Events ~ THE CRUELLEST MONTH @ National Concert Hall: Dublin, Ireland

LAND 25.04 | April 11-13, 2025

Featuring: Alec Hanley Bemis • André de Ridder • Bryce Dessner • Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh • Cashel Day-Lewis • Conor J. O’Brien (Villagers) • Crash Ensemble • Doveman • LANZ • Mina Tindle • Oisin Leech • Quatuor Zaïde • Sam Amidon • Sounds from a Safe Harbour • This is the Kit • Ye Vagabonds

A Brassland family reunion of sorts, this weekend was created as an extension of Bryce Dessner's role as a 2024-25 artist-in-residence at NCH. The event kicked off on Friday, April 11 with the National Symphony Orchestra performing a program of Dessner's classical work conducted by Andre De Ridder.

The remainder of the weekend was co-curated by Brassland and Cork's Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival. The Cruellest Month marked Brassland's return to National Concert Hall of Ireland's Perspectives series, which we helped kick off with a similar program in 2014. At the same time, the weekend may represent a bit of an ending — a final gathering under the Brassland aegis for a community that has grown and changed over almost twenty five years.

Thematically, most of the artists for the 2025 installment were Irish or American, but a number of them also had deep ties to France. As globalism appears to be in decline, this event represented a clear message that our musical community would have none of it.

Last but not least, Brassland's co-founder Alec Hanley Bemis created a special edition of his AHB's Goodies mixtape delivery service in honor of the event. As he wrote in that post "Go raibh maith agaibh as éisteacht; merci d'avoir écouté; and thanks for listening."

Saturday, April 12:

• in the Studio (early show): Crash Ensemble feat. pieces by Cashel Day-Lewis & Bryce Dessner

• in the hall: a special Mina Tindle performance feat. Bryce Dessner, Kate Stables (This Is The Kit), Benjamin LANZ, Olivier Marguerit & Quatuor Zaide || opening set by Thomas Bartlett & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh from The Gloaming || special guest Conor O'Brien (aka Villagers)

• in the Studio (late show): Benjamin LANZ & friends

Sunday, April 13:

• in the hall: Sam Amidon | This Is The Kit's Kate Stables | Oisin Leech | Ye Vagabonds

PICTURED (clockwise from upper right): Bryce Dessner; Sam Amidon leading the weekend's assembled cast of performers on Sunday, April 13; Kate Stables aka This Is The Kit on Sunday's program ; Conor O'Brien aka Villagers guesting on Mina Tindle's set on Saturday, April 12th; and, finally, Mina Tindle backed by Benjamin Lanz on drums


REVIEWS

The Irish Examiner ★★★★☆ — "The National guitarist Bryce Dessner is artist-in-residence at Dublin’s National Concert Hall this year and as part of the hookup, headed a series of concerts and ‘musical meetings’ under the title The Cruellest Month at the venue over the weekend (April 11-13). Curated alongside Sounds from a Safe Harbour and the record label Brassland, the air of collaboration and interweaving musicians does seem reminiscent of the giddiness of SFSH... the few hundred in attendance have seen something special"

No More Workhorse: "The effect might have been overwhelming in others’ hands, but the musicians played with subtlety, with nobody dominating... It was a really well put together night, with fine musicians on show playing each other’s songs. It was clear they were having a great time, and the audience did too!"

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE

The Cruellest Month: A Weekend of Irish Debuts, Collaborations and Musical Meetings, as Part of the Perspectives Series

  • Bryce Dessner, Kate Stables (This Is the Kit), Sam Amidon, Mina Tindle and more perform in the National Concert Hall on Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 April
  • Also featuring Thomas Bartlett and Caoimhin O’Raighallaigh of The Gloaming, Crash Ensemble, Oisin Leech, Benjamin Lanz, Quatuor Zaïde, and more special guests to be announced
  • Tickets On Sale 10am Wednesday 5 March - NCH Box Office

The National Concert Hall is delighted to announce The Cruellest Month on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April. This weekend sees NCH debuts from the acclaimed French singer-songwriter Mina Tindle and Quatuor Zaïde, the return of the much-loved Sam Amidon and Kate Stables (This Is the Kit) with Bryce Dessner (The National) and Benjamin Lanz contributing. In addition, Thomas Bartlett and Caoimhin O’Raighallaigh of The Gloaming reconvene their sublime duo. This weekend of collaborations and musical meetings is curated by Sounds from a Safe Harbour and Brassland with NCH. Further guests and events to be announced.

On Saturday 12 April the main auditorium plays host to Parisian-born folk and new-wave singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Mina Tindle, who makes her NCH debut with her collaborators Kate Stables (This Is the Kit), Bryce Dessner, Benjamin Lanz, Olivier Marguerit and the all-female string quartet, Quatuor Zaïde. Mina’s music is described as ‘combining delicate, heart-wrenching vocals with gentle, touching melodies’ by The Line Of Best Fit who gave her debut album a glowing review, its follow-up featuring Sufjan Stevens and Bryce Dessner is due later this year. The NCH show is opened with a rare duo appearance by Thomas Bartlett and Caoimhin O’Raghallaigh of The Gloaming.

On Sunday 13 April the main stage sees a performance by a remarkable triple-bill of songsmiths; Kate Stables, Sam Amidon and Oisin Leech. Critically-acclaimed folk artist Kate Stables (aka This Is the Kit) returns to the NCH with the exquisite folk stylings and infectious melodies which over the course of her six lauded long-players have established her as a singular artist of unique ability. NCH regular Sam Amidon is currently basking in the glow of positive reviews for his latest outing Salt River, his first on River Lea Records. His career has seen the release of seven celebrated recordings of his traditional take on folk music with contemporary elements. On the night Kate and Sam are joined by Irish singer-songwriter Oisin Leech who released his debut album Cold Sea last year. It was described as a ‘stunning debut’ by UNCUT Magazine with MOJO saying that Leech is ‘in lush, filmic mode with John Martyn-esque mystery’.  

The weekend also sees additional concerts including Crash Ensemble performing a new commission by composer and violinist Cashel Day-Lewis and Bryce Dessner’s Murder Ballades on Saturday 12 April at 6pm and LANZ - the solo project of Benjamin Lanz, a multi-instrumentalist and composer, most commonly known as a member of the bands The National, Beirut, and Sufjan Stevens - on Saturday 12 April at 10pm. LANZ will combine songs from his solo records with sections of modular synth based electroacoustic compositions and improvisations. Expect a guest or two to pop up onto stage!

The Cruellest Month is curated by Sounds from a Safe Harbour and Brassland with NCH.


More Info On Event Artists: