Boyne Music Festival returns this year with a gorgeous programme of chamber music, poetry and song taking place over four days (25 – 28 July 2024) in some of the region’s unique historic locations.
Founded in 2013 by twin sisters Aisling and Julie-Anne Manning with their cousin Deirdre Brenner, this festival continues to bring the best Irish and international talent to the Boyne Valley and has gained a reputation for offering innovative programmes in unique historic locations and this year’s programme is sure to delight both new and returning guests.
The opening night (25 July) of the programme kicks off with a Friends Reception at the Boann Distillery, which will be a wonderful opportunity for those in the festival’s inner circle to gather with the artists, discuss the upcoming concerts and enjoy Boann’s fine selection of locally produced whiskeys and gins before moving onto the opening night performance by the Palestinian folk-duo Gazelleband. The band was formed by Palestinian oud player and music therapist Reem Anbar, with writer and musician Dr Louis Brehony, and the duo tells the Palestinian story through music.
On 26 July, the festival audience will be welcomed to a fairytale evening in Slane Castle. The night will begin with an opportunity to dine in the Castle’s elegant Gandon Room. Guests may pre-book a special 4-course set meal in this unique historic space and experience fine local cuisine at its best. After this, the audience will be invited to join other guests for a concert in Slane Castle’s iconic ballroom featuring world-class Boyne Music Festival artists performing works by Vivaldi, Schubert and Irish composer Ian Wilson.
The next day (27 July) brings musical education to the fore at the festival, beginning with Children’s Workshops with percussionist Jimmy Hagan at Townley Hall. This is a fun, accessible workshop where children can make music together in a supportive environment, and perform what they have learned in the family concert afterwards. The morning also features the ever popular Tour of Townley Hall led by Brendan Kiernan. Built between 1794 and 1798, Townley Hall is regarded as a masterpiece in the classical style of Francis Johnston, the foremost Irish architect of his day.
The evening programme continues at Townley Hall with a pre-concert talk by Dr. Louis Brehony on his recent book “Palestinian Music in Exile: Voices of Resistance”, which is a historical and contemporary study of Palestinian musicianship in exile in the Middle East, spanning half a century in disparate locations including Gaza, Turkey, Kuwait, and Egypt. After this discussion, an evening concert in the library of Townley explores the theme ‘Roots’. It is an innovative programme where folk meets classical featuring music from Ireland, Romania and Palestine.
The final day of the festival (28 July) will offer a pre-concert talk with the festival’s featured composer this year, Ian Wilson. Ian will speak about his compositional process in preparing this year’s Boyne Music Festival commission which will receive its world premiere in the festival’s closing concert. Alongside Ian’s work, the festival will feature this summer’s BMF Young Artists, and also present Florence Price’s exhilarating Piano Quartet.
Weekend passes are available, and ticket prices range from an affordable €6-25. The Boyne Music Festival team are looking forward to warmly welcoming audiences old and new this summer in these gorgeous venues.
For more information and to book tickets, go to: https://wwwboynemusicfestival.com/ and social media @boynemusicfestival for any updates.
