Vinyl

Dublin Popular music is the cultural generator of the 20th century. At its heart has always been the vinyl record, that object of near fetishistic desire and a stimulus for wild debate. We pursued our records insatiably, hunting them down to obscure cramped shops teeming with like-minded souls, rushing them home to our quiet little rooms. We carefully slipped them out of their thin, white sleeves and played them from start to finish, side after side, flipping them over lovingly, longingly, again and again. We loaned them out reluctantly, borrowed them greedily, pored over the sleeve-notes and artwork in moments of peace. We cherished them without shame, coveted them without guilt, adored them with a passion. We viewed them in equal measure as whispers in a confession box, screams in a field, and letters to a lover.

VINYL (Dublin) is our salute to all such things, an immersive theatre of the mind comprising musicians, producers, designers and filmmakers specially convened to celebrate the rich history and enduring legacy of vinyl, its landmark recordings and key personnel, the groundbreaking labels and studios that fostered such talent, with contributions and insights from some of its most perceptive champions. This three-day event, to be held on the May Bank Holiday weekend (5- 7 May 2018) at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, will feature specially programmed talks, panel discussions, curated collections, music performances, album playbacks, art exhibits, pop-up stores, signings, and equipment showcases. The various events will each make special use of the RHK's expansive grounds and infrastructure, from the magnificent Great Hall and Baroque Chapel to its cloistered, cobblestone courtyard.

Across the three days of VINYL there will also be a Tower Records pop-up store stocked with the back catalogues of our various attendees along with hard-to-source special editions and books, whilst long established Irish hi-fi store, Cloney Audio, will be onsite showcasing their specialist audiophile systems.