PREVIOUS YEARS

THE STORY SO FAR…

Spike is an intimate music festival based in Dublin which brings audiences and world-class practitioners of non-classical cello together to showcase, celebrate and explore cello across multiple genres.

Since its inception in 2016, we have welcomed international guests and celebrated Irish talent across its five festivals. 2023 will be our sixth festival.

Spike provides a platform for new and experimental music, and is a place of inspiring exploration for new audiences and experienced musicians alike.

Highlights from previous years…

2022

Our 2022 bash included two nights of exclusive cello-based sound and vision in Dublin's iconic Pepper Canister Church with Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Cellovision, premieres of work by Sam Perkin and Anselm McDonnell ;

Online workshops from around the world with Tara-Lee Byrne (Australia), Sakskia Rao de Haas (India) Eric Wright (Canada) - an events with Twitter sensation Patrick Dexter from his cottage in the west of Ireland;

Our city Cello Trail of live cello performances popping up across the city. Cello Daze featured specially commissioned improvised pieces created by four composer-cellists;

For children we had Cello vision in the Ark, and Yocella online and in person chance to relax with a blissful hybrid of yoga and cello.

2020

This Spike festival was tucked in just before the pandemic and was located in Dublin’s then-newest venue, Lost Lane. Highlights for this year included the extraordinary South African cellist Abel Selaocoe who made his first trip to Ireland to give inspirational workshops and a performance. Icelandic rock experimental cellist Gyða Valtýsdóttir and band gave a sensational performance to a full house and a one-off cello formation of Dublin Ensemble Glasshouse performed especially arranged music including the music of another great Icelandic cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir.

Our intriguing pop up Cellistallation continued in the Hugh Lane Gallery foyer following a concert by ICO leader Christian Eliott ending in a triumphant re-working of Radiohead for cello and tape.

2019

Highlights for this year were a series of evening performances at The Workman’s Club, with Dutch impresario Ernst Reijseger, an interactive commission from Claire Fitch, Cello Ireland, Storytellers - The Devil’s Violin, Semay Wu and an open mic session, along with specially commissioned activities for younger people presented by The Ark, including the interactive Curious Cello created by composer Jonathan Nangle. Dublin Viol’s presented their ‘Spikeless’ concert in the Hugh Lane Gallery on Sunday.

2018

Among the highlights of the festival at the Workman's Club, a line-up of stellar and fascinating artists including Laura Moody, Rubin Kodheli with his jazz improvised band 'Blues in Space' from NYC and Lioba Petrie presenting the premiere of her live film score to to chris Marker’s Sci -Fi Romance La Jetée (1962).

Cellinsatallation - and exciting pop up, continuous stream of cello performances in the Hugh Lane Gallery.

The festival's closing performance was "Cello Voce" featured Cello Ireland with leading Irish cellist- songwriters Mary Barnecutt, Aleka Potenga, Kevin Murphy and Anna-Mieke Bishop with special guest Liam O' Maonlai, a singer whose musical journey has brought him all over the world, exploring the music of Africa, India, America, Australia and Japan. This unique event, celebrated the cello, the voice, Irish tradition.

2017

The inaugural Spike Cello Fest kicked off in 2017 highlights: Topless Rushad Eggleston (California) playing a set which included Bach on tables in the Workman's club, Cello Ireland Yocella, Kate Ellis premiere of Spike commission from Sean Mac Erlaine (Find title) in the Hugh Lane Gallery, workshops in Limerick and Dublin

Previous Years