The arrival of new immigrants to Ireland has been a key factor in festivals and venues taking a more inclusive approach in their music programming and consciously targeting non-nationals for specific events. But could any subsequent effect and influence exerted on music in Ireland by those arriving from foreign also be somewhat reflective of an appetite for new musical directions (aided and abetted by the coming of the internet age and with it popular social and music websites such as Myspace and Bebo)? Phil says evidence of that thirst for new sounds is reflected in the attitude of local musicians themselves, but says there is still some way to go in enticing Irish folks to venture out of their comfort zones.

“I took a Dublin based Nigerian band called Oleku to the National Ploughing Championships at Tullamore last autumn and they were an immense hit with the farmers, some of whom wouldn’t leave the marquee after they finished so that they could be right at the front for the next performance in an hours time. One farmer confided in me ‘you know I think this is the best music I’ve ever heard’. But if he hadn’t popped into the Concern marquee that time he might never have experienced it. Hopefully he now has a full collection of CDs by Femi & Fela Kuti.”

Phil is hopeful however that the expanded line-up for the FéileAfrica Festival will succeed, where they have previously failed, in bringing not only African music, but also its rich cultural heritage, to a larger Irish audience. 

“Our goal was to produce a festival that would be attractive to a wide audience without diluting any item of the program to ‘make it suitable for everyone’. Peoples tastes are very varied so we hope that there will be at least one event over the weekend that just about everyone will find attractive. There should be something in the programme that would satisfy those with a preference for Jazz, Folk, Roots, Trad, Reggae, Hiphop, Art, and dance plus the chance to catch up on a whole variety of cultural and socio-political information from various parts of Africa. There will also be a chance to taste African food from 10 nations which is being supplied free by the New Communities Partnership.

“I have always seen music as an important part of any connection made to experiencing other cultures, especially where Africa is concerned. It is probably the most accessible ‘stepping stone’. The music is still very connected to the natural rhythms of our own bodies and minds, something I feel we have lost in a lot of modern western music, apart that is from House Music strangely enough. Personally I think Nigerian Juju music was the precursor to the mood and feeling of the Acid House music scene of the late 80s onwards. It has of course gone off in its own direction but the mesmerizing beats and structure that takes you ‘somewhere else’ is still there.”

Having finally brought the festival to the desired higher level, Phil is eager to kick on and take FéileAfrica to the next stage. While the festivities only begin today, he’s already busy planning next years event. “I contacted African Reggae star Alpha Blondy this week to feature at next years Africa Day festival in Cork. We’re also hoping to arrange a festival of Eastern European Music here in the city for the autumn/winter in 2008, plus of course our regularly touring reggae acts will be on the road throughout the summer, the next of which, Luciano, appears at The Savoy on June 24 and finally the 2008 Irish-African Community Gospel Choir Competition which happens on June 28 at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.”

For more details on the FéileAfrica Festival go to www.feileafrica.com.

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