ETIENNE DAHO, THE KOOKS, SEBASTIAN, THE HIVES, CHRISTOHE MAY, THE WOMBATS, YEAL NAIM, BABYSHAMBLES, MOTORHEAD, ZZ TOP, TONY CLIFTON CIRCUS, QUALITE STREET and on, and on the line-up goes!

RYANAIR fly:
BREST from DUBLIN & LONDON
DINARD from LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, BRISTOL, EAST MIDLANDS
NANTES from DUBLIN, SHANNON, LONDON, BOURNEMOUTH, LIVERPOOL
AERLINGUS fly to RENNES

Further info, line-up, local travel connections:
Les Vieilles Charrues (Carhaix, Brittany)
3 day ticket incl camping €72
4 day ticket incl camping €95

Book tickets at: www.digitick.com
Less expensive at: www.elca-services.ch

get to that exhibition today

Checked out the 5m2 project yesterday, get yourself up there before it finishes later today. We caught live music performances, a puppet show and drama. It was a really well put-together show, never a dull moment.

I bumped into my old italian teacher, FRANCESCA, from the cultural institute - it turns out she was exhibiting and also one of the show's 3 curators.

We spent hours at the show and then shot across to PIEDESCALSO at the top of the street. We ordered and watched the rain pelt down - a surreal day. SÚLÁN chose the vegetarian pasta with home-made pesto, pine nuts and parmasean cheese which he loved, KATEANN had the veg anti-pasto, EOGHAN ordered home-made ravioli and I opted for an authentic carbonara which exceeded my expectations.

The guys were a bit swamped so service was on the slow side, but we were in no rush and it added to the random, relaxed atmosphere. They serve the best tiramisu in Dublin!

5m2 Art Project this weekend ONLY

DELLA writes to let us know about an interesting creative event taking place for two days only this Saturday and Sunday (5th & 6th June).

'5m2' is a week-end of exhibitions and performances which will run from 12:00 until late, near CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL in DUBLIN city centre. It's described as a multimedia event of art, music and exhibitions which will encompass approximately fifty artists including musicians from different countries and backgrounds, painters, photographers, writers, actors, poets, comedians, filmakers and dancers. There will also be a space for screening short films.

The title of the project comes from the fact that both visual artists and performers have each been allocated a space of 5 square metres to do their 'thang'.

Keep an eye out for ENDA CAVANAGH who'll be exhibiting over the weekend. Enda just launched his new venture with a website of architectural photography and landscapes. In a couple of weeks it'll be possible to securely-buy original framed prints on-line at www.endacavanagh.com). I saw in the summer-solstice dawn with Enda, FIDELMA, KATEANN and CONOR down at the SPENCER TUNICK photo shoot at RINGSEND a few weeks back - RONAN modelled, we were the back-stage crew.

5m2 is organized by three Italian artists living in Dublin: ALBERTO GARIGLIO, FRANCESCA LaMORGIA, and SARA RANIERI.

Expect a day sprinkled with all sorts of music and spontaneous performances - why not mosey along and show your support for these newcomers.

LA CATEDRAL STUDIOS are in the BACK LOFT on ST. AUGUSTINE STREET which is off THOMAS STREET near Christ Church Cathedral. It could be a perfect opportunity to check out PIEDESCALSO cafe while you're at it!

Support the sponsors:
INSTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA
ARUP
PIEDESCALSO

5m2 Art Project (Five Square Meters Art Project)
THE BACK LOFT
c/o La Catedral Studios
7-11 ST. Augustine St.
Dublin 08
www.5m2.weebly.com

Exhibtion runs for two days only: 5-6 July, 2008

ECB raised interest rates, as expected

As we expected the European Central Bank raised interest rates by a quarter percentage-point today - it brings benchmark rates to 4.25 per cent, the highest since September 2001. The ECB acted because euro-zone inflation rose to 4 per cent last month, while the bank's medium-term goal is just over the 2 per cent mark.

Based on this borrowers would see their monthly repayments increase: by roughly €15 for every €100,000 borrowed on a 20-year mortgage, and around €16 per €100,000 on a 30-year term.

This presumes that lenders will pass-on the increase, in-full, to mortgage holders. Although this is the most likely scenario a strong case could be made for restraint and imagination by the banks.

A phased-in increase would unquestionably hurt their profit-margins in the short-term but I'd say look at the longer-term, weather this storm and facilitate a speedier return to profitability.

There are already some very stretched borrowers around who need another month or two to grieve for the times they naively thought were rock-solid and to adjust for increased costs with scaled-down lifestyles.

While 0.25% may sound small it will be read in the context of a further 0.25% looming in the wings for next quarter. An unwise move now could prove to be the straw that broke the camel's ailing back - it would be hara-kiri to trigger a wave of repossessions which would serve to tear the value off the thousands of properties the banks, in reality, own.

Not only that but it would the economy's recovery on ice for at least a further 12 months ..and by recovery I mean a return to sustainable levels of borrowing (ie. increased turnover for the banks). However what makes this difficult to balance is that even before today's increase they were already borrowing at much higher levels to service their own debts.

While staggering or passing-on a smaller increase (by narrowing the margin-of profit they add to the ECB base-rate) may appear to counter-act the ECB's action against inflation I'd hedge my bets that that cloud hanging over-head would have the desired effect of slowing spending down ...take note credit-card addicts!!

If I were Brian Cowan that's the argument I'd have put to the bank chiefs last week. I might also have phoned my buddies in IRISH INDEPENDENT NEWPAPERS and told them to keep pushing the 'things are getting bad' line in a further effort to cool-down spending.

Progressive Film Club screenings

Thanks to Manus for the following:

PROGRESSIVE FILM CLUB (in association with ACCESS CINEMA) are a voluntary organisation dedicated to showing progressive films from all over the world. Struggles for people’s rights, for the rights of workers, of immigrants, of women, for national liberation and for social justice are some of the themes of the outstanding films shortlisted, most of them never shown before in Ireland.

Sunday 6 July 2008
7:30 p.m
WEST BEYROUTH (1998)

Directed by ZIAD DOUEIRI
In April 1975 civil war breaks out; BEIRUT is partitioned along a Muslim-Christian line. TAREK is in secondary school, making super-8 films with his friend, OMAR. At first the war is a lark: school has closed, the violence is fascinating, getting from West to East is a game . . . As Tarek comes of age, the war moves inexorably from adventure to tragedy.
In Arabic and French, with English subtitles.


Sunday 13 July 2008
7:30 p.m
WATER (2005)

Directed by DEEPA MEHTA
A compelling film that explores the role of women in traditional Indian society. It is set in the 1930s, when Hindu widows were often condemned to live in an ashram or “widows’ house,” where they led a life of little comfort and little hope. But some rebelled, including eight-year-old CHUYIA, who becomes a widow after the death of her elderly husband.

Screenings: Sunday evenings
the NEW THEATRE
East Essex Street (Entrance through Connolly Books.)
Bookings: (01) 670870 ...or arrive early to pay at the door
Further information: info@proressivefilmclub.ie

proposal to close all nightclubs at 02.30

Nightclubs would close much earlier as part of the Government’s Liquor Licensing Bill 2008. This Bill, expected to be introduced before July 3rd 2008, will close every late night venue, nationwide, at 2.30am everynight, and at the earlier hour of 1am on Sundays. These will be the latest possible opening hours.In response to the proposed changes a public demonstration will take place this Wednesday, July 2nd, from 13:00 - 14:00 in front of DAIL EIREANN gates on KILDARE STREET.

The demonstration is being organised by GIVE US THE NIGHT - an independent group of professionals from the music industry (set-up in 2004) campaigning to bring about changes to the licensing laws in Ireland.

Currently in Dublin, at weekends, pubs stop serving alcohol at 12.30am, late bars stop serving at 2.30am, and Nightclubs and Theatre Bars [operating under Theatre Licenses] stop serving at 3.30am. The pending Bill removes the later hours of trading afforded by the Theatre Licenses, meaning every late bar, every nightclub and every theatre bar will stop serving at 2.30am 6 nights a week and 1am on Sundays. [no exceptions]

Elsewhere in Ireland, in an increasing number of counties, local District and Circuit Courts are imposing blanket early closures on licensed premises, which effectively means they close earlier typically 2am.

There is no research/statistics to support that imposing artificially early closing hours on licensed premises will improve public order. To the contrary, international reports show that Sequential Closing of Licensed premises is a viable tool for reducing public disorder. [UK Institute of Alcohol Studies].

The system of 3.30am closing in Dublin (as it currently stands for nightclubs using theatre licences) has been contributing to sequential closing between late bars and nightclubs, thus having a positive effect on the streets at night, leading to less public disorder and making public transport easier to come by for patrons.

Throughout Wednesday's demonstration some of the Dublin’s most well known DJs will perform - a number of speakers are also scheduled to appear.

Further info from: info@giveusthenight.com
Tel: 00353 857128165
www.giveusthenight.com

Bon Iver and Radiohead gigs

BON IVER is the stage and recording name of indie folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. His independently-released debut album, FOR EMMA, FOREVER AGO, mostly recorded during four months in a remote cabin in WISCONSIN, was received to critical acclaim, and subsequently picked up by indie-rock label JAGJAGUWAR, which re-released it in early 2008. During the JUNE bank holiday Monday we caught his trio perform in TRIPOD ..thanks to the fact that MICHÉAL gave me what is a great album the previous week.

In the UK, Emma received 5/5 and "Album of the Month" reviews in both UNCUT magazine and MOJO which said '...it's like a skin that has been shed...despite the wilderness, introspection and hermit mystique that characterises this mucis 'For Emma, forever ago' ..reaches out and demands attention. It is a powerful act of transformation, isolation doesn't get more splendid than this'.

Bon Iver supported IRON & WINE at the Kentish Town Forum, London, in May 2008. I'd very highly recommend checking-out his appearance on LATER...WITH JOOLS HOLLAND, he performs my favourite, SKINNY LOVE.

Thanks also to DREW who brough a crew of us to catch RADIOHEAD perform in MALAHIDE CASTLE a few weeks back. It was a wicked gig and the lighting-design was something else - though it started off tame enough it belied what was pretty impressive technology behind the scenes. The skies held out nicely for Saturday's performance - the sets for both nights varied to the extent that I heard no complaints from hardened fans who compared notes from alternate nights.

AIB Street Performers World Championships

The AIB STREET PERFORMERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS was a great event in DUBLIN this weekend. The festival was mostly centred around MERRION SQUARE with more evening performances in the garden of DUBLIN CASLTE and CHESTER BEATTY LIBRARY.

A lot of credit goes to the gang who set-up the festival only two years ago, it's completely FREE (thanks to some sponsorship from AIB bank) and, of course, in the great tradition of street-art, the performers rely solely on the audience coughing-up.

We moseyed along to the Catle to catch the SPACE COWBOY - native of the funky BRYON BAY in OZ and reigning world champion for the last two years running. For his evening performance he varied the act ..this time instead of uni-cycling and sword-swallowing he did a live mind-reading act. A description is pointless but, trust me, it was mind-blowing and definitely not rigged.

During his daytime show at the Square he'd suggested the audience bring cutlery along to the evening gig where he made YURI GELLER looks like an amateur. He held a fork lightly between two fingers and as he gently flicked them, in front of our eyes, the prongs began bending until they were mangled and twisted around each other as if they were molten. Then he let members of the audience give it a go and, in their own cupped-hands, spoons began arching, as the Cowboy waved his hands above and below theirs. Mind-blowing!

SENMARU, the Japanese juggler (that description does him no justice) was, in his own words, 'AaaaMAaaaZING' too and, although they weren't on the top of our 'must-see' list, the ENGLISH GENTS were a big surprise. They scooped the 1st prize and although he deserved to saunter off with it for the 3rd year in a row, I don't think the Space Cowboy will be too phased - he already has no problem packing-out the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE!

the IRISH spoke!

The Irish people spoke and by Friday afternoon we had the answer - we wouldn't be railroaded into accepting a less-democratic EUROPE.

The Irish are pro-Europe - this vote was not a rejection of Europe but a clear signal about the type of Europe we want to shape for ourselves and our European neighbours.

The attitude of major players such as Germany and France proves the sentiment we all saw hidden within the text of the LISBON TREATY - they are not interested in the voice of smaller members. In fact they are not even interested in the voice of their own citizens as witnessed by a determination to prevent public voting in their respective jurisdictions. When the French public voted against the European Constitution (as did the Dutch) it was re-written so it could be ratified by parliament without the irksome need to consult their peoples.

SARKOZY and MERKEL seem ignorant of the fact that the Irish voted in determination, that we took our responsibility extremely seriously (witnessed by an uncharacteristically high turn-out of the electorate) because we knew this was a major issue we were singly deciding for Europe as a whole. Yet they're already looking for loopholes that would allow them push forward even though the legal position is that the Treaty was required to be ratified in all 27 member states. They would do well to tone-down their arrogance or risk alienating greater numbers of pro-Europeans who will react against moves by an autonomous elite.

What part of democracy do they not understand?

Everyone shouted - 'don't sign-it!'

I was inundated by emails and sms messages after my last blog/email in which I claimed I needed advice. The answer was a resounding 'you're crazy, don't sign any contract you don't understand ..and don't let someone else decide for you'.

I have to thank all the horrified people who took time out of their hectic schedules to email me - but, of course, it eventually surfaced that it was all a play on the proposal to accommodate the LISBON TREATY by changing the IRISH CONSTITUTION ..a decision not to be taken lightly.