Louth Contemporary Musical Society's annual music festival returns to Dundalk this June
Founded in 2006 by Eamonn Quinn and Gemma Murray, Louth Contemporary Music Society (LCMS) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing world-renowned contemporary musicians, composers, and performers to Co. Louth.
Now in its 11th year, the festival continues to spotlight world-class international composers while cultivating dynamic collaborations and new commissions between leading international and Irish artists.
Over the years, the festival has attracted some of the most prestigious names in contemporary music, including Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Alvin Lucier, Kaija Saariaho, Salvatore Sciarrino, and Rebecca Saunders.
The 2025 festival promises to be another landmark event, exploring the theme of Echoes - how repetition can bring both comfort and unease, sparking reflection on the resonance of the past in the present.
"Echoes explores how repetition can be both hypnotic and unsettling, a theme woven throughout this year's festival. We're excited to welcome extraordinary musicians to Dundalk, many for the first time, and present performances that challenge and inspire," Eamonn said.
The festival kicks off on Friday, June 13 with The Cold Trip Part 1 by Austrian composer Bernhard Lang, a master of echoes, performed by Aleph Guitar Quartet and American singer Daisy Press at An Táin Arts Centre. This reimagining of Schubert's Winterreise sets the tone for an unforgettable weekend of music and discovery.
The following day the festival offers a full day of musical exploration beginning at 1pm when Belgian pianist Daan Vandewalle presents Bernhard Lang's Monadologie series at St. Nicholas' Church of Ireland, where he transforms Chopin's Études through repetition and variation.
This will be followed at 3pm when Moon on the Sea will be performed by Daisy Press and Aleph Guitar Quartet in the Chapel at St. Vincent's Secondary School, featuring Czech composer Martin Smolka's ethereal settings of Basho's poetry alongside a new composition.
The action moves to The Spirit Store at 5pm for Nico and John Cale's The Marble Index as Apartment House with Francesca Fargion reinterpret Nico and founding member of the Velvet Underground John Cale's 1968 album The Marble Index, blending electric and medieval sounds in a dynamic live performance.
The festival closes at St. Nicholas' Church of Ireland at 8pm when Songs of the Soul is performed by Chamber Choir Ireland under Nils Schweckendiek. This performance features contemporary choral works from Irish composer Kevin Volans and the world premiere of a new work from Canadian composer Sarah Davachi.
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Festival founder Eamonn Quinn is renowned for his ability to present cleverly curated contemporary music in an engaging and accessible way. His passion for the genre earned him the prestigious 2018 Belmont Prize for Contemporary Music, one of Europe's most significant awards for artistic creation.
LCMS has also made its mark in recorded music, with its release Folks' Music named one of The New Yorker's Notable Classical Recordings of 2023. David Lang's just (after song of songs), an LCMS Arts Council-funded commission, was featured in Paolo Sorrentino's film Youth and sampled by English band The xx for their song Lips.
The festival organisers are committed to keeping ticket prices affordable, making the festival accessible to a broader audience and encouraging those new to contemporary music to experience the genre.
Echoes promises to be a remarkable gathering of some of the world's best contemporary musicians, and LCMS invites both seasoned festivalgoers and newcomers to join them for a weekend of boundary-pushing performances.
Funded by the Arts Council and supported by Louth County Council.
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