The inaugural Spike Cello Festival is a three-day programme of cello-related events taking place from 10th to 12th February 2017 in various venues across Dublin.

Spike Cello Festival is an exciting new festival, celebrating the diverse use of the cello across non-classical music styles and genres from Jazz, Traditional, Folk, Pop and Rock, to cello yoga and the “cello-clowning” of US cello performance artist extraordinaire, Rushad Eggleston.

The line-up of artists for the festival includes some of the world’s most exciting and accomplished cellists including: Úna Ní Chanainn (RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra); Kate Ellis (Crash Ensemble); Neil Martin; Kevin Murphy (Slow Moving Clouds, Seti the First); Vyvienne Long; Lioba Petrie (3epkano, Unshaped Form); Mary Barnecutt (Mary & the Pigeons); Hugh Buckley; the truly unique “wild cello goblin” Rushad Eggleston, and Kitty Maguire and Anna Marcosi, leading the “Yocella” cello yoga class.

The Workman’s Club will be the hub of the festival. The atmospheric downstairs space will house the evening events, starting with an all female line up for the opening concert on Friday 10th with Mary and the Pigeons, Lioba Petrie and Vyvienne Long. Saturday night will see Hugh Buckley and Cello Ireland take to the stage, followed by Rushad Eggleston, and the festival will draw to a close with a Sunday night concert with Kevin Murphy, Neil Martin and a cello jam session.

The Yocella class – yin yoga accompanied by the beautiful sound of the cello – will take place in the inspiring surrounds of the Workman’s Georgian Vintage room overlooking the Liffey, on the Saturday afternoon.

The more formal lunchtime Sunday Concert with Kate Ellis on 12th February will be held in the renowned Dublin Municipal Hugh Lane Gallery as part of their popular series of free concerts. Kate will premiere a piece for cello and electronics by Sean MacErlaine (This is How We Fly and Quite Ensemble), especially written for Spike Cello festival, and commissioned with the kind support of the Improvised Music Company.

During the Spike Cello festival, the National Concert Hall Education, Community and Outreach programme will also be offering a number of educational events with Rushad Eggleston: concerts for primary school audiences on Friday 10th February, and a workshop for advanced cellists on Saturday, 11th February.

Conceived by cellists Lioba Petrie and Mary Barnecutt (pictured above), Spike Cello Festival promises to present an exciting programme catapulting the cello to centre stage. Having both worked in Dublin through many genres and styles of cello playing, Lioba and Mary wanted to create an event dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the alternative cello world.

“And if I spike you, you’ll know you’ve been spoken to.”
Danny, Withnail and I

SPIKE CELLO FEST 2017 – TIMETABLE

Friday 10th February

Primary School Concerts: The Wonderful World of Rushad Eggleston
10.00am – 1st to 3rd class group | 11.30am – 4th to 6th class group
The Studio, The National Concert Hall – Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
€8 per student, complimentary tickets for teachers
Presented by the National Concert Hall Education, Community and Outreach programme.

Opening Concert: Mary and The Pigeons | Lioba Petrie| Vyvienne Long
Main Space, The Workman’s Cub, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2 | 8pm | €15

Saturday 11th February

Cello Workshop with Rushad Eggleston
The Studio, The National Concert Hall – Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
11am | Participant fee: €20 | Observer tickets: €5
A workshop for advanced cellists (including students, emerging and established professionals). To be considered to participate in this workshop please email education@nch.ie by January 26th with your musical CV. Presented by the National Concert Hall Education, Community and Outreach programme.

Yocella
A yin yoga class to the beautiful sound of the cello. No experience needed.
The Vintage Room, The Workman’s Cub, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2 | 2.30pm | €15

Hugh Buckley & Cello Ireland | Rushad Eggleston
Main Space, The Workman’s Cub, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2 | 8pm | €15