Encapsulating the masses from the third floor of the Guinness Storehouse, Other Voices returned home (so to speak) for a fifth rendition of Other Voices: Home at the Guinness Storehouse. The depths of a pandemic winter saw the start of the concept, utilising the Guinness Storehouse as an adopted venue to host and broadcast the seminal festival in 2020, giving it a home when live music was a faraway memory, much craved.

Boasting a stacked lineup of Tolü Makay, Niamh Regan and SOAK, The Mary Wallopers, Pádraic Keane and Just Mustard, the Storehouse was host to an air of Irish talent.

Pádraic Keane kicked off the night with a traditional set on the Uilleann Pipes – this particular set crafted 200 years ago in the heart of the Liberties, returning to their spiritual home. He followed with a rendition of three blackbirds, an air, a hornpipe and closing on a set dance.

Akin to the atmosphere that enraptures St. James’ Church in Dingle – the original home to Other Voices – the Storehouse production is a tightly run ship. Spanning three stages in one (very long) room on the third floor, musicians take residence in their spots, acting as part of the audience when the lights switch off and their counterparts play. Music weaves from traditional Irish and folk to shoegaze, alt-rock and back again. The sound sharp in carrying across the room.

A Dundalk stronghold took front and centre stage, with Just Mustard and The Mary Wallopers gracing the hallowed floors. On their love for the town, Andrew Hendy of The Mary Wallopers maintains that “it’s the greatest place in the world.” Seemingly shouting himself out in the process, he says “we’ve Just Mustard, we’ve The Mary Wallopers, we’ve got the Mo Chara lads (pub in Dundalk) over there, and is that a Seeking Judy dress Tolü is wearing?” he finishes.

This statement captures the sentiment of Other Voices, which for twenty-three years has been highlighting voices known and unknown, bringing musicians from all corners of Ireland together in a celebration of sound.

The Mary Wallopers embody their roots while having a unique talent for creating an energy so fired up that it becomes infectious. From an instrumental rendition of ‘Dawning of the Day’ to a raucous ‘Building Up and Tearing England Down’, the Wallopers have kept the ballad tradition alive and well – and have somehow made it cool again.

“I love nothing more than seeing you do great things, which you have a habit of doing,” is how MayKay introduces SOAK. The Derry musician worked with Fred Again over summer to release ‘just stand there’ – a music and spoken word piece that reflects awe and the beginning of love. “It’s not really my scene typically, but it’s class to jump in on,” responds Soak

Performing a new piece live for the first time titled ‘so hard to beat’, SOAK explains that it reflects their life growing up in Derry City. “It’s a bit of a love letter to Derry. The poem feels like a trailer to my life.”

Returning to the Dundalk side of the room, Just Mustard put on an electrifying immersive performance. The five-piece shoegazers return from a writing hiatus after a heavy touring schedule took them around the world with a stint supporting The Cure thrown in for good measure. They have returned to the scene with might. Performing ‘Frank’, ‘I am you’ and ‘Deaf’, Just Mustard are ending a quiet year performance-wise on a high, creating high anticipation for new music to come next year.

Teacher turned musician Niamh Regan reflects on her career change in ‘For the Record’. Her lyrics ring “are you still at the music or are you teaching again?” which MayKay highlights in a mid-set chat. Niamh acknowledges her joy at building a career around her passion – not to knock the teachers. She was supported by an all-star band with SOAK on her shoulder, Dylan Lynch on drums, Adam Taylor on bass, Jake Curran on guitar, Chanele McGuinness on vocals and Lux Alma on keys.

Perhaps the stand out of the show was Tolü Makay and her acoustic rendition of ‘Danny Boy’, which left no eye void of a tear. Mesmerising the crowd, she gave a world-exclusive performance of a spoken word piece written after hearing the news of Sinéad O’Connor’s passing. Makay has a knack for distinctive and raw storytelling. Silence engulfed the room for each of her performances, leaving the audience and musicians alike enamoured.

Other Voices: Home at the Guinness Storehouse marked the beginning of winter and began the countdown to the annual Other Voices festival in Dingle, happening from November 29th to December 1st. A smooth sailing production from beginning to end, the Storehouse proves the perfect venue to show off the wealth of talent that the country has to offer. The accessibility of live streaming the event feels communal. Though the pandemic has long passed, being there in person is not always possible. A connector of people and music, Other Voices does it best – and long may it continue.

Photos by the legendary Rich Gilligan