Misneach Festival Sydney: Dermot Kennedy, Kneecap and more

Famous Irish singer Dermot Kennedy is debuting a brand new annual music festival in Sydney this weekend.
MISNEACH is geared at supporting and showcasing Irish culture, coinciding with St Patrick’s Day.
Tickets have been flying off the shelf, driven mainly by the soaring popularity of political Irish rap group Kneecap.
READ MORE: Here is a list of concerts happening in Sydney this weekend.

One of the most recognisable Irish singers of our time, Dermot Kennedy, arrives in Sydney this weekend to debut a brand-new annual global music festival that’s focused entirely on celebrating Ireland’s rich musical heritage. And it’s perfect timing too, with the Sydney music festival coinciding with St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Dubbed the MISNEACH (pronounced mish-nyah, meaning “Courage” in Gaelic) festival, Kennedy will be taking over the leafy surrounds of The Domain with a roster of big-name artists in tow, including The Frames, Matt Corby, Meg Mac, Amble Sorcha Richardson, The Scratch, Susan O’Neill, FYNCH, Cliffords, and legendary Irish rap group Kneecap.

Kneecap, the subject of a powerful new comedy-drama biopic, have been enjoying a huge boost in success lately thanks to the scripted film as well as their rough, raw and rugged political activism, building up a distinct reputation for anti-colonial protest music that’s clearly resonated with fans the world over.

When Kneecap staged a pop-up gig in Melbourne’s Federation Square, for example, the rappers drew such a large crowd that footage swiftly went viral.

And while Kneecap are just one small part of Kennedy’s MISNEACH festival, they are understandably a huge drawcard as the event plans a twin celebration, first in Sydney and then in Boston. That is, two cities central to the Irish diaspora.

“For so many years now I have watched the St Patrick;s Day celebrations in so many different cities with a massive sense of pride,” explained the singer-songwriter.

“I’ve always been so moved by the way Irish history and culture is celebrated all over the world. But I’ve also had the feeling that, for a country so rich in culture, I didn’t see it being represented fully in these events worldwide and I wondered, could we change that?”

St Patrick’s Day has become such an institution, with celebrations in just about every major city across the globe, that the day is often stripped of meaning for those outside of Irish culture. It seems this festival is a way to claw some of that celebration and redirect it to its original purpose, uplifting and showcasing contemporary and traditional Irish culture through one of the most universal languages of them all.

“With this inaugural year we hope to begin an annual tradition that will enrich the St Patrick’s Day celebrations around the world with music and the arts, by showcasing some of the best new and established Irish musical talent, as well as musical talent of the Irish diaspora.”

MISNEACH Festival appears in Sydney Travel Guide’s weekend highlights guide.