Encore for Drumlinia following success

The inaugural Drumlinia Cavan Music Industry Week ended with an unforgettable classical concert at Cavan's Cathedral.

Rapt audiences packed a host of venues across the county town to listen to some of the best undiscovered musical talent the region has to offer.

Established by Cavan Arts Office alongside executive director and singer-songwriter Don Mescall and Cavan Institute, it marked the culmination of several days of talks, workshops and performances with leading industry voices and experienced players.

With the 2023 event now done and dusted, Belturbet resident Don Mescall is hoping the success and momentum gathered over the past week can push things even further for next year, stretching it out to a week-long series of events and even enticing international talents.

“I'd like to bring some international and world class songwriters to the town. Not alone would I like them to give some workshops but I'd like them to perform, intimate gigs,” he explains, adding that The Listening Rooms last Saturday could become a showcase staged at Cavan Townhall.

An ambitious Don would also like to bring a “very, very exciting act” to Cavan for Classical at the Cathedral next year, and for there to be other workshops and to encourage more input from the wider arts community.

“I'd love to bring Rex Ryan down to give a performance workshop, involve the likes of Gonzo in it. I'd like for the town to be alive for a week with the arts and for the town to benefit from that, and to really cement the idea that Drumlinia Cavan Music Industry Week is a week in the industry diary of Ireland that'll be around for a very long time.”

As part of this year's event, at Cavan Institute, there was a programme of talks and discussions focused on providing information on working in the music and media industries.

Among the speakers was Chris Kelly of Sony Music Ireland who spoke on how to approach and work with record labels.

He shared Don's enthusiasm for what took place.

“I felt very inspired to be part of the firs year of Drumlinia Music Week and meeting so many wonderful aspiring students from Cavan Institute wanting a career in the music industry.”

John Masterson, an experienced journalist, producer, and public relations expert, meanwhile shared: “Everyone was impressed by the amount of work that went into organising this event and the great contributions of Cavan Institute, the Arts Office and Don Mescall. Hopefully the participants will have picked up a few points that will help them develop their careers. I think everyone would like to see this become an annual event.”

Don suggested the first step towards sustained success was showing that Cavan has the ability and capacity to host such a worthy event.

He also adds that the learnings taken from this past week will hopefully lead to a new generation of talents coming through.

“All of these things can be incorporated into and support the courses that are running at the campus. It's about people not having to go to Dublin to get the experience of working with something like this. It's about centring Cavan, and inviting people to come to Cavan for these unbelievable experiences.

“Why wouldn't they?! Cavan Industry Week. Drumlinia, a festival of vibrant artistic involvement.”