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New Music Dublin in association with Improvised Music Company

In the Dark / New Music Dublin at The Cooler

Secret duos from New Music Dublin artists

Following Improvised Music Company’s Blind Date Jazz series, In the Dark brings together pairs of improvising musicians from across New Music Dublin’s programme for an exploration of intuition, listening and spontaneity. The twist? Neither musicians nor audience have any idea who is performing.

Unknown, unplanned and unseen—this is an encounter in pure improvised sound, created entirely spontaneously by the artists.

In the Dark begins in blackout, with two musicians who have never met before reaching out through their instruments, conversing without seeing, creating music together in the absence of all other senses.

The lights gradually rise, and they come face to face with their new improvising partner. Does the musical conversation change?


The Cooler is located upstairs at The Complex Arts Centre, 12 Mary's Abbey Dublin 7. The entrance to The Cooler is through the same door as The Depot at The Complex, on the Mary's Abbey side of the building, where the LUAS tracks run. The building has a red wall on the left hand side of a front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex', and a blue wall facing the front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex - Art Lives Here'.

The plaza in front of The Complex is used by the surrounding businesses and during the day is often full of fruits, vegetables or delivery vehicles. You can still access The Cooler at these times.

Above the blue door, you'll see a painted sign for The Depot. The Cooler is marked by a small sign between the main glass doors (sometimes covered by blue shutters) and a blue artist's door. The glass doors will be open for performances from door times (usually 7:30pm).

The Cooler cannot be accessed from the Arran St East side of The Complex - this is the entry for the Gallery and artist studios only. If you have any trouble locating the Cooler please give Caitriona a call on 087 783 3391.

To find the Cooler on Google Maps, search for The Cooler or The Depot at The Complex (the main performance space downstairs at The Complex). If you find the address for just The Complex, it will generally will bring you to the gallery on Arran St East.

The performance space is up two flights of stairs and may be difficult to access for patrons with additional mobility needs. The space is fully seated.

Gender-neutral toilet facilities are available upstairs (a few steps up from the level of The Cooler). Baby-changing facilities are available at The Gallery, downstairs at The Complex (using the Arran St entrance).

Guide dogs and service animals are welcome, please notify us if you will be attending with a guide dog.

If you have any other queries regarding accessibility or require any accommodations for seating etc, please contact us at admin @ improvisedmusic . ie and we will do our best to assist you.

The red line of the LUAS runs very close to The Cooler, taking the stop at Jervis St (if travelling towards Saggart/Tallaght) or at Four Courts (if travelling towards Connolly/The Point). Many different bus lines run to Ormond Quay, Inns Quay, or Church Street, which are all a couple of streets away from The Cooler.

During the day, a small gated Dublin City Council car park can be accessed on Marys' Lane around the corner, at standard rates, but closes at 9pm.

Jervis Shopping Centre Car Park is also close by, with varying opening hours, often closing at 9pm.

Some street parking is available nearby, often free after 7pm - days and rates vary, please check signs.

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