The Jewel Case John D'Arcy

The end of 2017 is nigh!  I’ve only done a couple of podcasts this year so I’ve been feeling a bit guilty.  To find some absolution I sat down for a catch up with friend-of-the-podcast Ryan McGroarty and pressed record.

We talk about nostalgia, podcast-babysitting, and Ryan’s crazy schedule coming up to Christmas.  His appointments include Start Together Studio’s 10th Birthday Party at Oh Yeah Music Centre on Fri 15th, playing guitar with Catalan at the old Telegraph building on Sat 16th, and playing host at a party organised by his Big Wild Collective at Black Box Sunday 17th.  And that’s neglecting his most important date – our very own annual sing-along party where Ryan dons the Santa suit.  Yeah, you’ll have to listen to get the context…

 



The Jewel Case theme song is The Dark by Beauty Sleep

Contact @_johndarcy   //  Dig into the archive

Leonie McDonagh (aka Leonie Pony) is back for another a PODCAST TAKEOVER.  This time she is chatting to Belfast-based hijinx-co-ordinators Tumble Circus!

Leonie catches some of the Tumble Circus crew at a rare moment of quiet before they put up their Big Top for the Winter Circus Season at Writer’s Square, Belfast. 

She is joined by Ali Strange, Anqelique ‘Reckless’ Ross,  Kenevil, and Henrik (the muscles not from Brussels).  They share the back-story of Tumble Circus setting up its roots in Belfast.  Leonie asks about gender equality in the circus, but ends up finding out a little too much about Ali’s hoop.

Leonie has long been a fan of Tumble Circus, but it was this summer at the Earagail Arts Festival in Donegal that they really stole her heart. She watched as they put up the Big Top and left her jaw on the floor at the sight of Angelique swinging a lump hammer to bash the tent pegs into the ground.   She knew she was watching something special, with the same spectacular strength and precision going each and every one of the troupe’s performances.  

Tumble Circus present Winter Circus from Dec 8th to 27th, with family shows daily and evening cabarets at the weekends.

For times and tickets check www.tumblecircus.com. 

 



 

Leonie McDonagh is director of Belfast based dance theatre company ponydance.

The Jewel Case theme song is The Dark by Beauty Sleep

Contact @_johndarcy   //  Dig into the archive

It’s been a while, but The Jewel Case is back!  Lately John has been neglecting his duty to interview artists working in Northern Ireland, so Leonie McDonagh (aka Leonie Pony) is staging a PODCAST TAKEOVER.

In her first takeover episode, Leonie has only gone and interviewed one of the most important contemporary Northern Irish dance artists in recent years – OONA DOHERTY (she’s amazing).

Oona Doherty recently presented Hard to Be Soft: A Belfast Prayer at Belfast International Arts Festival.  The show features collaborations with NI composer David Holmes and a range of actors and dancers from the city of Belfast.

Leonie and Oona have known each other since they went to college together at London Contemporary Dance School back in 2004.  During their catchup on The Jewel Case, Oona explains the creative process behind Hard to Be Soft.  Oona also opens up about her personal philosophy of access in the arts and reveals the influence she takes from Iggy Pop.

 



 

Oona Doherty online.

Leonie McDonagh is director of Belfast based dance theatre company ponydance.

 

The Jewel Case theme song is The Dark by Beauty Sleep

Contact @_johndarcy   //  Dig into the archive

This week I talk to composer and performer Una Lee about her upcoming show – The Undocumented Tale of Dr. G – taking place 18 May at Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast.

The Undocumented Tale of Dr. G is a music theatre piece brings together Una’s research into the life and work of Dr. G, a composer who’s been buried in history for almost a century.  Only known as Dr. G, he was probably the most innovative, experimental composer who worked with improvisation and alternative music notation ahead of the better known figures in 20th Century music.

The show will delve into an unearthed biography of Dr. G and feature the world premiere of numerous Dr. G compositions, performed by the experimental music group QUBe.

I ask Una about the production and its origins, as well as some descriptions of the works of Dr. G.  We also give the you the chance to perform one of Dr. G’s compositions for yourself!

Oh, and she reminds me that I’m also taking part in the show!



The Undocumented Tale of Dr. G takes place 18 May at 7.30pm – Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast.

More information on the event

More information about Una Lee

The Jewel Case broadcasts Tuesdays at 8pm on Lisburn’s 98FM, Bangor FM and FM105 Down Community Radio.

The Jewel Case theme song is The Dark by Beauty Sleep

Contact @_johndarcy   //  Dig into the archive

This week I chat to techno musicians Koichi Samuels and Liam McCartan about RESIST – a series of live events showcasing electronic music and visual artists in Belfast.  Their next show is Friday 21 April at The Black Box (tickets here).

I ask Koichi and Liam about Belfast’s thriving electronic music scene and get a taste of the acts that will be performing live at the RESIST event.  Koichi will be performing live with Helena Hamilton for the debut of their new collaboration – Kandehha – a fusion of soundscape, drone and ambient electronic rhythms.

The line-up also features live sets from Four Sides Records founder Kapoor  (ambient inspired techno) and Derry-based Autumns (lofi/noise/shoegaze).

Also on the line-up are sets from eclectic house/techno DJ Marion Hawkes (Ponyhawke / GIRL) and experimental/ambient Liam McCartan; as well as visuals by Barry Cullen (Barry’s Electronic Workshop).

“The best artists working now are those that are asking difficult questions.”

Eoin Dara is an art curator who has been based at The MAC Belfast since its opening in 2012.  But big changes are afoot, as Eoin is about to move to Scotland to take up the role of Head of Exhibitions at Dundee Contemporary Arts.

Before he heads off, I caught up with Eoin to find out more about his time at The MAC, including his curation of the work of Felix Gonzales-Torres in the exhibition ‘This Place’.

Eoin shares some other highlights of working in Belfast including a stint as a director of Catalyst Arts, setting up home-gallery Satis House, and establishing the curator collective Household Belfast.

We also talk about accessibility in the gallery and the role of art in public. And to finish we take a quick trip into teenage Eoin’s CD collection!

Good luck in Dundee Eoin!



The Jewel Case broadcasts Tuesdays at 8pm on Lisburn’s 98FM, Bangor FM and FM105 Down Community Radio.

The Jewel Case theme song is The Dark by Beauty Sleep

Contact @_johndarcy   //  Dig into the archive