More sounds from a Safe Harbour

As if excitement wasn’t already huge for this year’s Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival, a bunch of additional shows have just been announced.

Taking place across multiple venues in Cork city from 11-14 September, this year’s edition of the festival marks its 10th anniversary.

Curating this year are festival director Mary Hickson, Cork Hollywood superstar, Cillian Murphy, composer Bryce Dessner (The National), author Max Porter, and folklorist Billy MagFhloinn.

Sounds from a Safe Harbour (SFSH) headline shows are shaped by the collaborative spirit of the 37d03d residency — the creative engine behind the festival’s signature sense of experimentation and connection.

First on the list of new additions to the already packed programme is the 37d03d Opening Ritual at Elizabeth Fort from 7.30pm on 11 September. Following the festival’s sold out lead event, ‘Remembering Talos’ at Cork Opera House earlier the same day, the festival will host its inaugural Opening Ritual, where Billy Mag Fhloinn, one of the SFSH 2025 festival curators, will direct and create an experience like never before.

Then on 12 September, the flagship SFSH 37d03d Mixtape concert will take place at Cork Opera House from 8pm. The concert will bring together the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra and the SFSH Choir in a stunning once-off collaboration, with new arrangements by Bryce Dessner and Kate Ellis and others.

On 13 September, Sirens will be hosted by Lisa Hannigan at St Anne’s Church, Shandon, with choral arrangements by Theodora Byrne. ‘Sirens’ is a celebration of female artists with performances by Amanda Bergman, Rosie Carney, La Force, Charlotte Cornfield, Niamh Regan and many more.

On 14 September, Sounds from a Honky Tonk, a celebration of country music hosted by Swedish singer-songwriter Amanda Bergman, will take place from 4pm at Cyprus Avenue. The show will see Bergman lead a shindig of twangy ballads, foot-stomping anthems, and tender tearjerkers. Think Nashville by way of Cork, with a wink and a whole lot of groove.

Also officially added to 14 September’s programme is the festival’s closing event, hosted by acclaimed Danish group Efterklang, with very special guests and surprises in store. Speaking ahead of the show, the band said: “We took part in the People/37d03d residency in Berlin 2018, and we’ve played SFSH in 2019 – both times feeling we were part of something very special and life changing in fact! We are humbled and excited to be hosting the finale this year!”

A full free music trail, visual art programme, conversation series, and pop-up show details will be revealed in the coming weeks.