Hotter Than July festival 2017

A FREE family-friendly world music festival, celebrating the cultural diversity in Dublin city, Hotter than July is back and grooving with a packed programme of feel-good rhythms and exciting performances of music and dance from around the world this Sunday 30th July in Smithfield Square, Dublin 7.

Now in it’s 4th year, Hotter than July is presented by Improvised Music Company and Dublin City Council, in collaboration with the Big Bang Festival of Rhythm, with a full smorgasbord of high quality performances for everyone to enjoy from 3-9pm.

Our international artists include the Kakatsitsi Master Drummers who bring the Ga grooves from Ghana with their thriving traditional rhythms to modern arrangements with exhilarating results. Catch their full show in the Sugar Club on Saturday night!

Invigorating sextet, La Chiva Gantiva create a powerful mix of punky Afro-Colombian sounds, catchy rhythms, and explosive live performances. These Colombian festival favourites make their Irish debut as the finale act at Hotter than July 2017!

An exciting Irish-Arabic project, Raed Said, a renowned percussionist from the old city in Jerusalem, joins forces with acclaimed Irish traditional musicians Cormac Breathnach, Eoin Dillon, Jon Sanders, Brian Fleming and Martin Schaerer for a flavoursome fusion of traditional melodies and rhythms.

Throughout the day we explore the diversity of ethnic and improvisational music, opening with Dublin-based Palestinian artist Ruba Shamshoum’s harmonious jazz melodies, mixed with tinges of her native Middle East.

Niwel Tsumbu Electric Quartet, the latest project by the dynamic Congolese guitarist/singer, will get your feet moving with contemporary music melodies in counterpoint with the rich tapestry of African rhythms.

Dublin-based Manden Express mix a spicy blend of West African music from Mali combined with infectious Afrobeat for their high-energy performance.

A very special performance at this year’s Hotter Than July is an extract from ‘Welcoming The Stranger’; Catherine Young’s compelling dance piece inspired by the stories of migrants and refugees who have made Ireland their home. Originally commissioned by The Casement Project (supported by KCC, The Arts Council and Siamsa Tire), it premiered as part of the 1916 centenary celebration at Banna Beach and enjoyed sell-out success at the 2017 Ramallah Dance Festival in Palestine. The Big Bang Dance Project will feature an excerpt of this work with some new choreography encompassing traditional West African dance, Palestinian Dabke dance and Traditional Irish dance. Supported by Dance Ireland, Catherine has reset the work on local Dublin community participants and they will be joined by members of the original cast including lead dancers from Riverdance as well as some refugees from Palestine, Syria and Iraq, a collective of Irish musicians, Big Bang Dance Project drummers, and Raed Said, our special guest from Palestine on percussion.

As Hotter Than July is a family friendly event, kids can take part in a programme of fun, interactive drumming workshops for children from JabbaJabbaJembe, as well as interacting with other lively pop-up performances on the Square, such as unique Japanese drum performances by Taiseiyo Taiko Drummers, Mexican mariachi classics by the much loved Mariachi San Patricio and traditional Chinese Lion Dances!

Lots of exciting flavours of music and dance from around the world to whet your appetite.

Hotter than July is a feel-good celebration of community, culture, creativity and diversity, with high quality music performances from Irish-based and international acts.

Everybody welcome!

HOTTER THAN JULY 2017 PLAYLIST