STARFISH EXTENDED: La Mansarda- Cultural Harmony

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The charity event organised by La Mansarda was held together with the theme of “cultural harmony”. This theme transpired through an evening of different musical groups and acts who in each of their own ways brought different musical cultures together from across the globe. The event was held in the Smock Alley Theatre with the audience intimately crowded around the stage, sitting on cushioned benches, forming groups of chatty people who all seem to know each other, a clear community having formed through the time La Mansarda have been hosting events in Dublin and around Europe. 

At the end of the night we joined organisers, audience members and performers alike to share tiramisu together in the theatre’s reception. 

6- 6.40pm - Nouis:

Coming from Naples, Nouis are a theatrical music group. The performance told the story of a trio of travellers coming from Naples to Ireland to spread the message of the hardships of being a travelling artist. Their music spoke of how home can be found in the food you eat and the songs you bring with you even when forced to emigrate to foreign lands full of language and cultural barriers. The lasting message of this act was that immigration makes nations and that each individual is special and has their own message that they travel with, this being made clear when at the end of the set, the lead singer of the group went around and hugged and shook the hand of everyone in the audience. 

6.50- 7.30pm- Coastline Grass Club:

This band embodied the theme of cultural harmony through the diverse backgrounds of each band member, the lead singer and guitarist from The United States, the bassist and vocalist from Ireland and the drummer from Mexico. The band played mostly funky rock, saying “ we play a lot of dive bars”. This included newly released songs like “I’m Your Dog” and stand out unreleased ones like “Misery Hill” and “Hot Headed Woman”. 

7.40- 8.20pm- Azerty 

Azerty is an Irish hip hop artist whose music speaks toward uplifting women through brash and witty lyrics, leaving no holds barred. Her first song of the night being about ending a toxic relationship, she then went on to sing about feelings of being overwhelmed and feeling like she’s been “left on the bench” and underestimated. 

8.30- 9.10pm- Santierra & Los Protones Erentas 

This band whose members come from both Spain and Argentina sang songs concerning love, relationships, family and war. Although their music was very groovy and high energy, the lyrics revealed deep meanings about the importance of keeping your own “inner tribe” and also telling the story of the struggles of their grandparents for freedom. 

Sarah Creighton Keogh 

The penultimate act of the night had local writer and poet, Sarah Creighton Keogh doing two poetry readings with backing guitar music. The two poems; “Granada” and “Flowers Say it Better Love” are both love letters to places where the poet had lived before and showed beautiful and careful appreciation of each cities’ different cultures. 

Graceless

Graceless are an Irish band who took the spot of the last performance of the night. Their performance consisted of an ode to Sinead O’Conner, incredible high energy vocals, witty lyrics about going against societal norms and references to Edgar Allen Poe.