For its 7th year in 2020, Hotter than July is moving to an online space, celebrating inclusivity and diversity with music, story-telling, and creativity that is accessible to everyone from home!

Proudly presented by Improvised Music Company in association with Dublin City Council, Hotter than July has become a staple of the Dublin summer calendar, celebrating the cultural diversity of Dublin city through music and dance from around the world. This year, from the 17th to 26th of July, you can access 10 days of events on Facebook and YouTube, including short performances of everything from Cuban dance music to Indonesian gamelan, songs and story-telling for young audiences, and chances to participate through instrument-making workshops and an online choir!

LISTEN
As Ireland’s leading exponents of authentic Cuban music, Conor Guilfoyle’s Havana ‘Che will kick off our online performances on 17th July, bringing the high-energy music that says ‘Hotter than July’, from Dublin’s Camden Studios straight into your living room! Also coming to your screen, and uniting the best of many musical traditions, are Irish percussionist Éamonn Cagney and Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu performing in their critically-acclaimed duo.

From the tranquil setting of The Space Between yoga studio, techniques of binaural recording will bring you into an immersive musical experience, featuring sets from acclaimed young musicians Navá, who explore the relationship between the ancient musical cultures of Ireland and Persia, and a special audio experience for you to enjoy at home from the National Concert Hall Gamelan Orchestra, performing the ancient traditional music of Indonesia.

PARTICIPATE
As well as our performance series, there’s always room to get creative yourself at Hotter than July, and 2020 is no exception!

For those who want to get even more involved in music-making, register for our online instrument-making workshops with composer and inventor Ed Devane. Ed will be building a percussion instrument from household materials for younger music enthusiasts, and a trickier string instrument for older crafters. You can also celebrate the songs of the world by joining Dublin’s legendary Discovery Gospel Choir for two workshops to learn a song for Hotter than July, to be released online by Dublin City Council on the 26th of July!

ENJOY
For families and younger audiences, you can also enjoy learning songs and stories from different cultures through our Hotter Than July storytelling series.

Irish vocalist, composer and songwriter, Ríona Sally Hartman creates a musical story-telling experience for younger listeners around the mythical figure of Lú from the Tuatha Dé Danann. A favourite of Hotter than July audiences, guitarist Niwel Tsumbu introduces us to stories and songs from the Congolese tradition. Turkish storyteller Senem Donatan Mohan brings us into The Friendship Forest, to hear stories and learn songs in English, Turkish and Tamil.

HOTTER THAN JULY PROGRAMME:
WATCH Hotter Than July live sessions on IMC’s Facebook or YouTube

Live Sessions from Camden Recording Studios, Dublin
Friday 17th July 19:00 Havana Che’ live video #1
Saturday 18th July 19:00 Niwel Tsumbu & Eamonn Cagney live video #1
Friday 24th July Havana 'Che live video #2
Sunday 26th July 19:00 Niwel Tsumbu & Eamonn Cagney live video #2

Binaural listening experience from The Space Between, Dublin
Sunday 19th July 19:00 The National Concert Hall Gamelan Orchestra live video #1
Wednesday 22nd July 19:00 Navá live video #1
Thursday 23rd July 19:00 The National Concert Hall Gamelan Orchestra live video #2
Saturday 25th July 19:00 Navá live video #2

Story-telling & Songs from Around the World (ages 4+)
Monday 20th July 11:00 Ríona Sally Hartman (Irish Mythology stories and songs)
Wednesday 22nd July 11:00 Niwel Tsumbu (Congolese stories and songs)
Friday 24th July 11:00 Senem Donatan Mohan (Turkish and Tamil stories and songs)

‘Make Your Own Instrument’ Workshops with Ed Devane
Online via Zoom. Capacity is limited. You must book in advance.
Friday 17th July 14:00 Make a Percussion Instrument for ages 5+ (FREE but must be booked in advance here)
Friday 24th July 14:00 Make a String Instrument for ages 10+, teens and adults (FREE but must be booked in advance here)

Sing with Discovery Gospel Choir!
Online via Zoom. Capacity is limited. You must book in advance here.
Participants must commit to both workshops.
Workshops 19:00 Monday 13th & Monday 20th July
Choir video released online on Sunday 26th July at 11:00